The Yankees dugout erupted in celebration after Giancarlo Stanton’s three-run homer in the sixth inning silenced the crowd and gave them what seemed like a comfortable lead. However, as is often the case in the postseason, things didn’t go as smoothly as expected.
The game quickly turned into a tense, back-and-forth battle, ultimately decided by Alex Verdugo’s run-scoring dribbler. The Yankees managed to break through against Cleveland’s formidable closer, Emmanuel Clase, for the second consecutive night, edging the Guardians 8-6 in Game 4 of the ALCS on Friday, putting them on the verge of a World Series berth.
Stanton, despite his pivotal home run, urged caution. “The job’s not finished,” he said, emphasizing that while the win was important, the team still needed to close out the series.
“I want a ring,” he said. “It feels like nothing until we get it done. As far as I’m concerned, we haven’t done nothing. We’ll enjoy this for now, but we’ve got to get it done tomorrow and on to the next.”
The crucial ninth inning saw Jon Berti cross the plate for the go-ahead run after an error by Guardians shortstop Brayan Rocchio. Gleyber Torres then tacked on an insurance run with an RBI single, and Tommy Kahnle closed out the game, earning his second career postseason save. The victory helped the Yankees shake off the sting of their Game 3 collapse, showcasing their ability to rebound when needed most.
The Yankees’ offense was in full swing, with Juan Soto belting a two-run homer and Austin Wells also going deep. As the American League’s top team with 94 regular-season wins, the Yankees now stand just one victory away from claiming their 41st pennant, their first since 2009.
Aaron Judge lauded Giancarlo Stanton’s sixth-inning home run off Guardians reliever Cade Smith, calling it a visual stunner. The blast, Stanton’s 15th career postseason homer in just 35 games, extended the Yankees’ lead to four runs heading into the seventh. Yet Stanton remained focused, cautioning against complacency and stressing the need for every player to contribute to finish the job.
Manager Aaron Boone described the game as gritty and tough but far from perfect. Luis Gil made his postseason debut, pitching four solid innings, while Tim Hill added a scoreless frame, marking his fourth appearance in five days.
With limited fresh arms available, Boone called on Clay Holmes, despite Holmes pitching four times in the last five days and surrendering the pivotal home run in Game 3. Boone acknowledged the uncertainty of how they would manage the rest of the game but trusted Holmes to deliver.
The Guardians, however, mounted a comeback. José Ramírez hit a run-scoring double, and Josh Naylor added a two-run double off Holmes, cutting the Yankees’ lead to one and energizing the home crowd. Boone then turned to Mark Leiter Jr., a recent roster addition due to injury.
Leiter worked through the jam, narrowly avoiding disaster when Jhonkensy Noel launched a deep fly ball that came close to giving Cleveland the lead. He then struck out Andrés Giménez to escape the inning and preserve the Yankees’ slim advantage.
Yankees stare at the bright chance
In the history of best-of-seven postseason series, teams holding a 3-1 lead have gone on to win 79 of 93 times (84.9%), including 37 of 45 instances in the League Championship Series. The Yankees now find themselves in a strong position following their 8-6 win in Game 4, but Aaron Judge emphasized that nothing is guaranteed.
Judge highlighted the team’s focus and determination, pointing out that their ability to rebound from difficult moments all season has carried them this far. He underscored the importance of the win, which demonstrated the team’s resilience and drive as they inch closer to their ultimate goal — the 28th championship.
“This team is focused on what we’ve got to accomplish and what we’ve got to do,” the Yankees captain said. “We’ve seen it all year, when we have a couple of tough games or a tough series. This team always bounces back and answers back the right way. This was definitely a big win.”
With the Yankees now one win away from the World Series, they hope to capitalize on their commanding lead, knowing history is on their side. But as Boone and his players reiterated, they cannot afford to let up just yet.
In the eighth inning, Cleveland tied the game when Bo Naylor doubled and scored on David Fry’s soft grounder, which turned into a costly error when Mark Leiter Jr. made a wild throw that skipped past Anthony Rizzo at first base. The play highlighted the Yankees’ recurring defensive struggles and postseason baserunning mistakes.
Despite these setbacks, the Yankees have found ways to stay on course. Leiter praised the team’s resilience, noting their ability to stay focused on the next opportunity—whether a key at-bat or pitching decision. He credited the team’s tight bond for keeping them locked in on the goal ahead.
As the game entered its final innings, momentum seemed to tilt in Cleveland’s favor. But Stanton remained confident, expressing belief in the Yankees’ ability to challenge Emmanuel Clase again. Stanton emphasized the importance of maintaining composure and sticking to their game plan in high-pressure moments.
“No lead is safe,” the Yankees hitter said. “It’s a great team over there, but it’s just important to keep pushing. We need every single person on our team to contribute in some way. We’re going to need everybody……..Not being scared, not being intimidated, just going in there with the right proper plan. It’s going to be a tough at-bat, we know that, but this game is tough and we need runs.”
Tommy Kahnle reflected on the Yankees‘ history of thrilling postseason matchups with Cleveland, suggesting that another tense game was almost expected in this series.
After the victory, the Yankees celebrated as usual, with players recognizing contributions from key figures like Leiter. They maintained their regular postgame routine, playing their go-to hip-hop and funk playlist, treating the win as just another step despite the looming high stakes.
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