It was the third walk-off home run in Guardians postseason history, joining Tony Peña in Game 1 of the 1995 AL Division Series against Boston and Oscar Gonzalez in the 2022 AL Wild Card Series clincher against Tampa Bay .

Fry’s home run came an inning after rookie right fielder Jhonkensy Noel blasted a two-out, two-run home run of his own to tie the score in the bottom of the ninth and force extra innings. Great defense from Andrés Giménez and Josh Naylor in the top of the 10th left the score at 5 points apiece.

Bo Naylor led off the inning with a leadoff single to right against former Yankees closer Clay Holmes. He got into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Brayan Rocchio and was on third base after Steven Kwan sent a grounder back to the mound and Holmes inexplicably threw to first base for the second out.

Holmes then worked ahead of Fry in the count, 1-2, before throwing a 96 mph sinker into the strike zone and over the inner part of the plate to the Guardians All-Star. Fry, who entered the game as a pinch-hitter for Kyle Manzardo in the seventh inning, said he “blacked out” after making contact on the field.

“I just told God, ‘Hey man, take this.’ It’s a tough game… you take the at bat,” Fry said. “It’s difficult in such situations to stay true to yourself and just try a normal approach, but luckily tonight was a good one.”

Manager Stephen Vogt then praised Fry for what he has done for the Guardians on the pitch and in the clubhouse all season, while dealing with an elbow injury for most of the second half.

“What this man has been through all year, what he has given to this team, the leadership he has given us, and to step up in that moment against one of the best pitchers in the game… it was a moment that I will never experience again. Forget it,” Vogt said.

Fry had already created an unforgettable moment in Game 4 of the AL Division Series against Detroit when his pinch-hit home run in the seventh inning gave Cleveland a 5-4 lead.

But after falling behind in the eighth when Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton went back-to-back with home runs off All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase, Fry said the Guardians showed who they are as a team.

“Everyone really loves each other,” Fry said. “We come to the field enthusiastic to play. It’s like we got punched in the mouth by the best pitcher in baseball, and it’s like he’s been busting us all year. It’s time we pick him up.”

A pair of tough losses to open the series in New York prompted Fry to tell reporters it was time to start playing Guards Ball again.

“Bunts, bombs and mayhem,” Fry said. “We talked about that. It felt like we got back to that tonight.