Cleveland-New York Contrasts Show Up In Early Innings
When everyone takes on the Yankees they face the most storied team in baseball. The mystique of the team feels more noticeable in this Cleveland-New York series. The Guardians, the scrappy underdogs, look to make it past a team that everyone expects to be in the postseason, for many reasons.
The difference in the two teams shows up in their approach to scoring runs as well. Cleveland, in the first inning, got a bunt base hit from Steven Kwan, and then Amed Rosario singled. Very quickly their most important hitter, Jose Ramirez popped out. Oscar Gonzalez, hero of the Tampa Bay Rays series, lined out to Anthony Rizzo. Rosario was caught in no mans land and was doubled off.
Aaron Judge struck out against Shane Bieber on a good slider. Anthony Rizzo line out to Kwan. Then the difference in the two teams approach came into view. Gleyber Torres singled, and Shane Bieber hung a fastball to Giancarlo Stanton. Stanton did not miss it, sending it out down the right field line, putting the Yankees up 2-0.
Cleveland Fights Back To Tie Game Two Against New York
Both pitchers had to work around hits and walks in the second and third. Nestor Cortez finally ran into real trouble in fourth and fifth innings. He made a spectacular leap and throw to get Myles Straw and keep the game at 2-1 New York. Andres Gimenez already singled in Josh Naylor, and then Cortez walked Austin Hedges.
Amed Rosario then hit a home run out to right center to time the game. Hitting one out is a fairly rare thing for Rosario, who had 11 long balls in the regular season. Cortez then set down Ramirez and Gonzalez to keep the scored tied. Bieber worked around a walk to Rizzo by getting Torres to ground to Rosario. He also fanned a struggling Judge for the third time.
Yankees Turn Game Over To Bullpen
Lou Trivino relived Cortez in the top of the sixth. He caught Owen Miller looking on a slider, but then walked Gimenez. Gimenez easily stole second but Trivino managed to come back from a 3-0 count against, Hedges, getting him to chase a high fastball. Johnathan Loaisaga then was brought in to face Straw. A 99 mile an hour sinker jammed Straw, forcing him to pop up to Torres.
No, Bob Costas, Justin Bieber is not pitching in the sixth for the Guardians. Shane Bieber continued to battle to find his control. Stanton struck out for the second time but Bieber surrendered a walk to Donaldson, his third. Oswaldo’s Cabrera strike out on Bieber’s cutter, his best pitch, was the Guardians starters seventh of the day. Isiah Kiner-Falifa’s second single of the day chased him.
As soon as Cleveland’s Manager Terry Francona brought in Trevor Stephan, Yankees Manager Aaron Boone countered by pinch hitting Matt Carpenter for Jose Trevino. Stephan got Carpenter on a splitter to end the threat. Luiasaga and Stephan sit down the sides in order, Stephan striking out all four Yankees he faced. The TBS broadcast shows the stat that this is the fourth time Judge struck out four times in a postseason game. All four of those came against Cleveland.
Who Has Late Inning Magic In Cleveland-New York ALDS Battle?
Wandy Peralta took over for an excellent Loaisaga, after Gonzalez flew out to Judge. Torres made a fine play to get Naylor, and Peralta struck out Miller on a changeup. James Karinchak then faced the heart of the Yankees lineup in the bottom of the eighth: Torres, Stanton, and Donaldson. Torres struck out and then Stanton walked. Tim Locastro pinch ran for him and stole second on a 2-0 fastball. Karinchak then allowed a free pass to Donaldson. Cabrera then fanned on a 3-2 high fastball at 97. After Karinchak’s third walk of the inning to load the bases, Francona called upon his closer Emmanuel Clase, to end the threat. On an 0-2 pitch Kyle Higashioka, who came into catch for Trivino, lined out to Ramirez to send Cleveland-New York to the ninth tied.
Peralta stays in for New York. After striking out Gimenez former Yankees closer, Clayton Holmes, stepped to the mound. He promplty struck out pinch hitter Will Brennan. Holmes allowed a walk to Straw, and the Guardians had first and third after an error by Rizzo. Kwan smashed a 2-1 slider right at New York’s first baseman, who had it go off the heel of his glove. Rosario then grounded out to Donaldson to send it to the bottom of ninth.
Clase got Bader on three pitches, the last a 99 MPH cutter. Judge finally put the ball in play, but it was right a Ramirez for out number two. After Rizzo singled over the glove Ramirez, Torres grounded out Gimenez to Rosario, sending the game to extras.
Gonzalez Again Steps Up For Cleveland
Jameson Taillon, a former starter for the Yankees, comes in and promptly gives up the lead to Cleveland. Jose Ramirez promptly hits a shallow fly ball that Cabrera almost caught in the edge of his glove. Ramirez made it all the way to third on a throwing error by Donaldson. Donaldson’s throw got past second baseman Torres, allowing Ramirez to go third Gonzalez then looped a soft single out to Judge, scoring Ramirez. Gonzalez comes through again, just as he did in game two of the Wild Card series against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Naylor chased Taillon with a double over Harrison Bader‘s head. Gimenez hesitated around second but still scored from first to make it 4-2. Clarke Schmidt put out the fire, retiring Miller, Gimenez, Luke Maille. Clase faces Locastro, Donaldson, and Cabrera, trying to send the ALDS to Cleveland tied. Locastro flied out and Donaldson walked on five pitches. Cabrera swings through a slider and the tough Falefa grounds out. The Guardians show their tenacity in pulling out this game.
Guardians Formula Of Pitching And Stringing Together Hits Wins
Yes, Rosario homered but the other three runs for Cleveland came because they strung together hits and hustled. Bieber showed control issues, but battled after giving up the blast to Stanton. 4.1 innings of scoreless innings of relief by the Guardians sealed the win. Cleveland pitching struck out 15 Yankees. The Yankees defense let them down as well, particularly in the 10th. Judge, and the rest of the Yankees lineup, need better discipline against Tristan McKenzie in game three tomorrow.
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