BRONX, N.Y. — After beating the New York Yankees 4-2 in 10 innings on Friday, the Cleveland Guardians will return to Progressive Field with the American League Division Series tied at 1-1.
Jose Ramirez led off the top of the 10th inning with a double and advanced to third base on an error before scoring the game-winning run on an Oscar Gonzalez single to shallow right. Josh Naylor proceeded to bring Gonzalez in with a double of his own and Emmanuel Clase closed out the game for Cleveland, earning the win in what amounted to 2.1 innings pitched for the All-Star closer.
With that, the Guardians evened up the best-of-five series at one game apiece, with Games 3 and 4 set to take place in Cleveland on Saturday and Sunday. Game 5, if necessary, will take place in New York on Monday.
The Yankees struck first on Friday, with designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton's two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning off of starter Shane Bieber giving New York an early 2-0 lead. Naylor scored on an Andres Gimenez single in the top of the fourth to cut the Yankees' lead in half, with Guardians shortstop Amed Rosario evening the score with a solo home run off of starter Nestor Cortes an inning later.
Bieber finished the day with 5.2 innings pitched, allowing five hits and two runs while tallying seven strikeouts. Cortes allowed two runs and six hits with three strikeouts in five innings.
The Yankees threatened to regain the lead in the bottom of the eighth, when James Karinchak walked Isiah Kiner-Falefa to load the bases with two outs. Guardians manager Terry Francona proceeded to bring in Clase to face Kyle Higashioka, who lined out on a hard-hit ball to Ramirez at third.
In the top of the ninth, the Guardians made a threat of their own with an Anthony Rizzo error on a ball batted by Steven Kwan advancing Myles Straw to third base with two outs. Rosario, however, proceeded to ground out to third to end the inning.
One inning later, Cleveland would make the most of its opportunity, tying the series in the process. First pitch of Game 3 between the Guardians and Yankees on Saturday is scheduled for 7:37 p.m. ET.