CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – 32,531 fans at Progressive Field were in store for a rollercoaster of emotions, and they were treated to an instant classic in Game 3 of the ALCS.
“I don't know if it gets much better than that,” manager Stephen Vogt said. “What a fun baseball game for two really good teams.”
After a stunning three-run eighth inning by the Yankees off Emmanuel Clase, the Guardians were down to their final out in the ninth inning.
Vogt called upon Jhonkensy Noel to hit a two-out, two-run homer, and “Big Christmas” delivered with one of the most impactful swings of the season.
“I mean, he pinch-hit to hit a homer,” Vogt said. “That's why we sent him up there. He's not afraid of the big moment. We've seen it time and time again. No bigger swing of the bat until that one in the 10th.”
Noel erased a 5-3 New York lead after unleashing his bat on a 1-0 changeup, driving it 404 feet to left field. It was the second game-tying postseason homer in the ninth inning or later in Cleveland history, following Albert Belle in 1995 ALDS Game 1 vs. Boston.
It was also the sixth pinch-hit, game-tying homer with two outs in the ninth inning or later in postseason history, the first since Mike Lamb in 2004. “Big Christmas” snapped a drought of 76 plate appearances without a home run.
“It's the same sensation in a regular game and you have to have the same approach,” Noel said. “I know every time I get my name called it's because they believe in me and they trust me, and that's something they've done the whole year. That's kind of like my strength and I knew I was able to execute if he threw a fastball and then the changeup as he did.”
After a scoreless top of the 10th inning which featured a masterful play by Andres Gimenez, David Fry delivered the final blow. The All-Star launched a two-out, two-run homer of his own to left field to walk it off for the Guardians.
“At that point I blacked out,” Fry said when asked what was going through his mind while the ball flew out of the park. “I remember being like halfway down the first baseline looking back at the dugout and looking and saying, alright, I just have to make sure I touch all four bases and get home and celebrate.”
“What this guy has been through all year, what he's given to this team, the leadership that he's given us, and to step up in that moment against one of the best pitchers in the game, it was a moment I'll never forget,” manager Stephen Vogt said about Fry.
It’s the third postseason walk-off homer in franchise history. Cleveland has won seven of their last eight postseason extra-inning games dating back to 1998.
“That whole game was who we are as a ballclub,” Matthew Boyd said. “That's Guards' baseball.
The magic in the ninth and 10th innings wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for the disastrous eighth inning where the Yankees scored three runs off Emmanuel Clase.
Aaron Judge hit his 15th career postseason home run on a 1-2 pitch to right field to tie the game. Then on another 1-2 pitch, Giancarlo Stanton took advantage of a slider down the middle of the plate to give the Yankees a lead.
“There's not enough adjectives to talk about how good he was this season,” Fry said about his fellow All-Star Emmanuel Clase. “He carried our team all year long in the ninth inning, and it's our time to pick him up, and I'm glad we did.”
It’s the first time that Cleveland has given up back-to-back homers in the playoffs since October 5th, 2018.
Clase has given up six earned runs and three homers in six innings pitched this postseason. In the regular season, Clase had only given up five earned runs and two homers. It’s the first time he’s given up two home runs in an outing in his career.
“Emmanuel has been perfect,” Vogt said. “We couldn't have asked for anything more from Emmanuel all year and he is going to be right back out there in the ninth tomorrow night. He's human.”
The Yankees struck first as they have in every game of the series. New York’s catcher Jose Trevino hit an RBI single that passed the diving glove of first baseman Josh Naylor.
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Kyle Manzardo started the game as Cleveland’s designated hitter, and he launched his first career postseason home run in the third inning. The two-run, go-ahead blast traveled 395 feet to right field. The homer gave the Guardians their first lead of the ALCS.
With a leadoff single in the third inning, Brayan Rocchio extended his postseason hitting streak to eight games. Rocchio extended his club record for the longest hitting streak to begin a player’s postseason career.
The Guardians added a run in the sixth inning on an RBI single by Andres Gimenez. Lane Thomas scored after stealing third base, the first stolen base of his postseason career. Gimenez’s single snapped an 0-for-15 stretch with RISP for Cleveland’s offense.
Matthew Boyd gave Cleveland the longest outing by a starting pitcher this postseason. Boyd pitched five innings before Vogt made the call to the bullpen.
The 10-year MLB vet allowed one run, two hits, three walks, and recorded four strikeouts. The southpaw’s the first Cleveland starter to allow one-or-fewer runs in any three-start span in the playoffs.
“I don't know if comfort is the right word, but I can't get enough of it,” Boyd said. “It's awesome. Whatever role we're asked to do, we'll do it to get a W.”
Cade Smith relieved Boyd and was the master of the mound that Cleveland fans have fallen in love with this season. Smith recorded three outs on 10 pitches, all of which were strikes.
Austin Hedges snapped an 0-for-19 skid with a two-out double in the fourth inning. It was Hedges’ first career extra-base hit in the playoffs, and it marked the first hit by a Cleveland catcher this postseason.
The Guardians offense hit another two-out double in the fifth inning when Jose Ramirez scorched a ball down the right-field line. It was Ramirez’s ninth career postseason double, tying Sandy Alomar for the most in club history.
Cleveland improved to 5-1 all-time in the third game of the ALCS, winning each of their last five ALCS Game 3’s since 1997. They’ve also won five of their last six ALCS games at home dating back to 2007.
Teams that win Game 3 in a League Championship Series after falling behind 2-0 have gone on to win the series four of 21 times (19%).
The ALCS continues from Progressive Field for Games 4 and 5. Gavin Williams will make his first career postseason start in Game 4. Williams hasn’t pitched since his last regular season outing against the Cardinals on September 22nd.
“I'm grateful,” Williams said. “It's an exciting time. Not many people get this opportunity. For them to trust me, to give me the ball for Game 4 is pretty special. We've got an electric crowd here in Cleveland.”
The Guardians will face Yankees starter Luis Gil in Game 4. Gil will make his first start of the postseason on what’s expected to be a chilly night at Progressive Field. First pitch in Game 4 is scheduled for 8:08pm on Friday.