Yankees show they can win even when it’s messy, take strong ALCS lead against Guardians: Game Highlights
NEW YORK — This time, the Yankees demonstrated their ability to secure a win even when the game isn’t pretty. However, there’s nothing unattractive about being close to claiming an American League pennant.
The New York Yankees took what might be a crucial lead in the American League Championship Series by defeating the Cleveland Guardians 6-3 in Game 2 on Tuesday evening at Yankee Stadium, despite ace Gerrit Cole having a rough performance.
With this victory, the Yankees now lead the best-of-seven series 2-0, with a chance to wrap it up with just two more wins in three games at Progressive Field in Cleveland. Game 3 is set for Thursday.
Even though Game 2 was filled with ups and downs, a standout moment came from Aaron Judge, their captain and key player, who launched a massive 414-foot two-run home run, giving the Yankees some much-needed breathing space in what had been a surprisingly tight game.
This game felt unexpectedly close because the Guardians played with an urgent mentality right from the start. The Yankees jumped to a 3-0 lead after the first two innings, but the Guardians kept making it tense by getting the tying run to the plate multiple times. Despite their efforts, they failed to convert, leaving the bases loaded twice and stranding eight runners from the third to the fifth innings. Cole had a tough night, walking four batters and allowing 10 baserunners without finishing the fifth inning.
Still, the Yankees’ strong bullpen came to the rescue once again.
Clay Holmes, Tim Hill, Tommy Kahnle, and Luke Weaver combined to pitch the last 5⅔ innings effectively, giving up just two hits until Jose Ramirez hit a homer with one out in the ninth.
The bullpen’s exceptional postseason performance shows a 0.77 ERA over 23⅓ innings, with 23 strikeouts and only one extra-base hit allowed.
Here’s a recap of how Tuesday’s game unfolded:
Aaron Judge homers in the seventh, giving Yankees a cushion
NEW YORK — Aaron Judge has made his presence felt, and the New York Yankees are on the verge of pushing the Cleveland Guardians out of the American League Championship Series.
Judge hit his first postseason home run against Guardians reliever Hunter Gaddis, a powerful two-run shot to right center field that widened the Yankees’ lead to 6-2 in Game 2 of the ALCS.
Now just six outs away from taking the series lead, the Yankees have reached this point mostly without much help from Judge, who came into the game hitting only .133 — although he had six walks contributing to a .364 on-base percentage during the postseason.
In Game 2, he reached on an error in the first, hit a sacrifice fly in the second, and capped it off with the impressive 414-foot homer just beside the Yankee bullpen.
Guardians score in the fifth, chase Yankees’ Ace Gerrit Cole
NEW YORK — The Cleveland Guardians managed to get to Gerrit Cole and chipped away at the Yankees’ lead in the fifth inning on Tuesday. However, by then, they had already put themselves in a tough situation.
The Guardians brought the tying run to the plate with the bases loaded, but they had already used their best bench option an inning earlier when David Fry pinch-hit for catcher Bo Naylor. That left backup catcher Austin Hedges, who had a dismal .152 batting average this year, to step up.
Clay Holmes proceeded to strike him out on five pitches.
This left the Yankees with a slim 3-2 lead through five innings while the Guardians were still hopeful, albeit frustrated.
Cleveland stranded eight runners during the third, fourth, and fifth innings as Cole grappled with command, allowing six hits and four walks. The Guardians missed their best chance to capitalize in the fourth when they loaded the bases for the catcher’s spot.
Manager Stephen Vogt used Fry at that moment, but he quickly fouled out to third on the first pitch from Cole. Cole then delivered an impressive knuckle curve to freeze Brayan Rocchio and end the nine-pitch battle.
The Yankees managed to add an insurance run in an eventful inning where Jazz Chisholm and Anthony Rizzo both hit doubles, yet were picked off second base. Luckily for the Yankees, Rizzo’s double allowed Anthony Volpe to score after Guardians right fielder Will Brennan mishandled the ball, extending the lead to 4-2.
Guardians pull starter, use top reliever early as Yankees pull ahead
NEW YORK — The Cleveland Guardians are in a tough spot, trailing 3-0 just two innings into Game 2. They’ve already used their best reliever to prevent a greater catastrophe and are facing the infamous Yankees nemesis, Gerrit Cole.
