NEW YORK – Carlos Rodon showcased his skills on the mound, leading the New York Yankees to a successful start in the American League Championship Series against the Cleveland Guardians, winning 5-2 in Game 1.
On a cool October evening at Yankee Stadium, Luke Weaver secured a five-out save to finish the game after Rodon delivered six impressive innings, allowing just one run from Brayan Rocchio’s solo home run. Rodon recorded nine strikeouts, did not issue any walks, and limited the Guardians to three hits while the Yankees chased starter Alex Cobb early on.
The Yankees ignited the scoring in the third inning when Juan Soto launched a solo homer, contributing to a three-run rally. Aaron Judge’s sacrifice fly in the fourth inning marked his first RBI of the postseason, and Giancarlo Stanton added a significant insurance run with a solo homer in the seventh. Despite Cleveland’s attempts to rally with runners on base in the eighth and ninth innings, the Yankees held firm.
With a crowd of 47,264 chanting “Luuuuuke,” Weaver struck out Austin Hedges with a runner on first to end the game. Anthony Rizzo, making his postseason debut after recovering from fractured fingers, contributed with a hit but was replaced in the ninth inning for defensive purposes.
Weaver effectively extinguished the Guardians’ momentum in the eighth, entering with runners on the corners and retiring pinch-hitter Will Brennan and the powerful Jose Ramirez to maintain a 5-2 lead.
The game saw a noticeable surge in action when Yankees reliever Tim Hill was called for obstruction on base runner Brayan Rocchio, allowing Steven Kwan to deliver an RBI single in the eighth, further complicating the Yankees’ efforts.
Stanton’s home run was noteworthy, traveling an estimated 439 feet and marking his 13th career postseason home run. Rodon had an impressive outing, bouncing back from a previous rough start in the postseason, concluding his night with a strong performance of six innings pitched and nine strikeouts.
As the Yankees navigated late-game bullpen challenges, Clay Holmes stepped in to pitch a clean seventh inning, maintaining the Yankees’ advantage as they looked to secure a pivotal win in the series.
With Rizzo back in the lineup, the Yankees aimed to capitalize on his experience and drive. His return marked a significant boost for the team as they competed in the intense postseason landscape.
The Guardians’ lineup featured Steven Kwan and a plethora of talent, but the Yankees’ strong pitching and timely hitting proved to be the difference in this critical Game 1 showdown.