A Cleveland Guardians fiasco on Thursday turned into one of the greatest games in franchise history, with a 7-5 victory in Game 3 of the ALCS that they now trail 2-1.
After a strong 7 2/3 innings from starting pitcher Matthew Boyd and the elite Cleveland bullpen, Emmanuel Clase entered for a four-out save in the eighth inning and blew it by allowing back-to-back homers from Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. It was a gut punch of a game — until the bottom of the ninth inning.
With two outs and a runner on second, Guardians rookie Jhonkensy Noel introduced himself to the world with a game-tying, pinch-hit home run, sending Progressive Field into a frenzy. He knew it the instant he made contact.
One inning later, David Fry hit his own two-run homer to give Cleveland a walk-off win and life in the ALCS. It was a game in which each team’s closer blew a four-out save, and it was exactly what Cleveland needed to get back into the series.
Game 4 is scheduled for 8:08 p.m. ET Friday (TBS), with Gavin Williams taking the mound for the Guardians against rookie Luis Gil for the Yankees.
Here’s how it all went down on Yahoo Sports:
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FINAL: Guardians 7, Yankees 5
A perfect end to a classic of a game. David Fry doesn’t just hit Naylor in — he clubs a walk-off homer off Clay Holmes to give the Guardians a win that’s going to be remembered for a while.
Instead of facing a sweep, the Guardians will enter Game 4 on Friday with a chance to tie the series. It will be Gavin Williams vs. Luis Gil.
Yankees get a second out on a Steven Kwan grounder, but Naylor reaches third. David Fry will hit with the winning run 90 feet away.
And then Rocchio advances him with a sac bunt. The winning run is at second base with one out and the top of the Guardians order due up.
Bo Naylor leads off with a single …
Pedro Avila throws a scoreless 10th inning, and here come the Guardians with a chance to walk it off. Clay Holmes will take over with Bo Naylor, Brayan Rocchio and Steven Kwan due up.
Another angle of one of the biggest homers in Guardians history if they take this game.
Oh my, what a play from Andrés Giménez and Josh Naylor. Jazz Chisholm Jr. appeared to sneak a grounder out of the infield, but Giménez tracked it down and somehow got it to Naylor in time. Neither player was on balance while handling the ball, but it’s a much-needed second out in the 10th inning.
Who is Jhonkensy Noel?
The Guardians’ newest hero is a rookie who got his major-league call-up in June and played 67 games during the regular season, hitting .218/.288/.486 with 13 home runs. Exactly the kind of guy you want when you need a homer.
He wasn’t a huge international prospect when he signed with the Guardians in 2017, and he never made a top-100 prospect list, but he’s a big dude with big power at 6-foot-3 and 250 pounds. Hence his nickname, Big Christmas (his last name is Noel, see).
The inning ends one batter later with a strikeout, but we are suddenly headed to extras. This is a playoff game.
Guardians 5, Yankees 5
It’s Big Christmas in October. Jhonkensy comes through with the biggest homer of his career, a game-tying, no-doubt, pinch-hit, two-run homer to left field to stun the Yankees.
OK, now Lane Thomas hits a double to the center-field wall. It is down to pinch hitter Jhonkensy Noel.
Then Josh Naylor hits into a 1-6-3 double play. Guardians are suddenly down to their last out.
José Ramírez reaches base on an Anthony Rizzo error, and now the Guardians have the tying run at the plate with no outs. Clay Holmes is warming in case this goes south for Weaver.
Juan Soto strikes out to end the top of the ninth. The Guardians will need two runs against Luke Weaver, who stays in for a four-out save.
Yankees 5, Guardians 3
A sacrifice fly from Gleyber Torres brings in Volpe, with Alex Verdugo going to third. Next up: Juan Soto.
Eli Morgan came in for Clase and is now coming out after striking out Austin Wells. Still two runners in scoring position with one out as Andrew Walters takes over.
Hoo boy. The Guardians appeared to have the lead runner out at third, but the rundown ends with José Ramírez losing the ball while trying to tag Anthony Volpe. Now the Yankees have runners on second and third with no outs and the chance to add some insurance.
Weaver strikes Fry out, and the Guardians are down to their last three outs. It will be José Ramírez, Josh Naylor and Lane Thomas in the bottom of the ninth.
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