The Yankees respond to the Guardians' “unconventional” decision to intentionally walk Juan Soto and pitch Aaron Judge

Game 2 of the American League Championship Series between the Yankees and Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday night was ugly and unconventional at times.

No moment in the game illustrates the latter better than as manager of the Guardians Stephan Vogt intentionally run Juan Soto to pitch Aaron Richter with loaded bases.

With the Yankees already leading 2-0 in the second inning, New York threatened more. With Anthony Rizzo on the third and Alex Verdugo When Vogt took second with one out, he made the move that stunned fans and spectators.

Judge struggled at the plate early in Tuesday's game. The presumptive 2024 AL MVP was just 2 for 15 with an RBI and six strikeouts before Game 2 and was already 0 for 1 – on an error – when he entered the offense with the bases loaded. But still, 58 home runs and 144 RBI are hard to ignore.

But it was a decision that didn't surprise the Yankees.

“I can’t say I was totally shocked there,” the manager said Aaron Boone He said before pausing. “Sometimes you have to pick your poison. In this situation they were a little against it.” (Cade) Smith That early, after being down (two), you need something going really well to stay in the game, and sometimes you have to take a shot that's a little unconventional.”

Vogt took out the starter Tanner Bibee and walked to Smith, one of his best relievers, to get out of the inning. What transpired was that Judge previously hit a sac fly to extend the Yankees' lead to 3-0 Austin Wells struck to limit the damage and keep Cleveland in the game.

“They played the ball around the stadium and we had to stop the game,” Vogt said afterwards about the decision. “In that situation, you want to get the double-play ball and find a way to get out of that inning, and Cade did a great job of that.”

“That’s when you pick your poison. It's the playoffs. It’s a big, big point,” Rizzo said when asked about his reaction to pitching to Judge. “Personally, I probably won’t do that, but you set up the double play. Stephen Vogt I respected him a lot as a player and what he did as a manager in his first year is amazing. It takes a lot of courage to take this step, and in the end we got stuck.”

On Tuesday, the batter in front of him was intentionally walked for the third time in Judge's career. The second time it happened was against the White Sox. This time, Judge made Chicago pay with a home run Chad Kuhl.

“It happened at the beginning of the year. “No real surprise,” Richter said of the decision. “(Soto) has been swinging the bat well lately, trying to get a double play there and get them out of the inning. I would let him go at that point too.”

Soto started Game 2 with a home run and three RBI in 6:17. He also had a single in his first at-bat on Tuesday, making Soto the more dangerous hitter.

Still, Judge managed to strike out the run in that second inning, but provided a much bigger boost when he hit his first home run of the 2024 postseason in the seventh inning, ultimately extending the Yankees' lead with a 6-3 win.

The Yankees hope the home run breaks Judge's bat as the series shifts to Cleveland, while New York – with a 2-0 series lead – looks to close out the ALCS before having to return to the Bronx.