Alex Verdugo took first with a weak grounder to shortstop, but was unable to make a clean defense as Cleveland Guardians shortstop Brian Rocchio rushed forward. Pinch runner John Barty scored, giving the New York Yankees a 7-6 lead. The bottom of the 9th inning of Game 4 of the American League Championship Series.
Gleyber Torres then singled to center field, driving in Anthony Volpe and pushing the Yankees’ lead to 8-6. Tommy Kahnle held the lead and kept the Guardians out under the goal.
Cleveland tied the game in the bottom of the 9th inning with one out and a walk by Johnkensie Noel, and Andres Jimenez hit a single to give them the winning run. However, Bo Naylor flew to center field and Rocchio grounded out, ending the game.
They won 8-6, giving the Yankees a 3-1 series lead. New York can clinch the AL pennant and a berth to the World Series with a win Saturday.
Once again, Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase looked human in the postseason after pitching super heroically during the regular season. Entering the ninth with the score tied at 6-6, Clase allowed back-to-back singles to Rizzo and Volpe. Austin Wells struck out and Volpe stole second base, setting up Verdugo’s winning grounder.
Cade Smith was Cleveland’s fourth pitcher in the game, entering Friday’s matchup with just one run allowed in nine postseason innings. However, the result in the fourth match was disastrous.
Juan Soto issued a walk and Aaron Judge singled to start the sixth. Jazz Chisholm Jr. advanced to second and third base with a sacrifice bunt. Smith then hit a two-strike fastball over the plate, and Giancarlo Stanton crushed it for a three-run homer, giving the Yankees a 6-2 lead.
Soto and Wells also hit home runs in Game 4, crushing Guardians starting pitcher Gavin Williams in the top of the first and second innings. After that, Williams seemed to calm down, but manager Stephen Vogt pulled Williams with one out in the third inning.
Cleveland rallied in the seventh, when Jose Ramirez and Josh Naylor hit back-to-back one-out RBI doubles off Clay Holmes to cut the deficit to 6-5.
However, Noel was unable to repeat his late-inning pinch-hit home run heroics against Mark Leiter Jr. He hit a long fly ball down the left field line, but this time it stayed on target. Reiter was added to the Yankees’ ALCS roster before the game to replace injured Ian Hamilton. The Guardians added one more run in the eighth inning on a timely hit by David Frye, but that was all it took for the Yankees to advance in the ninth inning.
Tanner Bibby will start Game 5, with the Guardians’ season on the line. Carlos Rodon will be the Yankees’ starting pitcher on Saturday, with first pitch scheduled for 8:08 p.m. ET.
Here’s how Game 4 will unfold: Here’s the latest news and highlights from Yahoo Sports’ live blog.
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Friday, October 18, 2024, 11:37 PM EDT
Yankees win 8-6 and take a 3-1 lead in the ALCS.
Tommy Kahnle led the Yankees to an 8-6 victory, pitching a shutout in the ninth inning.
The game-winning run came for the Guardians after a walk by John Kensie Noel with one out and a single by Andres Jimenez. However, Bo Naylor flew to center field and Brayan Rocchio grounded out to second base, ending the game.
They won 8-6, giving the Yankees a 3-1 series lead. New York can clinch the American League pennant and a berth to the World Series on Saturday.
Friday, October 18, 2024, 11:35 PM EDT
Guardians bring home the final blow
Johnkensie Noel tied the game with a one-out walk, followed by a single to right field by Andres Jimenez. This gave Bo Naylor the winning goal.
Friday, October 18, 2024, 11:22 PM EDT
Gleyber Torres gives Yankees an 8-6 lead.
The Yankees took a two-run lead when Gleyber Torres singled Anthony Volpe to center field.
Friday, October 18, 2024, 11:21 PM EDT
Yankees lead 7-6
Emmanuel Clase struck out Austin Wells, giving him some breathing room. However, the Yankees still had runners on second and third base with one out.
Alex Verdugo then hit a weak grounder to shortstop, but Brian Rocchio was unable to handle the ball as he charged, allowing John Berti to score the go-ahead run.
Friday, October 18, 2024, 11:16 PM EDT
Yankees threaten in the 9th inning
Anthony Rizzo led off the top of the 9th inning with a single off Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase. John Varty was a pinch runner. Anthony Volpe hit another single, moving Berti to third base.
Crace faced Austin Wells, two runners, no outs.
Volpe stole second base, giving the Yankees runners on second and third base.
Friday, October 18, 2024, 11:11pm EDT
Mark Leiter Jr. strikes out Josh Naylor to keep the game tied.
Mark Leiter Jr. intentionally walked Jose Ramirez to face Josh Naylor, putting runners on first and second base with two outs.
He then struck out Naylor to end the inning. The game went into the 9th inning tied at 6-6.
