Guardians Stun Yankees with Walk-off Win in ALCS Game 3 Thriller

0
33

In a game that kept fans on the edge of their seats, the Cleveland Guardians handed the New York Yankees a 7-5 defeat in a dramatic extra-innings Game 3 of the American League Championship Series on Thursday night at Progressive Field. With Cleveland’s victory, the Yankees now lead the best-of-seven series 2-1, setting up a crucial Game 4.

Judge’s Heroics Not Enough

It felt like déjà vu for Yankees fans when Aaron Judge stepped up in the eighth inning. Judge had been the hero in Game 2, and with his team trailing, the Yankees faithful were hoping for more magic. Judge didn’t disappoint. In a battle of power vs. power against Cleveland closer Emmanuel Clase, Judge cranked a game-tying homer over the right-field wall, his second of the postseason and his second in as many games.

Just seven pitches later, Giancarlo Stanton joined the party, launching a solo homer to give the Yankees a 5-4 lead. It was Stanton’s first appearance in the cleanup spot during this postseason, and he delivered in a big way. With momentum squarely on New York’s side, it felt like the game was over. But baseball, as it often does, had other plans.

guardians-yankees-walk-off-win-extra-innings

Guardians Strike Back in the Ninth

Yankees fans’ excitement turned into disbelief in the ninth inning. With Luke Weaver on the mound, the Guardians managed to keep their hopes alive. Cleveland pinch-hitter Jhonkensy Noel blasted a two-out, two-run homer to tie the game at 5-5, sending the Progressive Field crowd into a frenzy.

Weaver, who had been brought in to close out the game, was left stunned as Noel’s homer erased the lead that Judge and Stanton had worked so hard to build. The Yankees, who hadn’t trailed since Game 2 of the AL Division Series, were suddenly faced with extra innings in a game they thought was already won.

Guardians Win It in the 10th

Cleveland wasn’t done with their heroics. In the 10th inning, David Fry stepped up to the plate and delivered the knockout blow—a two-run homer off Clay Holmes, giving the Guardians a 7-5 win. The walk-off blast sent the fans into a frenzy and left the Yankees reeling as they walked off the field.

Holmes, who has been solid for the Yankees in relief, just couldn’t keep Cleveland’s bats in check. Fry’s homer was the final gut-punch in a game that felt like a rollercoaster for both teams.

Yankees Struggle to Maintain Momentum

The Yankees have spent much of the postseason playing from ahead, but Game 3 was a different story. They struck first in the second inning, with Jose Trevino knocking in a run-scoring single, marking his first at-bat since September 29. But Trevino was picked off at first base, a costly mistake that seemed to set the tone for the Yankees’ evening. It was the third time in two games that a Yankee had been picked off, a troubling trend that could haunt them as the series progresses.

After Trevino’s RBI single, Cleveland starter Matthew Boyd found his groove, retiring the next 10 Yankees he faced through the fifth inning. The Guardians leaned on their bullpen from there, with Cade Smith, throwing 10 straight strikes to retire heavyweights like Judge and Stanton in the sixth. Cleveland’s bullpen, known for its power arms, looked untouchable at times, until the Yankees’ late-game rally.

Cleveland’s Bullpen Outlasts New York’s

While the Yankees managed to break through against Clase in the eighth inning, Cleveland’s bullpen outdueled New York’s in the end. Rookie Kyle Manzardo had earlier homered off Yankees starter Clarke Schmidt, and Andrés Giménez added another run-scoring single off Tim Mayza in the sixth to keep the pressure on New York.

The Yankees, however, had no answer for Cleveland’s power arms when it mattered most. Clase, despite giving up the go-ahead homer to Stanton, kept the Guardians within striking distance. And in the ninth, with everything on the line, the Guardians’ bats came alive just when they needed it most.

Previous articleBoston College’s Comeback Bid Falls Short Against Virginia Tech
Next articleRohit Sharma Owns Up to Toss Blunder as India Crumbles for 46 Against New Zealand
Amelia Rose
Amelia Rose is a renowned cryptocurrency writer and expert with years of experience in the industry. Her in-depth analysis and insights into the latest trends and developments of the crypto market make her popular among readers. She has written for various reputable publications and websites, providing her readers with a clear understanding of crypto world.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here