The Cleveland Guardians made their presence felt in Yankee Stadium on Friday, getting a statement 4-2 win against the New York Yankees.
Guardians star Jose Ramirez hit a bloop double with a well-placed ball to left field and advanced to third base on a throwing error to set the stage for Cleveland breaking a 2-2 tie in the top of the tenth frame.
Another bloop single by Oscar Gonzalez put a runner on base against Jameson Taillon, but Josh Naylor made sure the next hit didn’t leave any doubts by squaring up a double to center field that drove in Gonzalez and represented the Guards’ fourth run.
Emmanuel Clase had a heroic relief outing, covering 2.1 scoreless innings and earning a couple of strikeouts, only giving up a hit and a walk.
The Guardians are now going to Cleveland to play at home with the opportunity to close out the series if they can win their two games at Progressive Field.
That’s certainly easier said than done, but they will have the home crowd rooting for them and making them feel welcome.
Outside of a two-run home run by Giancarlo Stanton in the first inning, the Yankees weren’t able to get much going offensively.
They did waste a few opportunities to score with men on base, but the Guardians’ pitching was masterful.
The Guardians Are In A Very Good Position Now
Yankees fans on Twitter are already blaming the struggling Aaron Judge for the loss, as he hasn’t been himself at the plate.
“Judge 0-8, losing the series to the guardians in a best of 5 will be worse than losing to the padres in a best of 3 so you better pray,” Joe Dean Carlson tweeted.
Judge 0-8, losing the series to the guardians in a best of 5 will be worse than losing to the padres in a best of 3 so you better pray
— Joe Dean Carlson (@joecarlsonned) October 14, 2022
In fact, Judge is 0-for-8 with seven strikeouts in the series.
The Guardians’ vaunted bullpen has certainly been as good as advertised.
Yankees fans when judge can’t hit and the guardians bullpen owns them pic.twitter.com/5FLYTpNDF7
— GuardiansOfTheMLB (@GuardiansFanat1) October 14, 2022
Tomorrow’s game becomes crucial: Triston McKenzie will face Luis Severino, and the winner will take a commanding series lead.
Yankees can’t afford to let the guardians do this to them tomorrow
— site hates me (@cooler1120) October 14, 2022
The Yankees need their star to get out his funk, though.
As goes Aaron Judge, so go the Yankees. If the Guardians continue to shut Judge down we may have seen the last Yankees home game this year.
— Rob Kingston (@Kingstonjrlite) October 14, 2022
Cleveland has a chance to wrap this series up if they can secure two straight home wins.
NEXT: Former Guardians Player Can't Take Bob Costas Anymore