The Yankees’ bullpen had a chance to outduel the Guardians in Game 3 of the ALCS after a momentous offensive outburst. However, they blew it out allowing the game to take an unexpected turn.
A dramatic 7-5 loss, capped by David Fry’s walk-off home run in the 10th inning, instantly etched itself into postseason history. Yet even if the Yankees had won in the ninth, the game was already filled with unforgettable moments.
The defeat tightens the series, with the Guardians pulling within one game, as the Yankees lead 2-1 after taking the first two contests in New York. The impact of Thursday’s loss may be tough to shake off, given the emotional rollercoaster the Yankees endured.
Manager Aaron Boone remained confident in his team’s ability to rebound, citing their resilience throughout the season. He admitted the loss was painful, especially after the Yankees clawed their way back into the game with a late surge.
“This is what we’ve been great at all year and what that room has been great at all year,” he remarked. “We’ve had some tough losses that we’ve bounced back from. That stings when you get left there like that, especially after you battle back against them like that.”
Before the game unraveled in extra innings, Cleveland’s closer, Emmanuel Clase, seemed poised to lock down another save. But Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton shocked the crowd with back-to-back home runs in the eighth inning, briefly giving the Yankees the lead and challenging Cleveland’s bullpen dominance. What looked like a quiet finish morphed into a high-pressure showdown.
Guardians manager Stephen Vogt reflected on the rarity of such a game, where both teams’ elite closers faltered. He praised Judge’s remarkable ability to take Clase deep, acknowledging how rare it is for two top-tier relievers to be beaten in such fashion. While Vogt marveled at the spectacle from a fan’s perspective, he admitted the game was nerve-wracking from the dugout.
The Yankees were on the verge of taking control of the series with Luke Weaver on the mound and the Guardians down to their last out. Weaver, who had excelled as the team’s closer since September and pitched in all seven of New York’s postseason games, couldn’t seal the win. Jhonkensy Noel changed the game with a two-run homer to left field, tying the score and giving Cleveland new life.
However, Weaver’s frustration centered more on the previous at-bat by Lane Thomas. Thomas extended the inning with a double on a 3-2 count, setting the stage for Noel’s dramatic homer. Weaver reflected on being just one pitch away from ending the game and expressed regret over a 0-2 pitch to Thomas that ultimately extended the inning. He admitted feeling like he had let the team down but acknowledged that such moments are part of the unpredictability of baseball. Despite the heartbreaking loss, Weaver remained focused on the team’s favorable position in the series.
“One pitch away, honestly,” the Yankees closer said. “The 0-2 to Lane Thomas. I have to execute. I really felt like I let the team down, myself down. It’s baseball and things like that happen with the twist of an arm. It feels a little devastating, but at the end of the day, you have to bounce back. We’re still in a good position. We feel like there’s some momentum there, but they earned it. It was a crazy game.”
As the game stretched into extra innings, the momentum appeared to swing heavily in Cleveland’s favor. Yankees manager Aaron Boone turned to Clay Holmes in hopes of stabilizing the situation. Holmes, who had served as the primary closer for much of the season before Weaver took over, has been a crucial part of the bullpen. Like Weaver, Holmes had also pitched in all seven postseason games, highlighting his critical role in the team’s relief strategy.
In Game 3 of the ALCS, three top-tier closers—Emmanuel Clase, Luke Weaver, and Clay Holmes—each surrendered two-run homers in pivotal moments, shifting the game’s momentum and potentially altering the course of the series.
Clay Holmes acknowledged the bullpen’s struggles, admitting they failed in their primary role of holding leads and shutting down Cleveland’s offense. He praised the Yankees’ hitters for putting the team in a winning position but accepted responsibility for the pitchers not executing when it mattered most. Holmes stressed the high standards the bullpen holds themselves to, noting that their objective is always to prevent runs.
The Yankees had a golden opportunity to claim a key victory, especially in a bullpen duel against the Guardians, a team known for its reliable relief pitching. For a brief moment, it appeared they had done just that—outmaneuvering Cleveland in their own strong suit.
As the Yankees prepare to move forward, their focus is on putting this defeat behind them. The path to the World Series likely hinges on avoiding prolonged bullpen battles, particularly against the Guardians’ formidable relief corps, a strength that could prove decisive as the series continues.
Yankees fans react to bullpen’s failure
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