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Yankees vs. Guardians: Cleveland stuns New York with HRs of Jhonkensy Noel, David Fry
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Yankees vs. Guardians: Cleveland stuns New York with HRs of Jhonkensy Noel, David Fry

A Cleveland Guardians fiasco turned into one of the biggest games in franchise history on Thursday, with a 7-5 win in Game 3 of the ALCS that now leaves them down 2-1.

After a strong 7 2/3 innings from starting pitcher Matthew Boyd and the elite Cleveland bullpen, Emmanuel Clase came up for a four-out save in the eighth inning and blew it by allowing back-to-back home runs to Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. It was a tough blow of a game – until the bottom of the ninth inning.

With two outs and a runner on second, Guardians rookie Jhonkensy Noel introduced himself to the world with a tying, pinch-hit home run that sent Progressive Field into a frenzy. He knew it as soon as he made contact.

One inning later, David Fry hit his own two-run homer to give Cleveland a walk-off victory and life in the ALCS. It was a game where each team’s closers blew a four-out save, and it was exactly what Cleveland needed to get back into the series.

Game 4 is scheduled for Friday at 8:08 PM ET (TBS), with Gavin Williams taking the mound for the Guardians against rookie Luis Gil for the Yankees.

Here’s how it all went down on Yahoo Sports:

LIVE DECLARATION IS OVER67 updates

  • END: Guardians 7, Yankees 5

    A perfect ending to a classic of a game. David Fry doesn’t just hit Naylor: He hits a walk-off homer off Clay Holmes to give the Guardians a victory that will be remembered for a while.

    Instead of facing a sweep, the Guardians enter Friday’s Game 4 with a chance to even the series. It will be Gavin Williams versus Luis Gil.

  • Yankees get a second out on a grounder by Steven Kwan, but Naylor reaches third base. David Fry will hit the winning point from 30 yards out.

  • And then Rocchio advances him with a sac-bunt. The winning run is at second base with one out and the top of the Guardians order is on the schedule.

  • Bo Naylor leads off with a single…

  • Pedro Avila pitches a scoreless 10th inning, and here come the Guardians with a chance to draw a walk. Clay Holmes will take over, along with Bo Naylor, Brayan Rocchio and Steven Kwan.

  • Another angle on one of the biggest home runs in Guardians history when they play this game.

  • Oh boy, what a play by Andrés Giménez and Josh Naylor. Jazz Chisholm Jr. a grounder seemed to sneak out of the infield, but Giménez tracked it down and somehow got the ball to Naylor in time. Neither player was on balance handling the ball, but it’s a much-needed second out in the 10th inning.

  • Who is Jhonkensy Noel?

    The Guardians’ newest hero is a rookie who was called up to the Major League in June and played 67 games during the regular season, hitting .218/.288/.486 with 13 home runs. Just the kind of guy you need when you need a homer.

    He wasn’t a huge international prospect when he signed with the Guardians in 2017, and he never made a top-100 prospect list, but he’s a big guy with big power at 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds. Hence his nickname Big Christmas (his last name is Noel, see).

  • The inning ends one batter later with a strikeout, but we are suddenly heading into extra innings. This is a play-off game.

  • Guards 5, Yankees 5

    In October it is Big Christmas. Jhonkensy comes through with the biggest homer of his career, a game-tying, undoubtedly pinch-hit, two-run homer to left field to stun the Yankees.

  • Okay, now Lane Thomas hits a double against the center field wall. It’s thanks to pinch hitter Jhonkensy Noel.

  • Then Josh Naylor hits into a 1-6-3 double play. Guardians are suddenly on their last out.

  • José Ramírez reached on an error by Anthony Rizzo, and now the Guardians have the tying run at home with no outs. Clay Holmes warms up in case this goes south for Weaver.

  • Juan Soto strikes out to end the top of the ninth. The Guardians need two runs against Luke Weaver, who stays in for a four-out save.

  • Yankees 5, Guardians 3

    A sacrifice fly by Gleyber Torres brings in Volpe, while Alex Verdugo takes third. Next: Juan Soto.

  • Eli Morgan came in for Clase and now comes out after striking out Austin Wells. Still two runners in scoring position with one out as Andrew Walters takes over.

  • Hoo boy. The Guardians appeared to have the first runner out at third, but the rundown ends with José Ramírez losing the ball while trying to tag Anthony Volpe. Now the Yankees have runners on second and third with no outs and a chance to add some security.

  • Weaver throws out Fry and the Guardians are down to their last three outs. It’s José Ramírez, Josh Naylor and Lane Thomas in the bottom of the ninth.