By TOM WITHERS, AP Sports Author
CLEVELAND (AP) — Gerrit Cole brought the Yankees back from the brink. They’re Bronx sure, still chasing a championship.
Cole gave Recent York what it needed, seven solid innings and Harrison Bader hit a two-run homer because the Yankees saved their season and compelled a decisive fifth game within the AL Division Series with a 4-2 win over the Cleveland Guardians in Game 4 on Sunday night.
“This series actually isn’t over, and now we have larger goals,” Cole said. “But I’m definitely having the time of my life and I find it irresistible and I can’t wait to maintain going.”
Recent York’s $324 million man, Cole allowed two runs and struck out eight in beating the Guardians for the second time in six days. He didn’t dominate, but Cole kept Cleveland’s hitters off base and off balance.
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Bader homered for the third time within the best-of-five series, connecting within the second inning off Cal Quantrill, who got here in unbeaten in 44 games at Progressive Field.
After blowing Game 3 on Saturday, when the Yankees’ bullpen had its best meltdown within the team’s storied postseason history, Recent York recovered and is headed home.
Recent York will start Game 2 loser Jameson Taillon against Aaron Civale on Monday night at Yankee Stadium.
The winner advances to fulfill Houston within the AL Championship Series.
Josh Naylor homered for the Guardians, who are attempting to finish Major League Baseball’s current longest World Series drought of their first yr after a franchise name change. Cleveland hasn’t won all of it since 1948.
With a history of postseason heartbreak, Cleveland teams are 1-7 in winner-take-all games.
“You realize should you would have told me back in March, we just signed as much as play Game 5 in Recent York to go to the ALCS, I’d have jogged to Recent York,” Guardians manager Terry Francona said. “I’m excited.”
Cole was pulled after 110 pitches and Yankees manager Aaron Boone brought in closer Clay Holmes for the eighth. Holmes didn’t pitch in Game 3 after Boone decided to shut him down but didn’t tell the right-hander.
Holmes struck out Amed Rosario and All-Star José Ramírez within the eighth before Wandy Peralta finished for the save. Working his third straight day, Peralta retired three batters on just seven pitches.
“Our guys had that look of their eyes tonight, and it starts with Gerrit,” said first baseman Anthony Rizzo said. “It’s an entire win for us and that’s who we’re and that’s the wins we’d like to have.”
The Guardians weren’t speculated to be here. But they won the AL Central, swept Tampa Bay within the wild-card round and had the Yankees on the cusp of elimination. All Cleveland’s kids need to do now’s beat the Yankees in baseball’s most hostile environment.
This was the type of game the Yankees envisioned Cole pitching in after they signed him to a nine-year contract in 2019 as a free agent after he spent two seasons with the Astros.
There was no magic this time for the Guardians, who overcame a two-run deficit within the ninth inning on Saturday to win Game 3 in dramatic fashion.
Cleveland not only rallied against Recent York’s bullpen on Saturday, however the Guardians became the primary team in 168 games to beat a multi-run deficit and beat the Yankees within the postseason.
The Guardians closed inside 3-2 within the fourth on Naylor’s second profession postseason homer — and third homer in 17 at-bats — off Cole.
Naylor’s laser shot into the seats fronting the outfield bullpens sent Cleveland’s crowd right into a frenzy that got wilder because the animated DH circled the bases swinging his arms back in forth as if he was rocking a baby.
Bader’s 429-foot shot into the left-field bleachers put the Yankees ahead 3-0 within the second, and never only gave them momentum but belief they’d even the series following their gutting loss in Game 3.
Recent York’s dugout erupted with shouts and fist pumps as Bader rounded first following his fifth hit in six profession at-bats off Quantrill. He also homered in Game 1, when Cole and the Yankees beat Quantrill.
The Guardians got a run back within the third, but missed a probability for more when Ramírez got a little bit overaggressive on the bottom paths.
With runners at first and second, Ramírez dropped a bloop into left field that scored rookie Steven Kwan. Considering he had a probability to take an additional base, Ramírez went about halfway to second before realizing he had no probability and got thrown out retreating to first.
Oscar Gonzalez’s quick rise from rookie to postseason has mirrored Cleveland’s stunning jump to World Series contender.
While the 24-year-old, who has twice walked-off postseason wins with clutch hit, has an aggressive approach on the plate, he’s also a selective hitter — more often than not.
“He swung at a ball in within the fifth inning that just about hit him within the Adam’s apple,” Francona said, recalling a Game 3 at-bat. “And he comes back and that was an at-bat he went deep to right field. He’s a little bit unique.”
Boone spent much of his pregame news conference attempting to make clear the communication breakdown between him and Holmes in Game 3.
After the bullpen melted down, Holmes, who was recently sidelined with a shoulder strain, told reporters he was available. Boone, though, said he never informed the right-hander he was down, creating confusion and awkwardness.
Boone said he decided to not pitch Holmes on consecutive days in order to not risk his health. Holmes reported soreness after pitching in Game 2.
Boone said he and Holmes “hashed it out.”
“He could have pitched and 1, 2, 3, boom, we win,” Boone said. “That is one in every of the tough decisions that comes across that we attempt to make thoughtfully.”
Making his first profession relief appearance, Taillon allowed two runs ad three hits without recording an out in Game 2. Civale hasn’t pitched since Oct. 5. He’s won his last three starts with a 3.18 ERA. The best-hander was on the injured list 3 times this season.
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