The Yankees moved closer to a World Series berth, taking a 2-0 lead in the ALCS with a 6-3 victory over the Guardians, despite a performance that was far from perfect. Game 2 at Yankee Stadium showcased New York’s ability to win even when they’re not firing on all cylinders.
Jazz Chisholm admitted the team hadn’t reached its full potential yet this postseason, signaling there’s still room for improvement. While their October play hasn’t always been flawless, the Yankees’ approach has been effective against their AL Central opponents so far.
“I don’t think we’ve been playing the best of baseball as the Yankees,” the utility star commented after the win. “I think we play way better baseball than we’ve been playing since Game 1 of the postseason for us. I think there’s more to come.”
Anthony Rizzo, fresh off a hand injury, contributed two hits in his second game back. He stressed the importance of staying focused, noting that despite their 2-0 lead, the Yankees weren’t taking the Guardians lightly. Rizzo emphasized the need to carry their momentum into Cleveland, acknowledging the challenge of playing in a hostile environment on the road.
“We’re not satisfied,” the first baseman told. “We know the Guardians are a very, very good ball club, and being up two games means nothing to us. We need to go into [Cleveland], it’s going to be hostile, and take care of business.”
Yankees’ ugly win raises concerns
Gerrit Cole’s outing in Game 2 was shorter than anticipated, as he couldn’t make it through the fifth inning. Despite an early 3-0 lead, Cole struggled with command, contrasting his dominant ALDS Game 4 performance against Kansas City. Though he escaped a bases-loaded jam in the fourth, Cole allowed two runs in the fifth before being pulled.
The Yankees pitcher pitched 4 ⅓ innings, allowing two runs on six hits and four walks while striking out four though he navigated early trouble and escaped a bases-loaded jam in the fourth but faltered in the fifth. After the game, the Yankees ace described his effort as “adequate,” admitting control issues and crediting Cleveland for their disciplined at-bats, which contributed to his early exit.
The game underscored the Yankees’ resilience, finding ways to win even when their ace falters—a critical trait for a team with championship aspirations.
The Yankees overcame some offensive struggles to secure a 6-3 victory over the Guardians in Game 2 of the ALCS, despite going just 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position and continuing a postseason slump in those situations, now 8-for-52 overall. They also made two outs on the basepaths in a single inning, but Cleveland’s defensive miscues helped balance the scales, leading to two Yankees runs.
The Yankees’ bullpen delivered when needed, with Clay Holmes, Tim Hill, and Tommy Kahnle combining for 3 ⅔ scoreless innings to protect the lead. Luke Weaver closed out the win despite giving up a solo home run to Jose Ramirez, his first earned run since September 2.
A critical defensive play by catcher Austin Wells, who used his elbow to block a bouncing pitch from Holmes, kept the tying run from scoring, preserving the Yankees’ 3-2 lead at the time.
In a curious second-inning decision, Guardians manager Stephen Vogt intentionally walked Juan Soto to load the bases for Aaron Judge. Though Judge hit only a sacrifice fly, he had the final say later in the game, launching his first home run of the postseason, a two-run shot to center in the seventh inning to extend the Yankees’ lead to 6-2. Judge, excited by the homer, humorously credited the “ghosts” of Yankee Stadium for helping the ball reach Monument Park amid difficult weather conditions.
Judge’s night started with some luck, as a first-inning pop-up was misplayed by Guardians shortstop Brayan Rocchio, allowing Gleyber Torres to score. Torres had a standout game, recording three hits as the Yankees moved within two wins of the World Series.
The Yankees expanded their lead in the second inning of Game 2 when Anthony Volpe and Anthony Rizzo hit back-to-back singles, setting up runners on the corners. Alex Verdugo followed with a sharp double down the left-field line, boosting the score to 2-0.
Another Yankees run came in the sixth when Volpe scored from first on a double by Rizzo, aided by an error from Guardians right fielder Will Brennan. However, the inning fell short of its potential due to costly baserunning mistakes. Jazz Chisholm Jr. was picked off second while attempting to initiate a double steal, and Rizzo was later caught in a rundown between second and third on a wild pitch.
Historically, the Yankees are in a strong position. Teams that have taken a 2-0 lead in best-of-seven postseason series have won 76 of 91 times, an 84% success rate. The most recent exception came in the 2023 NLCS when the Diamondbacks came back to defeat the Phillies after trailing 2-0. Under the 2-3-2 series format, teams winning the first two games at home have won 44 out of 55 times, or 80% of the series.
While the odds are in the Yankees’ favor, the stats also serve as a reminder that comebacks, though rare, are possible, especially in the postseason.
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