Is this the end in The Land?
It feels like it as the Yankees put the pressure on, scoring two more runs in the second inning, led by three consecutive hits against Guardians starter Tanner Bibee. Bibee did get the first out of the inning but then intentionally walked Juan Soto to load the bases for none other than Aaron Judge?
The Guardians faced off against the likely AL MVP, with their rookie relief ace, Cade Smith, taking the mound. He limited Aaron Judge to just a sacrifice fly and managed to avoid more trouble.
They may have done enough to let the American League Championship Series return to Ohio with the Yankees ahead 2-0.
Yankees seize early advantage thanks to costly Guardians mistake
NEW YORK — After their initial game, it became evident that the Cleveland Guardians had to play flawlessly and give their starting pitchers room to perform if they wanted to compete with the New York Yankees in this ALCS.
However, just three batters into Game 2, they fell short.
An Aaron Judge popup floated high in the air and drifted as Guardians shortstop Brayan Rocchio chased it down, crossing over the infield. Unfortunately, he became overly relaxed and mishandled the catch.
This blunder resulted in an unearned run for the Yankees.
Afterward, Gleyber Torres, the leadoff batter, doubled, advanced to second on Juan Soto’s single, and then scored because of Rocchio’s error.
The situation worsened when the starter Tanner Bibee managed to retire Giancarlo Stanton with a foul out and struck out Anthony Volpe, making the run unearned.
Bibee, who is considered the Guardians’ top pitcher, has not pitched five complete innings in either of his playoff appearances. Rocchio’s mistake contributed to him needing 27 pitches in the first inning alone on Tuesday.
That was not their plan.
New York Yankees’ lineup for Game 2
- Gleyber Torres (R) 2B
- Juan Soto (L) RF
- Aaron Judge (R) CF
- Austin Wells (L) C
- Giancarlo Stanton (R) DH
- Jazz Chisholm Jr. (L) 3B
- Anthony Volpe (R) SS
- Anthony Rizzo (L) 1B
- Alex Verdugo (L) LF
Starter: Gerrit Cole
Cleveland Guardians’ lineup for Game 2
- Steven Kwan (L) LF
- Kyle Manzardo (L) DH
- José Ramírez (S) 3B
- Josh Naylor (L) 1B
- Lane Thomas (R) CF
- Will Brennan (L) RF
- Andrés Giménez (L) 2B
- Bo Naylor (L) C
- Brayan Rocchio (S) SS
Starter: Tanner Bibee
$162 million pitcher Carlos Rodón excels for Yankees in Game 1
NEW YORK – Ahead of the most significant start of his career, Carlos Rodón took advantage of the resources available to him as a New York Yankee.
He validated the Yankees’ substantial investment in his powerful left arm.
On Monday night at Yankee Stadium, Rodón met the expectations that came with his six-year, $162 million contract signed before the 2023 season. His past two seasons, filled with injuries and a frustrating 4.74 ERA, faded into the background with every swing and miss recorded against the Cleveland Guardians, along with each shutout inning on the scoreboard.
In the first game of this American League Championship Series, Rodón became a vital asset for the Yankees, potentially aiding their quest for World Series title number 28.
Anthony Volpe shines in October for Yankees
NEW YORK – Anthony Volpe may have limited playoff experience, but he spoke with the confidence of someone seasoned in the Yankees’ October atmosphere.
As they stood on the brink of the ALCS at Yankee Stadium facing the Cleveland Guardians, Volpe expressed that the Yankees were “in a really good spot.”
“However, I don’t believe we’ve played our best baseball yet,” he added.
Having been a Yankees fan while growing up in New Jersey and Manhattan, Volpe is not too far removed from sitting in the stands during playoff games in the Bronx.
Reflecting on his early experiences, Volpe noted that those October matchups were the season highlights for him.
“What makes it even better now is, as a fan, you would always look forward to October, waiting for a chance to attend a big game,” Volpe mentioned. “But now I realize how much work is required to get to this point,” said the Yankees’ young shortstop. – Pete Caldera, NorthJersey.com