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The Yankees win ALCS Game 4 8-6 and can eliminate the Guardians with a win in Game 5

The Yankees win ALCS Game 4 8-6 and can eliminate the Guardians with a win in Game 5

Alex Verdugo drove in the go-ahead run with a weak grounder to shortstop that Cleveland Guardians shortstop Brayan Rocchio couldn’t clear on his attack. Pinch-runner Jon Berti scored to give the New York Yankees a 7-6 lead in the ninth inning of Game 4 of the American League Championship Series.

Gleyber Torres followed with a single to center field to bring in Anthony Volpe and extend the Yankees’ lead to 8-6. Tommy Kahnle maintained that lead and pushed the Guardians to the bottom of the field.

Cleveland scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth when Jhonkensy Noel drew a one-out walk and Andres Gimenez singled. But Bo Naylor flew to midfield and Rocchio grounded out to second to end the game.

With the 8-6 win, the Yankees take a 3-1 lead. New York can secure the AL pennant and a place in the World Series with a win on Saturday.

Once again, Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase looked human in the postseason after delivering a superheroic pitch in the regular season. Clase reached ninth place with a 6-6 tie, dropping back-to-back singles matches to Rizzo and Volpe. Austin Wells struck out and Volpe stole second base, setting up Verdugo’s go-ahead ball.

Cade Smith was Cleveland’s fourth pitcher of the game, entering Friday’s matchup having allowed just one run in nine postseason innings. But in Game 4 he had a disastrous result.

Juan Soto walked and Aaron Judge hit a single to start the sixth. Jazz Chisholm Jr. moved them to second and third with a sacrifice bunt. Then Smith dropped a two-strike fastball across the plate and Giancarlo Stanton smashed it for a three-run home run, extending the Yankees’ lead to 6-2.

Soto and Wells also hit home runs in Game 4, striking out Guardians starter Gavin Williams in the top of the first and second. Williams seemed to calm down after that, but manager Stephen Vogt pulled him with one out in the third inning.

Cleveland rallied in the seventh, cutting the lead to 6-5 on back-to-back RBI doubles by Jose Ramirez and Josh Naylor off Clay Holmes.

But Noel couldn’t repeat his late-inning home run heroics against Mark Leiter Jr. He hit a long fly ball down the left field line, but this time it stayed in the park. Leiter was added to the Yankees’ ALCS squad before the game as an injured replacement for Ian Hamilton. The Guardians added another in the eighth with a David Fry single, but that was all they could accomplish before the Yankees took the lead in the ninth.

Tanner Bibee will start Game 5 and the Guardians’ season is on the line. Carlos Rodon gets the start for the Yankees on Saturday, with first pitch scheduled for 8:08 p.m. ET.

Here’s a look at how the action from Game 4 unfolded, with updates and highlights on Yahoo Sports’ live blog:

The live broadcast has ended40 updates

  • Yankees win 8–6, take 3–1 ALCS lead

    Tommy Kahnle finished the ninth inning for the Yankees in an 8-6 win.

    The game-winning run came for the Guardians after Jhonkensy Noel drew a one-out walk and Andres Gimenez singled. But Bo Naylor flied out to center field and Brayan Rocchio grounded out to second base to end the game.

    With the 8-6 win, the Yankees take a 3-1 lead. New York can clinch the AL pennant and a trip to the World Series on Saturday.

  • The Guardians bring the game-winning run to the point

    Jhonkensy Noel drew a one-out walk, followed by a single to right field by Andres Gimenez. That brings Bo Naylor to the winning goal.

  • Gleyber Torres gives the Yankees an 8-6 lead

    The Yankees now have a two-run lead as Gleyber Torres singles Anthony Volpe to center field.

  • The Yankees take a 7-6 lead

    Emmanuel Clase struck out Austin Wells to give himself some breathing room. But the Yankees still had runners on second and third, with one out.

    Alex Verdugo then hits a weak grounder to shortstop, but Brayan Rocchio can’t catch the ball as he rushes in. This allows Jon Berti to get the starting shot.

  • Yankees threaten in 9th

    Anthony Rizzo led off the top of the ninth with a single off Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase. Jon Berti runs after him. Anthony Volpe followed with another single, moving Berti to third base.

    Two runners on and no outs as Clase faces Austin Wells.

