CLEVELAND — The Guardians showed the Yankees don't have a glass jaw.
Despite MLB's best closer, Emmanuel Clase, blowing himself up in the eighth inning, the Guardians still came back Thursday, hitting a game-tying two-run homer in the ninth inning of Game 3 of the ALCS to save their season. He hit a two-out, two-run, walk-off home run in the 10th inning of a 7-5 win against the Yankees.
“That's exactly who we are,” manager Stephen Vogt said. “We never quit. We got hit in the teeth pretty hard in the eighth inning, but our guys stepped up big for that guy. [Clase] That sustained us all year long. ”
If you think the pesky Guardians are nothing more than a nuisance on the Yankees' path to the World Series, like the swarms of midges known to invade Progressive Field, think again.
John Kensie Noel's game-tying home run and David Frey's game-winning home run were answers to the Yankees' back-to-back game-tying home runs and Kraseoff's game-winning home runs of Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, and showed real power.
“I got punched in the mouth by Emmanuel Clase, the best pitcher in baseball,” Frye said.
“You just give him the ball and we're not even watching the game. I feel like we're just chatting because we know the game is over. So we're obviously upset. But I was like, well, it's time to give him a break.”
Now, instead of facing elimination on Friday, the Guardians are dreaming big again.
“I can't deny that it's a very exciting moment, but at the same time, I'm not trying to be stubborn or arrogant, but it's like I'm trying to downplay it,” Noel said. “The goal is to get to the World Series. Once we get to that point, we'll be in a little bit more of a celebration mode.”
While the Yankees made a series of inexplicable outs on the bases, the Guardians displayed Gold Glove-level defense and further kept the game balanced.
Follow The Post's coverage of the Yankees in the postseason.
With the score tied in the top of the 10th inning, second baseman Andres Jimenez grounded out to far left, spun and threw a bouncer to first baseman Josh Naylor, who placed his foot on the bag. Tama Jazz Chisholm Jr. retired.
In just that way, the Yankees went from potentially having one out and runners on first and second base, or first and third base, to having a low chance of scoring.
When he couldn't break the tie, Frye made sure the 11th inning didn't last.
“Andres Jimenez is the best infielder on the planet,” Vogt said. “He always has been and always will be. He surprises us every day with his plays.”
ACLS was extended for at least one more day as the Guardians proved they could roll with the punches.
