Guardians Walk-Off against Yankees in ALCS

Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images

October 17, 2024

Guardians 7, Yankees 5 (10 innings)

The Cleveland Guardians came back to win Game Three of the ALCS, 7–5, against the New York Yankees on Thursday at Progressive Field in Cleveland. A walk-off home run by David Fry in the 10th inning did the trick, as they cut the Yankees’ lead in the ALCS to 2–1. The Guardians will have the opportunity to even the series at home on Friday with first pitch scheduled for 8:08 pm Eastern. It will be a duel of righties as Luis Gil (0–0, —) will take the mound for the Yankees, while Gavin Williams (0–0, —) will get the ball for the Guardians.

Yankees Score Early

The Yankees got on the board first in the top of the second off Guardians lefty Matthew Boyd. Boyd struck out Jon Berti swinging to open the frame before walking Anthony Volpe. Alex Verdugo advanced Volpe to third with a double to right. On deck was Jose Trevino, who scored Volpe with a single to right as Verdugo moved to third on the play. Trevino went no further, however, as Boyd picked him off trying to steal second. Gleyber Torres, who was at the plate when Trevino was picked off, lined out to left to end the frame.

The Guardians grabbed a 2–1 lead in the bottom of the third against Yankees starter Clarke Schmidt. Brayan Rocchio led off by lining an infield single that was too much for Torres to handle at second. After Steven Kwan flied to center, Kyle Manzardo stepped in and launched a two-run homer 12 rows deep in right.

They added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth off Yankees reliever Ian Hamilton. Lane Thomas drew a walk to lead things off. He advanced to second on what was originally ruled a single by Daniel Schneemann. The Yankees challenged the close play at first and successfully got it overturned shortly before bringing in Tim Mayza to relieve Hamilton, who left the game with a calf injury. Moments later, Thomas swiped third for his first stolen base of the postseason. He scored on a single up the middle by Andres Gimenez.

Yankees Take the Lead

Hunter Gaddis took the mound for the Guardians in the top of the eighth. Austin Wells entered the game as a pinch-hitter for Trevino. He struck out on a foul tip to lead off the inning. After Torres grounded to second, Juan Soto walked, prompting Guardians manager Stephen Vogt to bring in closer Emmanuel Clase. Up next was Aaron Judge, who sent one over the wall in right for his second home run of the postseason, tying the game 3–3. On deck was Giancarlo Stanton, who made it back-to-back homers with a solo shot to center, his third of the postseason.

The Yankees scored their final run of the evening in the top of the ninth off Guardians reliever Eli Morgan. He issued a free pass to Volpe to open the inning. Volpe moved to third when Verdugo reached second on a fielder’s choice and a botched rundown. The rundown culminated with third baseman Jose Ramirez dropping the ball for an error. After Wells struck out swinging, the Guardians brought in Andrew Walters to relieve Morgan. Moments later, Volpe scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Torres.

Walk-Off

The Guardians knotted it up at five runs apiece in the bottom of the ninth off Yankees reliever Luke Weaver. Ramirez led off and reached on a fielding error by Anthony Rizzo at first. On deck was Josh Naylor, who grounded into a 1–6–3 double play. That brought up Thomas, who worked the count full. With the Guardians down to their last strike, Thomas ripped a double off the high wall in left-center. Up next was Jhonkensy Noel, pinch-hitting for Schneemann. Noel tied it with a two-run dinger to left, his first of the postseason.

The Guardians won it in the bottom of the 10th off Yankees reliever Clay Holmes. Bo Naylor opened the frame with a single to right. Two batters later, Fry stepped up to the dish and sent everyone home happy with a two-run walk-off home run to left-center.

What Went Right for the Guardians

Players and fans alike will be talking about Fry’s walk-off shot and Noel’s game-tying blast for years to come. Manzardo also did his part with his homer in the third. They were also able to get a timely RBI hit by Gimenez in the sixth.

What Went Wrong for the Guardians

The Guardians fell victim to the homers by Judge and Stanton. They also gave up the RBI single by Trevino earlier in the game. The fielding error by Ramirez hurt them a little as well.

Pitching Notes

Starting pitchers for both teams received no-decisions for their efforts on Thursday. For the Guardians, lefty Matthew Boyd pitched five innings in which he allowed one earned run on two hits. He surrendered three walks and struck out four on 75 pitches, 46 of which were strikes. Right-hander Pedro Avila notched his first win of the postseason after coming in to pitch the 10th inning, making him 1–0 with an ERA of zero. He walked two and struck out two.

For the Yankees, righty Clarke Schmidt tossed 4 2/3 innings, giving up two runs, both earned, on five hits. He walked two, struck out one, and surrendered one home run on 78 pitches, 48 of which were strikes.

After recording two outs in the 10th inning, Holmes took his first loss of the postseason, bringing his record to 2–1 with an ERA of 2.45. He gave up two runs, both earned, on two hits, one of which was a home run. Those two runs were the first he allowed all postseason.

Vogt’s Postgame Comments

After the game, Vogt was asked for his thoughts. “That was an incredible game on both sides,” Vogt said. “All the emotions, ups and downs, back and forth, you name it. If there’s an emotion, we all felt it on both sides. I couldn’t be more proud of our guys. That’s exactly who we are. We never quit. We got punched in the teeth pretty hard there in the eighth, and our guys stepped up huge for the guy that carried us all year long. That was really fun to see.”

Fry’s Postgame Comments

David Fry also spoke with reporters after the game, explaining what was going through his mind when he hit the walk-off home run. “Yeah, obviously Clay (Holmes) is a really tough at-bat, especially for a righty with that sinker-slider combo,” he said. “I guess it was my second at-bat off of Weaver was no good at all. And I was just like, I just told God, like hey, man, take this. It’s a tough matchup, just try to have fun, you take the at-bat, got behind in the count and just got a pitch up in the zone and luckily it went out.”