Cleveland Guardians shock New York Yankees in extra innings to cut ALCS deficit to 2-1

Down to their final out and on the verge of a 0-3 series hole, the Cleveland Guardians stunned the New York Yankees with two dramatic pinch-hit home runs.

Down to their final out and on the verge of a 0-3 series hole, the Cleveland Guardians stunned the New York Yankees with two dramatic pinch-hit home runs. Jhonkensy Noel and David Fry provided the power to win Game 3 of the American League Championship Series 7-5 in an instant classic on Thursday night in Cleveland. With the victory, the Guardians cut the series deficit to 2-1 in the best-of-seven series. New York seemed poised to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the series when Yankees captain Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton hit back-to-back home runs off Guardians All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase in the top of the eighth inning for a 4-3 lead. Considered one of the best closers in baseball, Clase finished the regular season with a 0.61 ERA after only allowing two home runs and five earned runs in 74.1 innings pitched. Cleveland threatened in the bottom of the eighth inning, getting runners on first and second base when Yankees skipper Aaron Boone opted to turn to closer Luke Weaver for a four-out save. Weaver extinguished the danger by striking Fry out. After getting an insurance run by the Yankees offense for a 5-3 lead, Weaver returned in the ninth inning, eyeing a fifth save opportunity in the postseason.