In a game for the ages, the Cleveland Guardians staged a dramatic comeback to beat the New York Yankees 7-5 in 10 innings, keeping their postseason hopes alive in the American League Championship Series. With Cleveland’s season hanging by a thread, pinch-hitter Jhonkensy Noel and David Fry delivered clutch home runs that have now become a part of Cleveland lore, pulling the Guardians to a 2-1 series deficit.
The Yankees appeared poised to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the series after star outfielder Aaron Judge blasted a two-run homer off Cleveland’s All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase, followed by a solo shot from Giancarlo Stanton in the eighth inning, giving New York a 4-3 lead. With the Guardians down to their final outs and no runners on base in the ninth, the situation looked dire.
But Cleveland’s resilience shone through. Lane Thomas ignited the rally with a two-out double against Yankees closer Luke Weaver, who had been perfect in save opportunities since taking over the role in September. That set the stage for Noel, affectionately known as “Big Christmas” for his imposing presence at the plate. In a pinch-hit appearance, Noel crushed a towering two-run homer that sent Progressive Field into a frenzy, tying the game 5-5.
The dramatic moment brought to mind other memorable homers in Cleveland’s playoff history, and it was fitting that former Cleveland slugger Rajai Davis, who famously homered in the 2016 World Series, was in attendance to witness Noel’s heroics. The jubilant crowd danced and celebrated, knowing they had witnessed a moment that could turn the tide of the series.
David Fry, who has been a key contributor in these playoffs, provided the final blow in the 10th inning. With a swing that could define Cleveland’s postseason run, Fry launched a two-run homer, sealing the Guardians’ comeback win. It was his second significant home run of the playoffs, and this one kept Cleveland’s World Series dreams alive.
The game was a showcase of resilience, drama, and high stakes, as the Yankees and Guardians crammed a season’s worth of highlights into the final innings. Cleveland’s 92-win season, which included an AL Central title, had been teetering on the edge of elimination, but the late-inning magic from Noel and Fry has breathed new life into their postseason run.
For the Yankees, the night was a missed opportunity to put the series out of reach. Judge and Stanton’s heroics seemed to have the Yankees in control, but the bullpen couldn’t hold off Cleveland’s late surge. Weaver, who had been flawless as the closer since September, saw his perfect streak shattered at the worst possible time.
The Guardians, now trailing 2-1 in the best-of-seven ALCS, will look to ride the momentum of this unforgettable victory into Game 4. With their fans energized and Progressive Field rocking, Cleveland has given itself a chance to extend the series further and push back against the heavily favored Yankees.
For Cleveland, Game 3 will be remembered as the night they hit back against the “big, bad” Yankees, turning what looked like a dire situation into one of the most memorable wins in recent franchise history.
