It’s been over 15 years since the Yankees last claimed an American League pennant, but that drought is now over. With a 5-3 victory in Game 5 of the ALCS at Progressive Field, the Yankees secured their place in the World Series for the first time since 2009.
The Yankees, leading the series 3-1, needed just one more win to punch their ticket, and they did just that, defeating the Cleveland Guardians. Fans can now celebrate as the Bronx Bombers return to the Fall Classic.
Live Coverage
A ROAD TO THE WORLD SERIES!
Late Saturday night, the Yankees secured their long-awaited return to the World Series, defeating the Guardians 5-2 in a nail-biting Game 5 of the ALCS. The celebration stretched into the early hours, marking the end of a 15-year World Series drought for the Yankees, their first trip to the Fall Classic since 2009
Juan Soto’s go-ahead blast
Juan Soto came through in the biggest moment yet for the Yankees, crushing a go-ahead, three-run home run in the top of the 10th inning to give New York a 5-2 lead over Cleveland. With the game tied heading into extra innings and the stakes at their highest, Soto delivered with his signature power, sending Yankees fans into a frenzy.
The blast came after Gleyber Torres reached on a walk and Aaron Judge singled to set the table. Soto, calm under pressure, launched a towering shot deep into the right-field seats, giving the Yankees a three-run cushion and putting them just three defensive outs away from a trip to the World Series.
With the lead now in their hands, the Yankees are turning to their bullpen to secure the final outs in Cleveland. If they can hold on, Soto’s home run will be remembered as the defining moment that sent the Bronx Bombers back to the Fall Classic.
Emmanuel Clase escapes trouble, Yankees eye late-inning heroics
Emmanuel Clase, who’s had his struggles this series, managed to escape the ninth inning unscathed, but not without giving Yankees fans hope for a late-inning breakthrough. After getting Aaron Judge to fly out, Clase faced Giancarlo Stanton, the same slugger who had blasted a game-tying home run in the sixth. Yankees fans were ready for another clutch moment, but this time Clase struck out Stanton, silencing the crowd’s anticipation.
Just when it looked like Clase might breeze through the frame, Jazz Chisholm Jr. kept the Yankees alive with a sharp single. With the go-ahead run on base, Oswaldo Cabrera stepped up, but hit a grounder right to a perfectly positioned Brayan Rocchio. Chisholm was running on the pitch, but Rocchio’s quick reflexes secured the out, sending the game to the bottom of the ninth. The Yankees are still poised for a dramatic finish, though, with their bullpen ready to give them one last shot.
Jake Cousins Deals, Yankees Set Stage for Dramatic Finish
Jake Cousins stepped up big for the Yankees, striking out four Guardians over two innings and keeping the game tied heading into the final frames. Coming off a pec injury, Cousins has been lights-out, showing no signs of slowing down when the Yankees needed him most.
In the eighth, Cousins worked around a two-out walk and struck out Jhonkensy Noel on three straight sliders, sending Yankees fans into a frenzy. His clutch performance has set up a thrilling finish, with Emmanuel Clase under pressure for the Guardians and Luke Weaver warming in the Yankees’ bullpen. With the game still tied and everything on the line, Yankees fans can sense the opportunity for a signature moment to punch their ticket to the World Series.
Stanton strikes again
Giancarlo Stanton delivered in a big way, launching his fourth home run of the ALCS to even the score at 2-2 in Cleveland. Stanton’s blast came with two outs and two strikes, shifting momentum back to the Yankees.
That’s it for Tanner Bibee, who exits the game for the Guardians.
Yankees making moves in the sixth
The Yankees are threatening. Gleyber Torres and Juan Soto opened the sixth inning with back-to-back singles, prompting a visit from the Guardians’ training staff to check on Bibee at the mound.
Guardians lead 2-0 through five
The Guardians escaped a bases-loaded jam in the fifth after Thomas grounded out to second, maintaining their 2-0 lead as the game reaches its latter stages. With a World Series berth on the line, the Yankees will need to strike soon.
