The Yankees' early aggressiveness in Game 5 completely backfired

An aggressive send by Luis Rojas backfired for the Yankees early in Saturday's Game 5 ALCS showdown against the Guardians in Cleveland.

The Yankees nearly took the lead after just two batters for the second straight game, but Gleyber Torres – who led off with a single, extending his lead from the leadoff spot – was thrown out at home despite Juan Soto's double to the wall rolled.

Instead, the Yankees had to settle for Aaron Judge having a runner on second and one out.

The Guardians' relay race – from Jhonkensy Noel in right field to second baseman Andrés Giménez to catcher Bo Naylor – ended with a perfectly placed relay throw that put Naylor's tag right in the path of Torres as he tried to turn his hand around and to scrape the plate.

Even after Torres was thrown out at the plate, the Yankees still managed to load the bases against Tanner Bibee when Judge and Jazz Chisholm Jr. were hit by pitches.

But Anthony Rizzo, who had two hits in Game 4, flew to left field to end the threat.

Despite allowing two hits and hitting two batters in the first frame, Bibee escaped the jam.

Rojas' questionable effort — especially with Judge on deck and a surging Giancarlo Stanton afterward — helped save the Guardians' starter in a game Cleveland had to win.