Stanton HR late in ALCS Game 5, live update
In a postseason where outs are becoming increasingly difficult, the New York Yankees need 27 more to reach the World Series.
The Yankees and Guardians met Saturday night in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series, with New York holding a 3-1 lead and turning to Carlos Rodon's Game 1 winner in a potential clincher that was contested by Cleveland's Tanner Bibby.
Yet the game will almost certainly come down to the bullpen. The Yankees have torched Cleveland closer Emmanuel Claes in consecutive games, but won just one of them because their own ninth-inning man, Luke Weaver, was roughed up in Game 3. He should be available on Saturday night, perhaps clinching the pennant to be booed by teammates
Cleveland couldn't ask for anything better than a plane ride back to New York, where Game 6 will be contested on Monday night if necessary.
Follow for updates on Saturday's game:
Follow every MLB game: The latest MLB scores, stats, schedules and standings.
Giancarlo Stanton tied it in the sixth with a home run
Once again the Cleveland Guardians handled Aaron Judge without incident. But Giancarlo Stanton has shown once again that the New York Yankees' biggest, and right now baddest, friend in the lineup has no chance of escaping.
Stanton continued his epic postseason in the sixth inning of ALCS Game 5 on Saturday night, tying the score with a powerful swing of his bat that produced a two-run home run that roared off his bat at 117.5 mph.
Starter Tanner Bibby went down in the fifth inning, retiring 11 of the last 12 Yankee hitters. But singles by Gleyber Torres and Juan Soto prompted a mound visit. Relief ace Cade Smith was warm. BB would face the umpire — and a ground-ball would induce a double play.
But Bibby wasn't done after burying Stanton in an 0-2 hole. Stanton worked his way back to a full count and then drove a swinging slider 446 feet to tie the score 2-2.
It was Stanton's fifth home run of the postseason and 16th of his career. And the Yankees once again have a shot to close out this ALCS in five games.
Guardian 2, Yankees 0 to five
Tanner Bibby didn't make it out of the second inning in his first start against the New York Yankees in the ALCS. Yet with the Cleveland Guardians in must-win mode, he delivered exactly what they needed.
Beebe pitched five shutout innings, at one point retiring 10 straight, and Steven Cowan's RBI single gave the Guardians their second run to take a 2-0 lead through five innings of Game 5 on Saturday night.
With Cleveland's vaunted bullpen clearly gassed after ugly performances in Games 3 and 4, Bibby had to give his teammates some length to ease the pressure. He did just that, striking out five and inducing a double play.
Meanwhile, Yankees starter Carlos Rodon was lifted after 4 ⅔ innings. Advantage: Cleveland.
Bo Naylor drove in brother Josh to give Cleveland a 1-0 lead
Naylor Bros. to take first lead in Game 5 of Cleveland Guardians ALCS. Leaning on it.
Bo Naylor capped a 10-pitch at-bat against Carlos Rodon by lining a double into the right-field corner, allowing his brother, Josh, to drive home a full-count, two-out hit for a 1-0 lead against the New York Yankees.
It's still early, but important signs are OK for parents. Rodon, who won Game 1 for New York, threw 40 pitches in two innings, while Guardians starter Tanner Bibby survived the first toe innings.
The Yankees third base coach threw Torres out to first
Gleyber Torres led off the game with a single and the next batter, Juan Soto, doubled to the wall in right center. Urged on by third base coach Luis Rojas, Torres tried to score from first but Guardians second baseman Andres Gimenez made a perfect throw to the plate, applying the tag to catcher Bo Naylor.
Starter Tanner BB hit Aaron Jazz and Jazz Chisholm to load the bases, but allowed Anthony Rizzo to fly out to left and strand three runners.
Yankees vs. Guardians game 5 times
First pitch is scheduled for Game 5 of the ALCS 8:08 pm ET saturday
- Location: Progressive field in Cleveland, Ohio
- Date: Saturday, October 19
Yankees vs Guardians TV: TBS Channel
- Time: 8:08 pm ET
- TV: TBS
Yankees lineup: ALCS Game 5
- Gleyber Torres (R) 2B
- Juan Soto (L) RF
- Aaron Judge (Retd) C.F
- Giancarlo Stanton (R) DH
- Jazz Chisholm Jr. (L) 3B
- Anthony Rizzo (L) 1b
- Anthony Volpe (R) SS
- Austin Wells (L) c
- Alex Verdugo (L) LF
Guardians lineup: ALCS Game 5
- Steven Cowan (L) LF
- David Fry (R) DH
- Jose Ramirez (S) 3b
- Lane Thomas (R) cf
- Josh Naylor (L) 1b
- Johnson Noel (R) RF
- Bo Naylor (L) c
- Andres Jimenez (L) 2b
- Brian Rocchio (S) SS
The USA TODAY app takes you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, eNewspapers and more.