Aaron Boone Calls Yankees 'Gritty' Postgame as they Take 3-1 ALCS Lead on Guardians

Via MLB

"not surprised with these guys. Obviously last night was a really tough loss. And whatever happened today, win, lose or draw, there's no doubt in my mind we'd come out ready to roll, ready to turn the page, and right out of the gate, Gleyber gets on, Soto, homer, we're off and running. Luis Hill does his job, and I thought we played an excellent game. Not a perfect game, but a gritty, tough, winning game."

-Yankees Aaron Boone Postgame press conference

@JeffSkverskyYouTube

Cleveland’s All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase struggled in the ninth inning as the New York Yankees moved within one win of the World Series, defeating the Guardians 8-6 on Friday night to take a 3-1 lead in the American League Championship Series.

The Yankees capitalized on a rough ninth for Clase (0-2), with Gleyber Torres driving in the go-ahead run on an RBI single. New York then added a key insurance run when Cleveland shortstop Brayan Rocchio committed an error on Alex Verdugo’s ground ball.

Despite being one of the top relievers in baseball all season, Clase faltered for the second consecutive night. He allowed three singles in the ninth after giving up back-to-back home runs in the eighth inning of Game 3. The Guardians had rescued him in that contest with two late two-run homers.

Giancarlo Stanton hit a three-run homer, and Juan Soto added a two-run shot for the Yankees. With a win in Game 5 on Saturday, New York can clinch its 41st trip to the World Series.

Cleveland now faces elimination for the second time in the postseason. After rallying in the ALDS to defeat Detroit, the Guardians will need to win three straight games, including two at Yankee Stadium, to end their 76-year World Series drought.

New York’s bullpen once again had issues, nearly blowing a late lead for the second consecutive night. The Guardians scored three runs in the seventh inning and another in the eighth, putting the Yankees under pressure. However, Tommy Kahnle stepped in to record the final three outs, avoiding the mistakes that nearly cost the team in Game 3.

Trainer’s Room:

• Yankees: RHP Ian Hamilton, sidelined by a calf injury sustained while covering first base in Game 3, has been dropped from the ALCS roster. He has been replaced by Mark Leiter Jr., but will be ineligible for the World Series should the Yankees advance. Yankees manager Aaron Boone mentioned that Nestor Torres was considered for a roster spot but is being given additional time to recover from an elbow strain.

Up Next:

• Yankees LHP Carlos Rodón will make his second start of the series, coming off a dominant Game 1 performance in which he allowed just one run over six innings while striking out nine. He’ll face Cleveland’s Tanner Bibee, who will start on short rest after a brief 39-pitch outing in Game 2.

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