Carlos Rodon bounces back after early trouble in the third
It didn’t start well for Carlos Rodon in the third. After issuing a leadoff walk and falling behind 2-0 to Steven Kwan, the Yankees lefty looked like he might be in for a long inning. But Rodon settled down, retired the next three hitters, and kept the game tight, holding the deficit at 1-0. Through three innings, Rodon has struck out five Guardians hitters.
Tanner Bibee shuts down Yankees in third consecutive perfect frame
Tanner Bibee is in full control. After navigating a bases-loaded jam in the first, Bibee has now retired seven Yankees in a row, including a big strikeout of Aaron Judge to close the third. Bibee froze Judge with a curveball, keeping Cleveland ahead 1-0. Now, with Brayan Rocchio leading off the bottom half, Carlos Rodon will try to navigate the Guardians’ lineup for a second time.
Bo and Josh Naylor spark Guardians to early lead
Bo Naylor’s 10-pitch battle against Carlos Rodon in the second inning was a turning point. The Guardians catcher fought off pitch after pitch before lining a double into the right-field corner, scoring his brother Josh to give Cleveland a 1-0 lead. Josh had reached earlier in the inning on a throwing error by Jazz Chisholm Jr. that pulled Anthony Rizzo off the bag at first.
After 30 minutes since the start, it’s a quick 1-2-3 inning for Rodon, and we’re still tied 0-0.
Our live coverage starts at 8:10 p.m. EST.
Pre-Game
Yankees vs. Guardians ALCS Game 5 Info:
- Date: October 18, 2024
- Time: 8:08 p.m. EST
- Location: Progressive Field, Cleveland, Ohio
Where to Watch:
- TV Channels: TBS, truTV
- Streaming: Max
Stanton powers Yankees, Rodon set to start
Giancarlo Stanton, who’s been on a tear during this postseason, played a pivotal role in Game 4, launching a three-run homer in the sixth inning to propel the Yankees to an 8-6 victory. That blast was Stanton’s 15th career postseason home run, cementing his reputation as a clutch October performer.
“I’ve got to get it done again,” Stanton remarked after Game 4. The Yankees are well aware of what’s at stake, and they’ll rely on Carlos Rodon to take them the final step tonight. Rodon, who started and won Game 1, will face Cleveland’s Tanner Bibee. Bibee had a rough outing in Game 2, lasting just 1.1 innings, and the Guardians will hope for a much better performance from their young ace tonight.
Bullpen rest advantage for Yankees
Both teams’ bullpens have been heavily used in the series, but the Yankees will have a fresh Luke Weaver available to close the game. Weaver warmed up in Game 4 but wasn’t called upon, giving manager Aaron Boone a key option for the late innings if the Yankees hold a lead.
Additionally, left-hander Nestor Cortes continues to trend toward a possible World Series return. Boone confirmed that Cortes threw another simulated inning earlier today and could be in the mix for the next round. “He has an excellent chance of being in play for the World Series roster,” Boone said, offering Yankees fans more reasons to be optimistic about their chances beyond tonight.
Lineup shuffles
The Yankees lineup has been consistent throughout the series, with Gleyber Torres leading off, followed by Juan Soto and Aaron Judge. Stanton, coming off a hot streak, will again serve as the designated hitter. Anthony Rizzo and Jazz Chisholm Jr. round out the middle of the order, while Austin Wells, Alex Verdugo, and rookie Anthony Volpe provide support at the bottom of the lineup.
Cleveland, facing elimination, will lean heavily on their own power hitters like Josh Naylor and José Ramírez. Naylor came up big in Game 4 with a two-RBI double, and Ramírez will look to carry his team on his shoulders in what could be the Guardians’ last game of the year.
What’s next?
If the Yankees seal the victory tonight, they will move on to face either the New York Mets or the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series. It would mark the first time the Yankees have reached the Fall Classic since their 2009 championship run. For now, all eyes are on Progressive Field, where the Bronx Bombers hope to end a 15-year pennant drought and take a step closer to title number 28.
Stay tuned for more live updates as the action unfolds.
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