Yankees Win ALCS over Guardians

Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images

October 19, 2024

Yankees 5, Guardians 2 (10 innings)

The New York Yankees are heading to the World Series with a 5–2 win over the Cleveland Guardians. To set the scene, it was Game Five of the American League Championship series at Progressive Field in Cleveland. Yankees outfielder Juan Soto blasted a three-run shot in the 10th inning, silencing the crowd. Winning the series, four games to one, the Yankees have punched their ticket to their 41st Fall Classic, seeking their 28th series victory.

Their opponent is still to be determined. It all depends on who wins the NLCS between the New York Mets and the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers have a 3–2 series lead heading into Game Six, which will take place on Sunday evening. First pitch will be at 5:08 pm Pacific at Dodger Stadium. The Mets will send lefty Sean Manaea (2–0, 2.65 ERA) to the mound in Game Six, while the Dodgers have yet to announce their starting pitcher.

Tight Ballgame

The Guardians scored in the bottom of the second off Yankees starter Carlos Rodon. After Lane Thomas struck out swinging to open the frame, Josh Naylor singled on a soft grounder that was out of the reach of Jazz Chisholm Jr. at third. Rodon collected another swinging strikeout, this one at the hands of Jhonkensy Noel, bringing up Josh’s brother Bo Naylor. The Guardians took a 1–0 lead when one Naylor drove in the other with a sharp double to right.

The Guardians scored their final run of their season in the bottom of the fifth. Andres Gimenez reached on a double to left, bringing up Brayan Rocchio, who struck out swinging. On deck was Steven Kwan, who plated Gimenez with a single to center.

The Yankees tied it 2–2 in the top of the sixth against Guardians starter Tanner Bibee. Gleyber Torres led off with a single to left. Soto followed with a single up the middle, advancing Torres to second. Aaron Judge grounded into a 6–4–3 double play, moving Torres to third, and Soto was thrown out at second on the play. That brought up Giancarlo Stanton, who tied the game with a two-run home run to left.

Extra Innings in October

The game remained tied at two runs apiece until the 10th inning. With reliever Hunter Gaddis on the mound for the Guardians, Anthony Volpe lined to short, bringing up Austin Wells, who drew a free pass. Alex Verdugo reached on a fielder’s choice. Wells reached second on a botched catch by Rocchio at short, and Jasson Dominguez was brought in as a pinch-runner for Wells at second. Torres struck out swinging with Soto looming in the on-deck circle. Soto sent one deep to center, giving the Yankees a 5–2 lead, and eventually the win and celebration on the field.

What Went Right for the Yankees

The Yankees found themselves in an early hole, but they were able to dig their way out in the sixth. Stanton’s game-tying homer in that inning proved to be a key moment in this game, second only to Soto’s blast in the 10th.

What Went Wrong for the Yankees

The brothers Naylor proved to be a bit of a problem for the Yankees on Saturday. Bo brought in Josh with his double to right in the second. The Yankees also coughed up Kwan’s RBI single in the fifth.

No-Decision for Rodon.

Yankees starter Carlos Rodon did not factor in the decision after tossing 4 2/3 innings and allowing two earned runs on five hits with one walk and six strikeouts. His 22 total strikeouts across his first three postseason games for the Yankees tie him with David Cone (1995-96) and Red Ruffing (1932-36) for the second-most in franchise history. Only Gerrit Cole had more in his first three postseason games for the club. Rodon walked Rocchio to lead off the third, which was his first walk allowed in the 2024 postseason. He had not issued a base on balls across his first 11 2/3 frames to begin the 2024 playoffs and tallied 20 strikeouts in that span.

Yankees reliever Luke Weaver earned his first career postseason win after pitching two scoreless innings to finish the game, allowing one baserunner. Weaver also had one strikeout. He appeared in four of the five games in the American League Championship Series.

Bibee’s Evening

Guardians starter Tanner Bibee also took a no-decision after tossing 5 2/3 innings and allowing two earned runs on six hits with no walks and five strikeouts. His 5 2/3 innings on Saturday mark the longest start for any Guardians pitcher in the 2024 postseason. Bibee hit two Yankees with pitches in the top of the first.

This was the first game of his career, regular-season or postseason, in which he hit multiple batters. Saturday was the third time in Cleveland postseason history that a pitcher has hit multiple batters in an inning.

After surrendering Soto’s home run, Gaddis was saddled with the loss, bringing his postseason record to 1–1 with an ERA of 4.91.

Postgame Comments

After the game, Yankees manager Aaron Boone expressed his gratitude toward his players, and for the chance to take this team to the World Series. “There are a lot of emotions,” he said. “Just really proud of this group, proud of this organization. To get to do it with these guys every single day and what they have is very special. Just going to look forward to in the next couple days see who we play. I keep saying we get to go play for a World Championship now. That’s pretty sweet.”