Andrés Giménez’s sacrifice fly capped Cleveland’s wild, three-run rally in the 10th inning as the Guardians salvaged the finale of a three-game series with a stunning 8-7 win over the New York Yankees on Sunday.
Down 7-5, the Guardians scored three in the 10th off Caleb Ferguson (0-2) on a forceout, fielder’s choice and sacrifice fly.
“We’re not going to quit,” first-year Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt said. “And that’s one of the things I heard the boys yelling on the way back up to the clubhouse. We don’t quit and that’s what this group’s about.”
The Yankees, who were 10-0 when scoring at least four runs, had taken a 7-6 lead in the 10th on Anthony Rizzo‘s two-run single off Tyler Beede (1-0).
But the Guardians, who were one out away from winning when the Yankees rallied in the ninth, came up with big at-bats to pull off a stunning win to close a first homestand that began with total solar eclipse.
In the 10th, Josh Naylor‘s grounder scored brother Bo Naylor, who began the inning at second and moved up on a single. David Fryfollowed with a double, and Will Brennan then hit a grounder that handcuffed Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres, who bobbled the ball and was late throwing home as Josh Naylor scored to make it 7-7.
Giménez then lifted his fly to right, giving the Guardians their second walk-off win this week.
The Yankees dropped to 12-4, still one of the best starts in their storied history. New York had been 6-0 in one-run games.
“A tough one,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “We just didn’t make a few plays we needed to make. When you grind through and get a lead there, it’s always tough.”
Aaron Judge hit a three-run homer, Jose Trevino homered and Anthony Volpe delivered a clutch, tying RBI double in the ninth for New York.