Judge Slams Guardians as Yankees Take 2-0 Lead in ALCS Thriller
As a reporter present at Yankee Stadium, I observed a thrilling game that kept fans captivated. The New York Yankees flexed their muscles Tuesday night, beating the Cleveland Guardians 6-3 in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series (ALCS).
Aaron Judge, the Yankees’ star player, finally broke out of his postseason slump. He crushed a two-run homer in the seventh inning, sending the crowd into a frenzy. This blast gave the Yankees some much-needed breathing room, extending their lead to 6-2.
“You never know on these windy, chilly nights what that ball is going to do when you hit the center here,” Judge said after the game. “But the ghosts were definitely making their way out to Monument Park.”
The Yankees jumped out to an early lead, capitalizing on some sloppy play by the usually sharp Guardians. In the first inning, Cleveland’s shortstop Brayan Rocchio dropped a high pop-up from Judge, allowing Gleyber Torres to score. The Yankees added two more runs in the second, chasing Guardians starter Tanner Bibee after just 1⅓ innings.
While Yankees ace Gerrit Cole struggled with his control, allowing 10 baserunners over 4⅓ innings, the bullpen stepped up big time. In particular, Clay Holmes made a crucial contribution. He got out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth inning, allowing only one run to score.
The bottom of the Yankees’ lineup also came up clutch. Anthony Rizzo, back from a finger injury, doubled in a run in the sixth. Alex Verdugo, batting ninth, chipped in with an RBI double of his own.
Cleveland’s manager Stephen Vogt remained optimistic despite the loss. “We had traffic all night tonight,” he said. “We do what we do. We get on base and make things happen. Despite having runners in scoring position tonight, we failed to secure a significant hit.
The series now shifts to Cleveland for at least two games. The Guardians must improve to get back into this series. They’ve struggled to get the big hit when it counts, going just 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position in Game 2.
For the Yankees, this win showcased their depth and resilience. They’re getting contributions from up and down the lineup, and their bullpen has been nearly unhittable. If they can keep this up, they’ll be tough to beat.
Judge’s homer wasn’t just a game-changer; it was a reminder of why he’s considered one of the best players in baseball. After a slow start to the postseason, he’s heating up at just the right time.
“The preparation he does, who he is as a person, and who he is as a teammate—it’s so easy to root for him,” Rizzo said of Judge. “In these games, it is of little consequence who is involved or how enthusiastic we are about everyone; however, Aaron’s actions are particularly noteworthy due to his exceptional human qualities.”
As the series heads to Cleveland, the Yankees have all the momentum. They’ve shown they can win in different ways—with power, with pitching, and by capitalizing on their opponents’ mistakes. The Guardians will need to regroup quickly if they want to avoid falling into a 3-0 hole.
Progressive Field in Cleveland will host Game 3 on Thursday night. With the series potentially on the line, it promises to be another intense battle between these two talented teams.
Stay tuned for more updates as this thrilling ALCS continues to unfold!