Judge’s Heroics Lift Yankees to ALCS Advantage

Aaron Judge’s towering blast to Monument Park and Gleyber Torres’ tag-up at first base were the talk of the game. “Gleyber’s nonchalant attitude was hilarious,” Judge joked. “He’s seen me hit 58 of those homers this year.” It was Judge’s initial postseason homer that broke the deadlock – a key two-run shot in the seventh inning that propelled the New York Yankees to a 6-3 victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday night. This victory gave the Yankees a solid 2-0 lead in the AL Championship Series.

Anthony Rizzo also chimed in, “We teased Gleyber for not recognizing Judge’s power. That was a crucial hit for Judgey.”

Judge and Yankees’ Dominance

Judge, who had only one RBI in the playoffs, delivered a sacrifice fly in the second inning that put the Yankees 3-0 up, following Cleveland’s strategic move to intentionally walk Juan Soto and load the bases. “Aiming for a double-play ball was the idea,” explained Guardians manager Stephen Vogt. “We hoped to get two outs with a single pitch.”

Judge, who topped the majors with 58 homers and 144 RBIs, showed sportsmanship. “I would probably walk him, too,” he laughed.

Crucial Seventh Inning Swing

In the seventh, Judge, the likely AL MVP, sent a Hunter Gaddis fastball 414 feet to center, marking his 14th postseason home run. “That swing was vital in providing us a comfortable lead,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone remarked. “The dugout was ecstatic.”

On a night where both team’s aces struggled, Cleveland’s Tanner Bibee recorded the shortest start of his career, while Gerrit Cole’s inconsistent performance resulted in his exit after 4 1/3 innings. The Yankees’ bullpen trio of Clay Holmes, Tim Hill, and Tommy Kahnle combined for a shutout over 3 2/3 innings.

Guardians Rally Late But Fall Short

José Ramírez’s ninth-inning homer off Luke Weaver was only the second earned run the Yankees’ bullpen allowed over 23 1/3 innings in six playoff games. Game 3 will commence Thursday in Cleveland, with the Yankees leading the ALCS 2-0 for the first time since their 2009 showdown against the Los Angeles Angels.

Despite the loss, Steven Kwan extended his Cleveland-record postseason hitting streak to 12 games. Cleveland struggled with runners in scoring position, going 0 for 7 and leaving 11 runners stranded. The Guardians hope to bounce back in Game 3 with the Yankees now holding a commanding lead in the series.