The New York Yankees, fueled by the bats of Juan Soto and Giancarlo Stanton, showcased their resilience by bouncing back from a crushing Game 3 loss to defeat the Cleveland Guardians, 8-6, in Game 4 of the AL Championship Series at Progressive Field.
With the win, the Yankees moved within one victory of the World Series. On Thursday, the Bronx Bombers suffered a heart-wrenching 7-5 loss in Game 3 after blowing up a 5-3 lead to fall victim to a walk-off homer. However, the Yanks turned their fortunes on Day 4 to comfortably secure a 3-1 lead in the seven-game series.
Stanton, Soto Homers In Yankees Thriller Game 4 Win
After the unfortunate Game 3 loss, the New York Yankees vowed to shake off the defeat and refocus on the task at hand on Friday. While words of motivation filled the locker room, it was actions on the field that truly counted, and Juan Soto wasted no time proving the Yanks were ready to turn the page. Soto set the tone early, launching a two-run home run on just the sixth pitch of the game, sending the ball just short of the bullpens in right-center field. His blast erased any lingering bitterness from the previous night’s collapse and gave the team a quick 2-0 lead. “[Game 3] was in the past. We tried to forget about it. We focused on [Game 4],” Soto said.
Meanwhile, Giancarlo Stanton, who had fallen behind 1-2 in the count with two runners in scoring position, delivered the most decisive blow of the game, i.e., a three-run homer that extended the New York Yankees’ lead to 7-3. Stanton admitted afterward that his main focus was simply to put the ball in play. “That was the idea, get the ball in the air far enough for a sac fly,” he said. Instead, Stanton’s swing sent the ball flying over the wall, giving his team a much-needed cushion. Though Cleveland would mount another comeback effort, trimming the lead to 7-6, the Yanks held on, thanks in part to stellar defense from Soto. With six home runs combined in the postseason, Soto and Stanton have been indispensable. Their timely hitting has put the Bombers just one win away from advancing to the World Series.
Rizzo Earns Redemption After Costly Defensive Error
In the first inning, Anthony Rizzo missed a double-play opportunity when a line drive popped out of his glove, setting up an early run for Cleveland. Later, in the seventh inning, another defensive lapse allowed the tying run to score. However, despite these defensive mishaps, Rizzo kept his composure.
At the plate, he was critical in turning the game around. His leadoff single against Clase was followed by a pinch-running appearance by Jon Berti, who ultimately scored the winning run. Rizzo finished the game 2-for-4, a key offensive contributor to the Yankees’ victory. “The guy has been there, done that,” Aaron Judge said about Rizzo.
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