Fry's 2-run home run in the 10th gives the Guardians a stunning 7-5 victory over the Yankees, just 2-1 in the ALCS

CLEVELAND (AP) — Rookie pinch-hitter Jhonkensy Noel hit a home run to tie the game with two outs in the ninth inning and David Fry scored for a two-run shot in the 10th inning, lifting Cleveland 7-5 on Thursday New York Yankees led past and pulled the Guardians to 2-1 in the AL Championship Series.

Cleveland led 3-1 in the eighth before Aaron Judge hit a two-run home run off All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase and Giancarlo Stanton followed with a solo drive.

With the Guardians trailing 5-3 and one to a 3-0 deficit, Lane Thomas hit a double off Luke Weaver in the ninth before Noel's towering home run tied the game.

Bo Naylor singled off Clay Holmes in the 10th and Brayan Rocchio singled. Naylor made a comeback to third before Fry, who hit a Division Series-clinching home run against Detroit, sent a 1-2 striker into the left stands.

Fry was surrounded by his teammates and the fans at Progressive Field erupted in cheers.

Cleveland can end the series with a win on Friday.

Fry's swing immediately ended an October classic.

The Guardians, who have defied the odds all season, were just moments away from a heartbreaking defeat after taking a two-run lead into the eighth. Noel, who debuted in June, gave them new life by smashing a 1-0 pitch from Luke Weaver over the left-field wall to make it 5-5.

Lane Thomas doubled with two outs off Weaver before Noel, known as Big Christmas, hit one of the greatest home runs in Cleveland history.

As he rounded the bases, fans at Progressive Field danced in their seats and in the aisles in a moment reminiscent of Rajai Davis' tying home run off Aroldis Chapman in the eighth inning of Game 7 of the 2016 World Series.

Fry and Noel's shots came after Judge and Stanton hit home runs, giving the Yankees a 4-3 lead over Clase.

But the Guardians aren't done yet and still have a chance to end their longest World Series losing streak, which stretched back to 1948. At this point it seems like they are capable of anything.

Judge hit a home run in Game 2 but batted just .143 (3 for 21) with eight strikeouts in October before facing Clase, the AL's saves leader and MLB's most feared reliever in 2024.

After falling behind 2-1 in the count, Judge, who had been on the field for batting practice five hours before the game, leaned back and sent a 99-mile-per-hour cutter from Clase in the opposite direction to right , with the ball just passing the outfield wall.

New York's players streamed out of the dugout to celebrate as Judge, the projected AL MVP after hitting 58 home runs in the regular season, rounded the bases after hitting his 15th home run of the season.

The Yankees, who had yielded just three hits in the first seven innings, were still exchanging hugs and high-fives when Stanton nullified a 1-2 slider from Clase and sent it over the centerfield wall.

Clase was impeccable all season, allowing just five runs and recording 34 consecutive saves while dominating almost every time he took the mound. But he was tagged for a three-run home run in the ninth by Detroit's Kerry Carpenter in the ALDS before Judge and Stanton caught him within an eight-pitch span.

New York had two ons with no outs in the ninth, but scored only one run on Gleyber Torres' sacrifice fly. Eli Morgan ended the inning by throwing a called third strike past Juan Soto.

Rookie Kyle Manzardo hit a two-run home run in the third for Cleveland.

The 30th postseason matchup between the Guardians and Yankees was another hard-fought matchup between two franchises that know each other well at this time of year. This is their seventh meeting in the playoffs.

Cleveland finally got some length from a starter when Matthew Boyd went five innings, the most Guardians manager Stephen Vogt has allowed this postseason. The left-hander allowed two hits in the second before giving up 10 straight, including seven on easy grounders.

TRAINER ROOM

Yankees: Reliever Ian Hamilton was taken off the field in the sixth inning after apparently injuring himself while covering first base. The team said he was left with calf tightness. … Manager Aaron Boone said LHP Nestor Cortes got through a brief batting practice session Wednesday without any problems. Cortes is recovering from an elbow strain and has not played a game since September 18th. If New York advances, he could be added to the World Series roster.

NEXT

Guardians RHP Gavin Williams will start Game 4, his first postseason appearance. The hard-throwing Williams had a disappointing regular season (3-10, 4.86 ERA), which began with him being on the injured list for several months due to an elbow problem. He faces Yankees RHP Luis Gil, who went 15-7 in the regular season.

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