
In an epic at bat, Juan Soto fouled off three 1-2 sliders and changeups and ripped a 95-MPH fastball from Hunter Gaddis high and far over the centerfield wall for a 3-run homer with 2 outs in the 10th — giving the Yankees a 5-2 lead and ballgame. Luke Weaver pitched a shutout bottom of 10th and the Yankees won the American League Pennant!
On a Saturday night in Cleveland.
Carlos Rodon started and pitched a gem for NY, but was losing 2-0 until Giancarlo Stanton hit a 2-run MISSILE to left in the 6th, tying the game.
And then the Yankee bullpen took over — filthy as usual — with Mark Leiter Jr. Tim Hill, Jake Cousins, and Weaver combining for 5.1 shutout innings. Weaver pitched 2 shutout innings — the 9th and 10th.
There were heroes all around for the Yanks — including Austin Wells, who worked a big walk to leadoff the 10th.
And heroes all around for the Guardians, who fought tooth and nail with the Yanks in every game, despite losing 4 games to 1.
“I was locked in; I was all over those pitches,” said Soto afterwards when asked if he was looking for a pitch. “He was making great pitches. I was just waiting for a mistake.”
1. Rodon Great
Carlos Rodon threw down. Again. He was Smoking — his fastball overpowering and his slider and off-speed stuff filthy.
Rodon struck out the first 2 batters of the game and set the tone, that the Yanks were not going to rest on a 3-to-1 game lead coming in — they wanted the pennant.
Carlos Rodón, 96mph ⛽️ (home plate view) pic.twitter.com/O5dNeUnbWQ
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) October 20, 2024
Rodon struck out the first batter of the 2nd, then yielded an infield single to Josh Naylor. Rodon struck out the next batter, but with 2 outs, Josh’s brother Bo Naylor worked a 10-pitch at bat — fouling off 4 straight pitches — before doubling to the corner in right and it was 1-0 Cleveland.
Rodon blew through the 3rd and the 4th, keeping the score at 1-0 Cleveland, but in the 5th, allowed a 1-out double to Gimenez. He struck out Brayan Rocchio and was an out away from getting out of the inning — but Steven Kwan singled up the middle and it was 2-0 Cleveland.
Leiter Gets Huge Out to End 5th
David Fry reached on an infield single and that was it for Rodon — relieved by Mark Leiter Jr. who intentionally walked Jose Ramirez to load the bases — then got Lance Thomas to ground out to 2nd. PHEW.
2. Yanks Threaten Bibee Early But He Finds Rhythm
The Yankees pounced on Tanner Bibee in the top of the 1st — Gleyber Torres leading off the game with a single, and Juan Soto doubling to right. But Gleyber got the send signal around 3rd and was thrown out at the plate on a terrific relay throw.
Aaron Judge was hit by a pitch, and then after Giancarlo Stanton struck out, Jazz Chisholm Jr.was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Bibee was ‘this close’ to being knocked out — as the Cleveland manager came out to talk to him.
But Bibee got Anthony Rizzo to line out to left to end the inning and leave the bases loaded — and then proceeded to find himself — retiring 10 batters in a row, with a 1-2-3 inning in the 2nd through 4th.
Tanner Bibee, Filthy 81mph Curveball. ?
4th K thru 3. pic.twitter.com/1qnOR6kQwr
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) October 20, 2024
3. Giancarlo Bomb Ties It 2-2 in 6th
The Yanks finally got another baserunner off Bibee when Anthony Volpe led off the 5th with a single, but Austin Wells grounded into a double play. It would be the first of 3 straight innings where the Yanks hit into a double play.
In the top of the 6th, Gleyber Torres and Juan Soto hit consecutive singles to lead off the inning against Bibee — but Aaron Judge hit into a double play.
With 2 outs and Gleyber on 3rd, Giancarlo Stanton came up. Bibee could have intentionally walked him — but didn’t. Instead he got 2 quick strikes on Stanton — then Giancarlo held off on 3 straight balls intended to make him fish. Bibee threw a 3-2 slider and Stanton didn’t miss — a MISSILE to left. Tie game 2-2.
Made for the moment. @Giancarlo818 ? pic.twitter.com/iYe8qVHYOa
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) October 20, 2024
4. Leiter Great
And so the dogfight began.
Leiter — after getting the big final out of the 5th with the bases loaded, walked Josh Naylor to start the bottom of the 6th, but got Jhonkensy Noel to pop out to 2nd.
5. Hill Great
In came lefty side-armer Tim Hill to pitch to the RED HOT Bo Naylor — who singled to right. But Hill used his specialty — a sinker — to get Andres Gimenez to ground into a double play to 1st to end the inning.
Hill pitched the 7th — walking Rocchio to start the inning — but used his specialty — a sinker — to get Steven Kwan to hit into a double play.
Tim Hill’s follow-thrus are my guilty pleasures. pic.twitter.com/qoeayrMlye
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) October 20, 2024
6. Cousins Great
With 2 outs in the 7th and Hill on the mound and David Fry due up, Boone brought in Kirk Cousins’ cousin Jake Cousins to pitch. Cleveland pinch hit with Manzardo and Cousins struck him out.
Cousins then struck out the side in the 8th — Jose Ramirez, Lance Thomas, and Jhonkensy Noel — sandwiching a 2-out walk to Josh Naylor.
Jake Cousins, White Castle Special. ???? pic.twitter.com/0fXf5T98vP
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) October 20, 2024
7. PRESSURE
Cleveland fans were praying on every pitch in the stands — as their team was up against the wall. Yankee fans at home or in Cleveland (the park was loaded with Yankee fans) were praying too, as everyone knows what can happen in baseball where no lead (in runs or games) is safe.
Luke Weaver pitched a shutout 9th for the Yanks while the Cleveland pen of Cade Smith, Tim Herrin, and Emmanuel Clase shutdown the Yankees in the 7th, 8th, and 9th.
8. Soto 3-Run Bomb Wins It !
And so it was to Extra innings. Cleveland brought in Hunter Gladdis — who was Lights Out in the prior game — to pitch the 10th.
Anthony Volpe hit a shot but lined out to shortstop. Austin Wells — slumping — fell behind in the count 1-2 — but worked a HUGE walk.
Alex Verdugo hit a grounder to deep 2nd — it didn’t look like Cleveland could turn a double play on it but they’d turned 3 DP’s earlier; Gimenez fielded and flipped to Brayan Rocchio — who dropped the ball in his haste to turn the DP. Everyone Safe!
But Gladdis struck out Gleyber Torres on a checked swing, that Yank fans at home felt he hadn’t gone around on.
And then the epic at bat by Juan Soto.
May we once again re-introduce, The Generational, Juan Soto. pic.twitter.com/6R5fWpEg6I
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) October 20, 2024
9. Weaver the Win
With NY up 5-2, Luke Weaver returned to the mound for the 10th, and the top of the order due up for Cleveland. Weaver got Steven Kwan to groundout to Gleyber at 2nd, but Manzardo singled to left.
Weaver hung tough — getting Jose Ramirez to fly out to Judge in center, and Lane Thomas to fly out to Juan Soto in right for the old ballgame!
BALLGAME OVER! AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES OVER! YANKEES WIN! THEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE YANKEES WIN!
The Yankees are going NUTS on the field! It’s a group hug! pic.twitter.com/oPV6SGzAZm
— John Sterling Calls (@JSterlingCalls) October 20, 2024
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