Bullpen stops Yankees from clinching a potential postseason epic

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The New York Yankees suffered a tough 7-5 extra-inning loss to the Cleveland Guardians in Game 3 of the ALCS, cutting their series lead to 2-1. The defeat overshadowed an impressive eighth-inning rally, sparked by back-to-back home runs from Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton.

The pair of homers was particularly striking as they came against Cleveland’s closer, Emmanuel Clase, who had given up only two home runs throughout the entire regular season.

Judge’s home run, which just cleared the right-center field fence, was his second in as many games, signaling a possible return to form after a slow postseason start. Stanton followed with his third home run of the playoffs, briefly putting the Yankees in the lead.

The Yankees captain keeps his approach simple yet a resounding success against the challenge of facing Clase, who throws 102 mph. However, with assured of hard-hitter Stanton taking up the duty behind him, he knew his task was cut short.

But what could have been a defining moment for the Yankees was undone when Luke Weaver surrendered a game-tying two-run homer to Jhonkensy Noel in the ninth inning. Cleveland sealed the victory in the 10th when Clay Holmes gave up a walk-off hit to David Fry.

Manager Aaron Boone expressed disappointment in the loss but praised the overall quality of the game, calling it a “classic playoff battle.” He commended both teams for their resilience and timely hitting against strong bullpens, acknowledging that Cleveland managed to come up with one more decisive swing than the Yankees.

“Sucks losing like that, obviously, but kind of a classic game, and we’ll be ready to roll tomorrow,” the Yankees manager admitted. “It was an amazing game to witness. That was playoff baseball. Both sides just kept coming with haymakers and big at-bats, big moments off two really good bullpens. They outlasted us tonight. They had one more good swing than us.”

Yankees bullpen caves in crucial postseason moment

The Yankees’ bullpen experienced an unexpected shake-up during a tough loss, with unusual contributors stepping up while some of the team’s more dependable arms struggled. Tim Hill and Tim Mayza delivered in high-pressure situations, securing key outs with runners in scoring position, but Luke Weaver and Clay Holmes, usually reliable, faltered, allowing costly home runs in similar scenarios.

Holmes expressed frustration with the bullpen’s performance, acknowledging their responsibility to close out games and protect leads. He stressed the high standards the bullpen holds itself to, emphasizing the expectation to consistently prevent runs. Despite the disappointing outcome, Holmes remained optimistic about bouncing back in Game 4.

Heading into the game, the Yankees’ bullpen had been stellar, allowing just three runs (two earned) across 23 1/3 innings with a strong 0.857 WHIP. Their consistency had been crucial, compensating for some struggles in the starting rotation during the team’s 5-1 playoff start.

Manager Aaron Boone made an uncharacteristic adjustment to his typical late-inning strategy, opting against the usual Holmes-Kahnle-Weaver combination for the final 13 outs after starter Clarke Schmidt’s exit. Hill ended the fifth inning by stranding a runner in scoring position, while Mayza escaped a jam with runners on the corners to close out the sixth. Kahnle kept the deficit at two runs by leaving two men on base to finish the seventh.

It’s worth noting that Mayza allowed an RBI single to the first batter he faced after replacing Ian Hamilton, who left the game with an injury. Despite that, Mayza managed to limit further damage.

Aaron Judge noted the unpredictability of baseball, expressing confidence in the bullpen despite the setback. He highlighted their reliable performance throughout the season and praised their contributions during the postseason.

“It’s baseball. Stuff like that happens,” the Yankees captain said. “You don’t like to see it in that situation, but these guys have been so good for us all season long. Especially in the postseason, these guys have been lights out.”

The Yankees found themselves on the brink of victory after back-to-back home runs by Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton gave them a 4-3 lead. But their advantage was erased when closer Luke Weaver blew his first save since stepping into the role in early September.

In a tense ninth inning, Cleveland’s Lane Thomas kept their hopes alive with a two-out double off the wall, despite falling behind 0-2 in the count. Johnsky Noel followed with a pinch-hit, game-tying two-run homer that shifted momentum.

Weaver expressed his disappointment after the game, admitting he was just one pitch away from sealing the win. He took full responsibility for the blown save, saying he felt he had let both the team and himself down. Weaver acknowledged the unpredictable nature of baseball but stressed the importance of executing in critical moments.

“One pitch away,” the Yankees closer said. “I’ve just got to execute. I really felt like I let the team down there, let myself down. It’s baseball, things like that happen.”

Before this outing, Weaver had enjoyed a strong start to his postseason career, throwing six consecutive scoreless innings before surrendering a home run in Game 2. His latest struggles, however, could signal a potential vulnerability.

Reflecting on the game, Weaver described it as intense, with both teams’ bats heating up and home runs playing a major role. He credited Noel’s at-bat as a key moment and admitted to throwing his worst pitch at the most crucial time. Weaver emphasized the need to quickly move on from the setback.

“It was a crazy game; the bats were hot and the ball was flying out of the park,” Weaver told after the loss. “Big at-bat there from Noel; I just threw the worst pitch of the outing and it looked like he was ready to aggressively swing. He got it, and I’ve got to flush it.”

Clay Holmes, who had been demoted from the closer role but had performed well in the playoffs, also faltered. He allowed a leadoff single in the 10th inning and then a walk-off, two-run homer to David Fry with two outs.

Holmes explained that his approach against Fry wasn’t influenced by the runner on third base but admitted he rushed his sinker, delivering it to the one spot he needed to avoid. “I probably got a little quick there with the sinker and threw it the one spot I couldn’t throw it,” he explained. “If it’s a good sinker down and way below the zone, it’s probably a more favorable outcome.” Had he fielded a prior play better, the situation might have unfolded differently, Holmes added.

With both teams’ bullpens showing signs of fatigue, the series has taken on a new level of unpredictability. The Yankees, just one pitch away from leading the series 3-0, now face increased pressure as the series continues.

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