Friday, October 18, 2024, 11:08 PM EDT
Cleveland tied the game at 6-6.
David Fry is at it again. He hit a ground ball to first base, which was fielded by Mark Leiter Jr. However, Reiter failed to toss the ball cleanly to Anthony Rizzo, and the ball went between his legs. This allowed Bo Naylor to score the tying run.
Friday, October 18, 2024, 11:04 PM EDT
With one out and 3rd base, Guardian tied the game.
Brayan Rocchio grounded out to shortstop to advance Bo Naylor to third base. Steven Kwan comes to bat 90 feet from the tying run.
Friday, October 18, 2024, 11:02 PM EDT
Game-tying run to Cleveland.
Bo Naylor led off the bottom of the 8th inning with a double. Next up is Brian Rocchio.
Friday, October 18, 2024, 11:01 PM EDT
Hunter Gaddis strikes out on the side.
Hunter Gaddis appeared as the Guardians’ eighth man and did not allow the Yankees to concede any more runs.
The right-handed pitcher struck out Aaron Judge, Jazz Chisholm Jr., and Giancarlo Stanton, stopping the Yankees in order.
Friday, October 18, 2024, 10:52 PM EDT
Mark Leiter Jr. continues to lead Yankees
Mark Leiter Jr. struck out Andres Jimenez and the Guardians held a 6-5 Yankees lead at the end of the seventh inning.
Again, Reiter was only added to New York’s ALCS roster before Game 4 as a replacement for the injured Ian Hamilton.
Friday, October 18, 2024, 10:49 PM EDT
No clutch homer for John Kensey Noel this time.
Johnkensie Noel couldn’t repeat his Game 3 home run. He hit a right fielder down the left field line, but the ball stayed on target and was caught by Alex Verdugo.
Friday, October 18, 2024, 10:45 PM EDT
Yankees pitching change
After giving up a five-pitch walk to Lane Thomas, Clay Holmes was out. Manager Aaron Boone brought in Mark Leiter Jr., who had just been added to the Yankees’ ALCS roster, to play against pinch hitter Johnkensie Noel at first and second base with one out.
Friday, October 18, 2024, 10:41 PM EDT
Jose Ramirez and Josh Naylor make it 6-5
The Guardians made it a one-point game. Jose Ramirez hit Brayan Rocchio with a one-out double, followed by Josh Naylor with a double, and Steven Kwan and Ramirez scored.
There was still one out in the 7th inning, 6-5.
Friday, October 18, 2024, 10:35 PM EDT
Clay Holmes wins rematch with David Frye
David Frye will never repeat his home run heroics against Clay Holmes. Holmes struck out the fly ball with a sweeper and succeeded in the rematch.
Friday, October 18, 2024, 10:32 PM EDT
Guardian is preparing a threat
The Guardians started the bottom of the seventh inning with Brayan Rocchio walking and getting to third base on Stephen Kwan’s single.
Because of this, Aaron Boone convinced them to take Jake Cousins and bring in Clay Holmes. With two runners and no outs, David Frye comes to bat.
Friday, October 18, 2024, 10:26 PM EDT
Joey Cantillo isn’t wild this time
After throwing four wild pitches in Game 1 of the ALCS, Guardians relief pitcher Joey Cantillo had a calm performance in the top of the seventh inning.
Cantillo walked Alex Verdugo to get the ball out of bounds, but then grounded out Gleyber Torres into a double play. He pinned Juan Soto with a changeup, ending a scoreless inning.
Friday, October 18, 2024, 10:17 PM EDT
Jake Cousins pitches six scoreless innings.
In the bottom of the 6th inning, the Guardians had no answer. Jake Cousins came on as a reliever for the Yankees and allowed a double to Andres Jimenez. However, he struck out Bo Naylor, keeping Cleveland out of the game.
The Yankees came to bat in the top of the seventh inning with a 6-2 lead.
Friday, October 18, 2024, 10:14 PM EDT
Tim Herrin stops the bleeding
Tim Herrin finished the top of the sixth inning by striking out Anthony Rizzo, giving up a single to Anthony Volpe, and forcing Austin Wells out on a grounder to second base. However, the damage had already been done by Giancarlo Stanton.
The Guardians bat in the bottom of the frame and trail 6-2.
Friday, October 18, 2024, 10:01 PM EDT
Giancarlo Stanton hits a 3-run home run
Cade Smith replaced Eli Wilson in the top of the 6th inning, but had a disastrous inning. After giving up a five-pitch walk to Juan Soto, he allowed a single to Aaron Judge. Jazz Chisholm Jr. advances runners to second and third base with a sacrifice bunt.
Giancarlo Stanton then hit a fastball over the plate and into the left field seats, giving the Yankees a 6-2 lead. And he knew it.
Smith will be replaced by Tim Herrin.
