The Cleveland Guardians demonstrated their offensive prowess by stealing bases, generating runs, and achieving a remarkable number of walks compared to strikeouts. Starting pitcher Matthew Boyd made a significant contribution with his first five-inning start of the postseason, setting the stage for the team to utilize their dominant relief pitchers: Cade Smith, Tim Herrin, Hunter Gaddis, and Emmanuel Clase.
However, the Guardians faced a setback in Game 3 when closerClase unexpectedly surrendered back-to-back home runs to Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton in the eighth inning, relinquishing the lead. This was a challenging moment for a team that had executed its game plan effectively but appeared to falter at a critical juncture.
Despite this setback, the Guardians’ fighting spirit shone through. Manager Stephen Vogt praised his team’s resilience following the emotional rollercoaster of the game, highlighting their unwillingness to give up even after a tough blow in the eighth inning. “That’s exactly who we are. We never quit,” he stated.
The turning point came in the ninth inning when Jhonkensy Noel was brought in to pinch-hit. He delivered a powerful home run, tying the game and energizing the crowd at Progressive Field. The atmosphere was electric, with fans on their feet as the Guardians rallied back.
One inning later, after Brayan Rocchio advanced a runner into scoring position, first baseman Josh Fry secured the win with a walk-off homer, solidifying his status as an All-Star. This marked a historic moment, as it was the third walk-off home run in franchise postseason history.