CLEVELAND – The New York Yankees faced a challenging situation in their bullpen on Friday night as they aimed to avoid overusing closer Luke Weaver amidst a heavy playoff workload.
What started as a comfortable four-run lead in the AL Championship Series Game 4 turned into a tight contest when the Cleveland Guardians narrowed the gap to one run in the seventh and eventually tied the game in the eighth.
As the ninth inning opened with one out, Tommy Kahnle took the mound to secure what could be considered the most critical save of his career, with Guardians runners on first and second. The Yankees ultimately secured an 8-6 victory in front of 35,263 fans at Progressive Field, positioning them just one win away from their first World Series appearance since 2009.
Giancarlo Stanton played a pivotal role in the victory, hitting a three-run homer in the sixth inning that extended the Yankees’ lead. Earlier, Juan Soto contributed with a two-run homer in the first inning as the Yankees sought to bounce back from a tough loss to the Guardians the night before.
Looking ahead, Carlos Rodon is set to take the mound for the Yankees in Game 5 on Saturday night, as they inch closer to claiming the pennant.
In the ninth inning, Kahnle entered with the Yankees leading 8-6, following a series of plays that kept the inning tense. The Yankees managed to take the lead back despite the Guardians’ attempts to reclaim momentum. Errors and strategic plays highlighted the game, leading to Kahnle’s pivotal save.
As the game unfolded, Kahnle was warming up earlier than expected due to the struggles of other pitchers, including Mark Leiter Jr., who also faced pressure in the eighth inning. After Kahnle took over, he handled the situation effectively, leading to a triumphant finish for the Yankees.
The Yankees had previously taken a 6-2 lead with Stanton’s home run and a solid performance from their bullpen, despite difficulties faced by some pitchers due to the high-stakes atmosphere.
Overall, the Yankees showed resilience amid the pressure of the postseason. With a chance to clinch the series in Game 5, the anticipation for a potential return to the World Series is building.