After last night’s back-and-forth dramatics, you could forgive fans of the New York Yankees and the Cleveland Guardians for raised heartrates, baited breath, and feelings of dread.
Those hoping for an easier night on the heart did not see their wishes granted as the Yankees once again watched a lead slip through their fingers late in the ballgame.
But unlike Game 3 of the American League Championship Series, the Yankees had time to recover – and recover they did, with Alex Verdugo driving in the winning run and Gleyber Torres tacking on some insurance in the top of the ninth to win 8-6 in Cleveland.
The Bronx Bombers are now one win away from their first World Series appearance since 2009.
They would face the winner of the National League Championship Series between the New York Mets and the Los Angeles Dodgers – which saw Game 5 of their series punctuated by home runs late in the afternoon on Friday.
Yankees pitcher Tommy Khanle was credited with the save in New York’s Game 4 victory
But in the ALCS, it was Mark Leiter Jr – a pitcher who was only just called up to the team today following an injury to reliever Ian Hamilton in Game 3 – earned the win for the Yankees.
Cleveland closer Emmanuel Clase was credited with the loss after a second consecutive night where he gave up crucial Yankee runs.
The Yankees started off strong with a two-run blast off the bat of outfielder Juan Soto – who took starter Gavin Williams deep to center field in the top of the first inning.
Cleveland responded that same inning when third baseman Jose Ramirez sent outfielder Steven Kwan home from third base to make it a 2-1 ballgame.
New York responded the following inning with a solo blast from catcher Austin Wells to center field. The Guardians kept within touching distance with an RBI single from Josh Naylor in the bottom of the third to make it 3-2.
There the score stayed through two more innings – raising the temperature of the situation inside Progressive Field in Ohio.
New York thought they finally found their breakthrough in the top of the sixth when the heart of their lineup came to the plate.
Cleveland reliever Cade Smith walked Soto and then surrendered a single to Judge. After Jazz Chisholm advanced the runners on a sacrifice bunt, designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton took Smith 404 feet deep to left center field and made it a 6-2 ball game.
Even then, there were nerves for fans of the Yankees. Sloppy infield play led to plenty of close calls as Cleveland began to get back into the game.
Clay Holmes, who gave up the game winning home run to David Fry the night before, was called in with runners on first and third in the bottom of the seventh.
Holmes couldn’t keep it together – surrendering three runs on back-to-back doubles by Ramirez and Josh Naylor to make it 6-5.
MORE TO FOLLOW.
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