CLEVELAND — Nothing has come easy for the Yankees this year.
However, they are finally returning to the World Series for the first time in 15 years.
None other than Juan Soto was the hero, hitting a three-run home run with two outs and bases loaded in the top of the 10th inning, giving the Yankees a 5-2 victory over the Guardians, securing the American League pennant and punching their ticket to the championship. Autumn classic.
For the third consecutive year, the bullpen played a tense and dramatic game, and the one who made the biggest swing was Soto, the Yankees' offseason trade prize player who changed this year's outlook.
Luke Weaver, who recorded his first career save in Game 3, made the last three of six outs and sent the Yankees to the field to celebrate.
Since their last World Series appearance in 2009, the Yankees have advanced to the ALCS five times, but have lost all five, the last three to the Astros.
This time around, they've come back from a disastrous 82-80 season to beat the Royals in the ALDS, fend off the pesky Guardians in the ALCS, and face either the Dodgers or Mets in the World Series starting Friday.
With one out in the 10th inning, Austin Wells got a full-count walk from Hunter Gaddis to start the rally.
Next up, Alex Verdugo hit a possible double play to second base, and Andres Jimenez bounced it back to second base, but shortstop Brian Rocchio dropped the ball, making both runners safe.
After one out, Soto fouled four pitches with the count 1-1, caught a 95 mph fastball at the top of the zone, and hit a 402-foot home run.
Giancarlo Stanton hit a spectacular 446-foot home run off Tanner Bibby in the sixth inning, tying the game at 2-2. Bibby had gotten out of a tight spot in the first round and was pretty much doing well up until that point.
It was Stanton's fourth hit in the ALCS, all four of which were home runs, marking a new chapter in the veteran DH's October legend.
After Carlos Rodon lasted only 4/3 innings, the Yankees' bullpen was forced to account for 16 outs after having to get 15 in each of the previous two days.
On Saturday, Mark Leiter Jr. had two outs, gutsy Tim Hill (pitting for the third consecutive day and fifth time in the past six days) had four outs, and Jake Cousins had four outs (all strikeouts) to connect. I hit it. The difference with Weaver in the 9th inning.
Reiter, who had five big outs in Game 4 on his first day in the playoffs, came in from the bullpen in the fifth inning with runners on second and third base and gave Jose Ramirez one pitch before the Yankees intentionally gave up a walk. I threw it.
But Reiter saved the day by grounding out Lane Thomas.
Then, in the top of the sixth inning, Stanton tied it with an incredible home run, and Reiter walked the leadoff man in the bottom of the inning, then put Johnkensie Noel on base with a full count.
Aaron Boone then turned to left-hander Hill, who allowed a single to Bo Naylor, but grounded out Jimenez into an inning-ending double play.
Hill returned in the seventh inning, walking Rocchio on 11 pitches (including two borderline pitches) and batting Steven Kwan into a double play started by first baseman Oswaldo Cabrera. He was a pinch runner for top-ranked Anthony Rizzo. of an inning.
