At least for now, the New York Yankees can breathe a sigh of relief.
After falling behind by four points on Friday night, the Yankees battled back with the game's best closer to beat the Cleveland Guardians 8-6 and take a 3-1 lead in the American League Championship Series.
The game seemed all but over when Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning, continuing his October dominance and giving the Bronx Bombers a 6-2 lead.
But it was by no means over.
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New York Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres, 25, runs after hitting an RBI single in the 9th inning against the Cleveland Guardians in Game 4 of the ALCS of the 2024 MLB Playoffs held at Progressive Field. Ta. (David Dahmer Imagine Images)
The Guardians put runners on the corners with no outs and bases in the seventh inning, prompting manager Aaron Boone to replace Clay Holmes more than 24 hours after allowing a walk-off home run in Game 3. This also didn't work. The score came thanks to back-to-back doubles by Jose Ramirez and Josh Naylor.
Mark Leiter Jr. entered the game and cleaned up the mess, but in the eighth inning Game 3 hero David Frye tied it with a slow dribbler that neither Leiter nor Anthony Rizzo could deal with.
Cleveland didn't have a save situation, so they brought in Emmanuel Clase, who had struggled in the postseason. The Yankees put runners on second and third base in the first inning, with Alex Verdugo and Gleyber Torres each scoring an RBI.
Clase allowed just five runs in the entire regular season, but has eight earned runs this postseason.
The New York Yankees hit a three-run home run in the sixth inning during Game 4 of the American League Championship Series against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio on October 18, 2024. Giancarlo Stanton #27 responds. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase is honored after making a save against the Yankees in the Arcus.
Tommy Kahnle came on for the save, but he hit a bloop single with a walk and a walk to score the go-ahead run. However, he retired the next two batters and made a save.
The Yankees started the game with a bang, as Juan Soto hit a two-run homer before any outs were recorded. The Guardians got one run back in the bottom of the inning, but Austin Wells hit a solo shot in the second inning.
The Yankees are currently one win away from winning their first pennant since 2009. The Guardians need the next three wins, including two in the Bronx, to advance.
He crosses home plate in the 9th inning to score a run in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio on October 18, 2024. New York Yankees No. 11 Anthony Volpe reacts. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
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Game 5 will be played Saturday night in Cleveland at 8:08 p.m. Carlos Rodon is considering sending the Yankees to the World Series, and Tanner Bibby is considering sending the Guardians back to New York.
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