CLEVELAND – An exhilarating playoff game in October unfolded with significant home runs and intense moments, culminating in a thrilling finish thanks to David Fry’s decisive swing.
In a remarkable turn of events, the Cleveland Guardians overcame the New York Yankees in Game 3 of the AL Championship Series, winning 7-5, before an electrified sellout crowd at Progressive Field.
The game had shifted significantly when the Yankees displayed their power in the late innings. With Emmanuel Clase, one of MLB’s top closers in 2024 on the mound, Aaron Judge hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning to tie the game, quickly followed by Giancarlo Stanton’s home run that put the Yankees ahead 5-3, appearing to pave their way to a commanding 3-0 series lead.
However, the Guardians had other plans. With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, they responded dramatically with a two-run homer from Jhonkensy Noel off Yankees closer Luke Weaver, bringing the game to a tie.
The culmination of the game was highlighted by a mix of missed opportunities and poor baserunning by the Yankees, leaving them in a precarious position as Fry delivered the knockout blow in the bottom of the 10th inning against Clay Holmes.
The Guardians had sparked back to life as the Yankees continued to struggle with their decision-making on the base paths, a fact that had become increasingly evident throughout this playoff series.
In the pivotal eighth inning, the Yankees first tied the game with Judge’s homer, which was a stunning 356-foot shot over the right field wall. Stanton quickly followed with his own homer to take the lead.
In a pivotal moment in the bottom of the ninth, Noel’s homer tied the game, generating an electric atmosphere at Progressive Field that left Yankees’ fans stunned.
The game saw several strategic pitching changes and a series of tense moments, including questionable plays and the execution of critical outs that highlighted the high stakes of postseason baseball.
As Game 3 concluded with a bang, the Guardians and the Yankees now shift gears, looking ahead to the remainder of the Championship Series with heightened anticipation.