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Yankees vs. Guardians: Cleveland stuns New York with HRs from Jhonkensy Noel and David Fry

Jasper
Yankees vs. Guardians: Cleveland stuns New York with HRs from Jhonkensy Noel and David Fry

A Cleveland Guardians fiasco on Thursday turned into one of the greatest games in franchise history with a 7-5 win in Game 3 of the ALCS, against which they now trail 2-1.

After a strong 7 2/3 innings from starting pitcher Matthew Boyd and Cleveland’s elite bullpen, Emmanuel Clase came up with a four-out save in the eighth inning and blew it, allowing back-to-back home runs to Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. It was a hard slap in the face — until the bottom of the ninth inning.

With two outs and a runner on second, Guardians rookie Jhonkensy Noel showed off to the world with a game-winning home run that sent Progressive Field into a frenzy. He knew as soon as he made contact.

An inning later, David Fry hit his own two-run home run, giving Cleveland a walk-off win and life in the ALCS. It was a game in which each team’s closer failed a four-out save, and that was exactly what Cleveland needed to get back in the series.

Game 4 is scheduled for Friday at 8:08 p.m. ET (TBS), with Gavin Williams for the Guardians taking on rookie Luis Gil for the Yankees.

Here’s how it went at Yahoo Sports:

The live broadcast has ended67 updates

  • FINAL: Guardians 7, Yankees 5

    A perfect ending to a classic of a game. David Fry didn’t just hit Naylor in – he hit a walk-off home run off Clay Holmes, giving the Guardians a win that will long be remembered.

    Instead of facing a loss, the Guardians will head into Game 4 on Friday with a chance to even the series. It will be Gavin Williams vs. Luis Gil.

  • The Yankees get a second out on a Steven Kwan grounder, but Naylor reaches third. David Fry will strike with the winning run from 90 feet out.

  • And then Rocchio pushes him forward with a sac bunt. The winning run occurs at second base with one out and the top of the Guardians order.

  • Bo Naylor starts with a single…

  • Pedro Avila pitches a scoreless 10th inning, and here the Guardians have a chance to win the game. Clay Holmes will take over, with Bo Naylor, Brayan Rocchio and Steven Kwan in line.

  • Another perspective on one of the biggest home runs in Guardians history if they win this game.

  • Oh my God, what a piece by Andrés Giménez and Josh Naylor. Jazz Chisholm Jr. appeared to sneak a grounder out of the infield, but Giménez tracked it down and somehow got it to Naylor in time. Neither player was balanced when handling the ball, but it was a much-needed second down in the 10th inning.

  • Who is Jhonkensy Noel?

    The Guardians’ newest hero is a rookie who was called up to the major leagues in June and played 67 games in the regular season, hitting .218/.288/.486 with 13 home runs. Just the type of guy you need when you need a homer.

    He wasn’t a big international prospect when he signed with the Guardians in 2017 and he never made the top 100 prospects list, but he’s a big guy with big power at 6’3″ tall and weighs 250 Pound. Hence his nickname “Big Christmas” (his last name is Noel, see).

  • The inning ends with a strikeout one batter later, but suddenly we’re faced with extras. This is a playoff game.

  • Guardians 5, Yankees 5

    It’s a big Christmas in October. Jhonkensy comes through with the biggest home run of his career, a game-winning, no-doubt, two-run home run to left field that stuns the Yankees.

  • OK, now Lane Thomas hits a double against the center field wall. It’s up to pinch hitter Jhonkensy Noel.

  • Then Josh Naylor hits a 1-6-3 double play. The guards are suddenly at the end of their strength.

  • José Ramírez reaches base on an error by Anthony Rizzo, and now the Guardians have the winning run at the plate with no outs. Clay Holmes is warming up in case things go wrong for Weaver.

  • Juan Soto singled with a hit in the top of the ninth. The Guardians need two runs against Luke Weaver, who stays in for a four-out save.

  • Yankees 5, Guardians 3

    A sacrifice fly from Gleyber Torres brings in Volpe, while Alex Verdugo goes to third. Next up: Juan Soto.

  • Eli Morgan came on for Clase and is now out after beating Austin Wells. There are still two runners in the points, one is eliminated, Andrew Walters takes over.

  • Hoo boy. The Guardians appeared to have eliminated the leaders in third place, but the upset ended with José Ramírez losing the ball as he tried to pass Anthony Volpe. Now the Yankees have runners at second and third with no outs and an opportunity to add some coverage.

  • Weaver struck out Fry and the Guardians reached their final three outs. At the bottom of the ninth it will be José Ramírez, Josh Naylor and Lane Thomas.

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