The Guardians collect three runs in the 10th inning to impress the Yankees with a wild finish – Trentonian

Andres Gimenez of the Cleveland Guardians (bottom) celebrates with Estevan Florial (90) and Austin Hedges (right) after hitting a walkoff sacrifice fly in the 10th inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees on Sunday, April 14, 2024, in Cleveland has hit . (AP Photo/David Dermer)

CLEVELAND – Andrés Giménez's sacrifice fly capped Cleveland's wild three-run rally in the 10th inning as the Guardians saved the finale of a three-game series with a stunning 8-7 victory over the New York Yankees on Sunday.

Trailing 7-5, the Guardians scored three goals in the 10th against Caleb Ferguson (0-2) on a forceout, fielder's choice and sacrifice fly.

“We’re not going to give up,” said Cleveland’s first-year manager Stephen Vogt. “And that’s one of the things I heard the guys yelling on the way back to the clubhouse. We don’t give up and that’s what this group is all about.”

The Yankees, 10-0 with at least four runs scored, took a 7-6 lead in the 10th after Anthony Rizzo hit Tyler Beede (1-0) with a two-run single.

But the Guardians, who were just one point away from victory when the Yankees rallied in the ninth, showed great offense to earn a stunning win and end a first homestand that began with a total solar eclipse.

In the 10th, Josh Naylor's grounder scored his brother Bo Naylor, who started the inning at second and came forward with a single. David Fry followed with a double, and Will Brennan then hit a grounder that cuffed Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres, who bobbled the ball and threw it home late as Josh Naylor scored to make it 7-7.

Giménez then lifted his fly to his right, giving the Guardians their second walk-off win of the week.

The Yankees fell to 12-4, still one of the best starts in their history. New York was 6-0 in one-run games.

“It’s a tough question,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “We just didn’t make a few plays that we needed to make. When you push through and get a lead there, it’s always difficult.”

Aaron Judge hit a three-run home run, Jose Trevino hit a home run and Anthony Volpe delivered a clutch RBI double for New York in the ninth.

“However you lose is a difficult thing,” Judge said. “The boys fought until the end. They've come up with some big attacks. We have achieved great success. In the end we just couldn’t pull it off.”

In the dizzying 10th round, a brilliant one-two punch from Fry and Bo Naylor was lost.

Fry, who started behind the plate and later moved to first, hit a grounder and threw home to put down a runner before Bo Naylor, who had a swinging day, fired back to first for a double play.

“These are two incredibly athletic heads-up guys showing their game,” Vogt said. “The athleticism and baseball IQ in this game probably isn’t talked about enough. This should be number one on MLB’s SportsCenter, whatever the top games are.”

José Ramírez hit a two-run home run and Gabriel Arias and Estevan Florial – once the top prospects in New York's organization – added solo shots for Cleveland.

Florial, acquired from the Guardians in an offseason trade, scored against Luke Weaver 0-1 in the eighth.

“A special moment for Flo,” said Vogt. “Of course, hitting a close home run is one of the best feelings a hitter can have. Big moment, end of the eighth quarter, it's your former team. That was a really cool moment for him.”

The home run prompted cries of derision about the Yankees from Guardians fans, who spent the day chatting back and forth with their New York counterparts, who made their presence known at every ballpark.

The euphoria didn't last long as Cleveland closer Emmanuel Clase couldn't put it away and gave up Volpe's hit.

Judge, who led the AL in walks, gave the Yankees a 3-0 lead in the third with his mammoth shot, initially estimated at 469 feet and later lowered to 450.

No matter how far the ball flew, it was crushed.

After Volpe walked and reached third on Juan Soto's single, Judge drove Allen's first throw over the left-field wall and more than halfway up the stands under Progressive Field's giant scoreboard.

TRAINER ROOM

Yankees: 3B DJ LeMahieu (broken right foot) could be sent to minor league rehab after the team returns to New York this week. Boone said it's “very possible” LeMahieu will start playing in games. LeMahieu was injured when he sprained a bunion during a spring training game on March 16.

Guardians: RHP Ben Lively will make his season debut on Wednesday in Boston. Lively was one of several Cleveland players who came down with a viral illness during spring training in Arizona. He signed with the Guardians as a free agent in December after spending last year in Cincinnati's organization.

NEXT

Yankees: RHP Luis Gil (0-0, 3.00 ERA) starts the opener of a three-game series against Blue Jays RHP Chris Bassitt (1-2, 5.06). Gil will rest for six days.

Guardians: RHP Xzavion Curry starts Monday against Boston. Like Lively, he became ill in camp and lost 15 pounds. He made nine starts for Cleveland in 2023.