    Volpe steals second base to give the Yankees runners on second and third.

  • Mark Leiter Jr. struck out Josh Naylor to keep the game tied

    Mark Leiter Jr. intentionally walked Jose Ramirez to face Josh Naylor, putting runners on first and second with two outs.

    He then struck out Naylor to end the inning. The game ends in a 6-6 draw until the ninth round.

  • Cleveland evened the score at 6-6

    David Fry does it again. He hits a grounder toward first base, which is fielded by Mark Leiter Jr. But Leiter can’t throw the ball cleanly to Anthony Rizzo and it goes between his legs. This allows Bo Naylor to score the decisive run.

  • The Guardians have a tie at 3rd base with one out

    Brayan Rocchio gets Bo Naylor to third base with a grounder to shortstop. The decisive run is 90 feet away and Steven Kwan comes to bat.

  • The tie is on board for Cleveland

    Bo Naylor leads with a brace at the end of the eighth. Next up is Brayan Rocchio.

  • Hunter Gaddis hits from the side

    Hunter Gaddis throws the eighth pitch for the Guardians and doesn’t allow any insurance runs to the Yankees.

    The right-hander struck out Aaron Judge, Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Giancarlo Stanton to put the Yankees in order.

  • Mark Leiter Jr. leads the Yankees

    Mark Leiter Jr. struck out Andres Gimenez to end the bottom of the seventh quarter for the Guardians and maintain the Yankees’ 6-5 lead.

    Again, Leiter was only added to New York’s ALCS squad before Game 4 as an injured replacement for Ian Hamilton.

  • There was no clutch home run for Jhonkensy Noel this time

    Jhonkensy Noel can’t repeat his Game 3 home run. He gave the pitch a right kick down the left field line, but it stayed in the park and was intercepted by Alex Verdugo.

  • Pitching change for the Yankees

    After walking Lane Thomas on five pitches, Clay Holmes is out. Aaron Boone brings in Mark Leiter Jr., just added to the Yankees’ ALCS roster, to face pinch-hitter Jhonkensy Noel with one out and runners on first and second.

  • Jose Ramirez and Josh Naylor make it a 6-5 game

    The Guardians made it a one-run game. Jose Ramirez led off Brayan Rocchio with a one-out double, then Josh Naylor followed with another double that scored Steven Kwan and Ramirez.

    Still only one out in the seventh game and the score is 6-5.

  • Clay Holmes wins the rematch with David Fry

    David Fry doesn’t repeat his home run heroics against Clay Holmes. Holmes gets the rematch and knocks Fry down while looking at a sweeper.

  • The guards face a threat

    Brayan Rocchio walks and goes to third on a single by Steven Kwan to start the bottom of the seventh for the Guardians.

    This convinces Aaron Boone to pull Jake Cousins ​​and get Clay Holmes. With two runners on and no outs, David Fry comes to the plate.

  • Joey Cantillo isn’t a wild thing this time

    After throwing four wild pitches in Game 1 of the ALCS, Guardians reliever Joey Cantillo had a quieter performance in Game 7.

    Cantillo led off with Alex Verdugo, but then got Gleyber Torres into a double play. He froze Juan Soto on a changeup to end a scoreless inning.

  • Jake Cousins ​​pitches a scoreless 6th

    The Guardians cannot answer at the end of the sixth set. Jake Cousins ​​came on as a relief for the Yankees and allowed a two-out single to Andres Gimenez. But he struck out Bo Naylor to keep Cleveland off the field.

    The Yankees come into the seventh quarter batting with a 6-2 lead.

  • Tim Herrin stops the bleeding

    Tim Herrin singled in the top of the sixth by striking out Anthony Rizzo, giving up a single to Anthony Volpe and getting Austin Wells to force out at second base. But the damage was already done by Giancarlo Stanton.

    The Guards now trail 6-2 while batting at the bottom of the frame.

  • Giancarlo Stanton launches a 3-run home run

    Cade Smith took over for Eli Wilson to start the sixth and had a disastrous inning. After walking Juan Soto on five pitches, he gives up a single to Aaron Judge. Jazz Chisholm Jr. moved runners to second and third with a sacrifice bunt.

    Then Giancarlo Stanton gave the Yankees a 6-2 lead by smashing a fastball across the plate into the seats in left field. And he knew it.

    Smith is out for Tim Herrin.