Playoff baseball is arguably the best postseason among the major sports. Thursday’s Game 3 of the ALCS between the New York Yankees and the Cleveland Guardians proved why.
New York got on the board first, thanks to a Jose Trevino single that scored Anthony Volpe in the top of the second inning. Kyle Manzardo got Cleveland back in it an inning later with a two-run blast to right field. The Guardians extended their lead to 3-1 thanks to an Andres Gimenez single that scored Lane Thomas.
The 7th inning ended with Cleveland in control with a two-run lead and the best closer in baseball, Emmanuel Clase, warming up in the bullpen.
Cleveland picked up the win, but they didn’t do it by shutting down the Yankees over the final three innings. Let’s recap what happened and how the Guardians picked up an improbable, yet hugely important win to push the series to 2-1.
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How Guardians won ALCS Game 3
8th inning
You already know Yankees did end up coming back, and the usual suspects stepped up. With two outs, Juan Soto did what Juan Soto does best. He drew a walk. This forced Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt out of the dugout as he signaled for Clase to come in.
Aaron Judge was at the plate. The Yankee slugger fouled a ball off, swung through a bitch, and then took a ball. He put the fourth pitch in play, sending the 99 mph cutter over the right field wall in a hurry.
Aaron Judge with a game-tying home run off Emmanuel Clase. Clutch as it gets. pic.twitter.com/vHxIsaqxmq
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 17, 2024
The game was tied with Soto and Judge scoring on the home run. Giancarlo Stanton came up next and battled in his at-bat. He fouled off four pitches of the seven-pitch at-bat. Unfortunately, for Clase and Cleveland, the final pitch of the at-bat went 390 feet to centerfield.
The Guardians entered the eighth inning leading, 3-1. After Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton went back to back off the best closer in baseball during the regular season, the Yankees now lead, 4-3. pic.twitter.com/wpyDmWYFdz
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 17, 2024
The scoring stopped there for New York, and Cleveland wasn’t able to respond…yet.
9th inning
Cleveland pulled Clase and replaced him Eli Morgan. He walked Volpe, got a ground out, and struck out Austin Wells. The Guardians pulled Morgan and replaced him with Andrew Walters. He allowed a sac fly to Gleyber Torres, and the Yankees were up 5-3.
New York brought in Luke Weaver who has dominated in the postseason. Anthony Rizzo had an error at first base, but it didn’t hurt the Yankees as Josh Naylor grounded into a double play. Thomas doubled to center, and Vogt had another decision to make. He pinch-hit Jhonkensy Noel (a.k.a. Big Christmas) for Daniel Schneemann. It proved to be one of the best calls of his short coaching career.
BIG CHRISTMAS TIME!
THE ULTIMATE PRESENT UNDER THE TREE! pic.twitter.com/6PhEOHuyds
— MLB (@MLB) October 18, 2024
Gimenez struck out for the third out in regulation, and we went to extra innings.
10th inning
It’s worth noting that the “ghost runner” rule for extra innings, where a baserunner will start on second base in extra innings, does not apply to the postseason.
Pedro Avila came out of the ‘pen for the Guardians. He struck out Judge and walked Stanton. Avila got Jazz Chisholm to ground out, but then intentionally walked Rizzo. It paid off, as the reliever then struck out Volpe to end the top half of the inning.
While he tends to precede Weaver, Clay Holmes came out of the ‘pen for New York in the 10th. Bo Naylor ripped a single to right, then was bunted to second by Brayan Rocchio. Steven Kwan grounded out to the pitcher and Naylor was able to get to third base.
David Fry then stepped up with the winning run 90 feet away. He took the first pitch from Holmes for a ball, then watched a strike and fouled off another pitch. Holmes hung a sinker that wound up in the upper third of the strike zone and Fry didn’t miss it.
🚨 BELIEVELAND 🚨 pic.twitter.com/LV0HtIABkI
— MLB (@MLB) October 18, 2024
Fry launched a 399 ft. home run to left center to send the Guardians to Game 4 down just 2-1 instead of in an insurmountable 3-0 hole. The momentum has officially shifted in the series. Now, it’s up to the Yankees to respond.
For now, though, bask in the radio call for the Guardians and just appreciate the sport of baseball.
C̶A̶N̶’T̶ CAN BELIEVE IT.#ForTheLand | #GuardsBall pic.twitter.com/WX6wM8OXg4
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) October 18, 2024
