A two-pitch blip, or a long, epic series about to unfold?
The New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians might be asking themselves that question after the Guardians were one out from falling into a 3-0 hole in this American League Championship Series. But Jhonkensy Noel's pinch-hit , game-tying homer, followed by David Fry's walk-off shot one inning later, injected life into this ALCS.
Cleveland's 7-5 victory at Progressive Field trimmed New York's lead in this ALCS to 2-1, yet the Yankees can once again seize a commanding advantage in Friday night's Game 4.
Luis Gil will make his first career postseason start, opposed by Cleveland's Gavin Williams.
New York has stacked left-handed hitters against Williams, as it moved Jazz Chisholm up to the No. 4 spot and reinserted first baseman Anthony Rizzo and catcher Austin Wells in the lineup. The Guardians, meanwhile, are giving a second consecutive start to both right fielder Daniel Schneemann and catcher Austin Hedges.
Game 5 will be Saturday night at 8:08 ET, from Progressive Field.
Follow along for live updates:
The New York Yankees are holding a slim advantage - 3-2 over the Cleveland Guardians through four innings of ALCS Game 4. But they also have the upper hand in another fashion.
Starter Luis Gil survived a significant amount of traffic to gut through four innings, turning in his first clean frame of the night get through the fourth. Meanwhile, the Guardians had to dip into their bullpen in the third inning, with starter Gavin Williams replaced by lefty Erik Sabrowski to make sure Juan Soto - who homered earlier - didn't get another look at the righty starter.
As the fifth inning begins, the Guardians are on their third pitcher, Eli Morgan. Gil is still in - though with the top of Cleveland's lineup looming, perhaps not for long.
With two outs in the top of the second, Yankees catcher Austin Wells hit a solo homer to center field against Cleveland starter Gavin Williams, extending New York's lead to 3-1.
There's practically no way the Cleveland Guardians and New York Yankees can top their pulsating Game 3 of the American League Championship Series. Yet Game 4 started exactly as the previous one ended: With a two-run homer.
Juan Soto drilled his second home run of the series, a 414-foot shot off Guardians started Gavin Williams, to stake the Yankees to a 2-1 lead after one inning Friday.
Williams, making his first start in 19 days, found trouble immediately, giving up a single to the red-hot Gleyber Torres before encountering Soto, who pounded a 98-mph fastball into Progressive Field's right field stands.
But Yankees starter Luis Gil, like Williams making his first appearance since September, gave half of that back. He walked leadoff batter Steven Kwan and gave up a double to Kyle Manzardo. But Gil would yield only a Jose Ramirez sacrifice fly to maintain the Yankees' lead.
– Gabe Lacques
Yankees vs Guardians Game 4 time
First pitch for ALCS Game 4 is scheduled for 8:08 p.m. ET on Friday night.
- Location: Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio
- Date: Friday, Oct. 18
- Time: 8:08 p.m. ET
- TV: truTV
- Gleyber Torres (R) 2B
- Juan Soto (L) RF
- Aaron Judge (R) CF
- Jazz Chisholm Jr. (L) 3B
- Giancarlo Stanton (R) DH
- Anthony Rizzo (L) 1B
- Anthony Volpe (R) SS
- Austin Wells (L) C
- Alex Verdugo (L) LF
- Steven Kwan (L) LF
- Kyle Manzardo (L) DH
- José Ramírez (S) 3B
- Josh Naylor (L) 1B
- Lane Thomas (R) CF
- Daniel Schneemann (L) RF
- Andrés Giménez (L) 2B
- Austin Hedges (R) C
- Brayan Rocchio (S) SS
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast . Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more .
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Yankees vs. Guardians live score updates: Soto homers early in ALCS Game 4, TV channel
Local News
Comments / 0