The Yankees beat the Guardians for a 2-0 lead in the MLB playoff series
Yankees pitcher Aaron Judge hits a two-run home run in the seventh against the Rangers in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series on Tuesday.
Yankees pitcher Aaron Judge hits a two-run home run in the seventh against the Rangers in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series on Tuesday.
New York – Aaron Judge hit his first home run of the Major League Baseball playoffs and the New York Yankees beat Cleveland 6-3 on Tuesday to take command of the American League Championship Series. Judge broke open a tight game with his two-run home run in the seventh inning, as the Yankees took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series, which continues Thursday in Cleveland.
“We have to keep things as they are,” said the Judge. “It’s going to be a loud environment, a fun environment. We’ve got to go out there and keep playing our game … feed off the energy and take it from there.”
The winner of the series advances to the World Series against the New York Mets or Los Angeles Dodgers.
Yankees slugger Judge, whose 58 regular season home runs lead MLB, hit a home run over the center field wall to give New York a 6-2 lead with his 14th home run in the playoffs.
“It was good to add two more points there,” said the judge. The Rangers left 11 runners on base while four Yankees relief pitchers were thrown in Cleveland after starter Gerrit Cole went just 4⅓ innings.
“These guys came in, they’re healthy, they feel good, great performances from some guys in the backfield,” Judge said of New York’s relievers.
The Yankees are seeking their first trip to the World Series since winning for a record 27th time in 2009, while Cleveland has not reached the finals since 2016 and last won a World Series in 1948.
New York’s Gleyber Torres doubled down the left-field line, took third base on a single by Juan Soto and scored the first run of the first inning when Judge reached base on an error by the Guardians shortstop Brayan Rocchio.
In the second, Anthony Volpe singled, took third on an Anthony Rizzo single and scored on Alex Verdugo’s double down the left field line to give the Yankees a 2-0 lead. Soto walked intentionally to load the bases for Judge, whose sacrifice fly against relief pitcher Cade Smith allowed Rizzo to score for a 3-0 lead.
Cole got out of a bases-loaded situation in the fourth inning by retiring Rocchio, whose third single had given him hits in his first six playoff games to set a Cleveland record.
The Guardians loaded the bases again in the fifth when Steven Kwan singled, extending his club-record hitting streak to 12 games, Kyle Manzardo singled and Jose Ramirez walked.
Naylor brought Kwan home with a sacrifice fly and advanced Manzardo to third base. Lane Thomas walked to load the bases again and Will Brennan hit into a fielder’s choice that allowed Manzardo to score to make it 3-2 before Yankees reliever Clay Holmes struck out Austin Hedges at three to end it. the threat The Yankees extended their lead to 4-2 in the sixth when Volpe walked and Rizzo hit a double to right field, with Volpe scoring on a throwing error by Cleveland right fielder Brennan, that sets the stage for Judge’s home run.
Cleveland’s Ramirez added a solo home run in the ninth inning to narrow the final margin of defeat.
The Guardians gave up Alex Cobb in Game 1 with a left shoulder strain, ending his season. Pitcher Ben Lively was added to the lineup.
