In a surprising flip of occasions, the Cleveland Guardians, right down to their final out, clawed again in opposition to New York, profitable 7-5 in 10 innings to chop the Yankees’ ALCS result in 2-1.
Each groups skilled a rollercoaster of feelings, however the late-game pitching choices will resonate and doubtlessly determine this sequence.
Clase’s massive mistake
Emmanuel Clase, Cleveland’s dominant nearer, entered the sport within the eighth with Juan Soto on first after a stroll. The Guardians led 3-1 and had the league’s high bullpen backing them.
Dealing with Aaron Choose, Clase did what each nearer is educated to do: go together with his greatest pitch. That meant cutters.
He labored Choose to a 1-2 depend with three straight cutters earlier than going with a fourth. It was a mistake.
Choose lasered the fourth cutter for a two-run, game-tying house run. Clase didn’t simply surrender his second house run of the postseason; he gave life to the Yankees.
Nonetheless, Clase stayed in to face Giancarlo Stanton. The massive DH seemed overmatched by the cutter, however Clase didn’t need to get beat twice.
As an alternative of sticking together with his main pitch, he went to the slider on a 1-2 depend. Stanton made him pay, crushing the ball for a back-to-back homer and a 4-3 Yankees lead.
