The ball rose into the air and soared in a beautiful parabola toward the deepest part of the stadium. At first glance, Juan Soto didn't seem so convinced. He looked steadily and seriously. But soon he was able to see what others saw.
He could see Cleveland center fielder Lane Thomas starting to back up against the wall. In fact, while the ball was in the air, Thomas seemed to think he was going to take the shot. He kept waiting for it to fall. I had to wait. I had to wait. But he kept coming back. I kept going back. I kept going back.
And I could see that Thomas' shoulders were slightly lowered and his legs were a little weaker. The ball went over his head. He ran out of space, but the ball was drifting further. By the time the ball landed, the Yankees had also advanced to the World Series for the first time in 15 years.
After three outs, the Yankees had five points and the Guardians had two, making it the Yankees' 41st American League pennant. They begin their quest for their 28th World Series championship Friday night, whether they return home to the Bronx or travel to Los Angeles. And they are playing their best ball this season. That's outrageous and the time is hell.
“I'm emotional right now,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. He had his own Juan Soto moment 21 years ago when he hit a home run off his own plate to lead the Yankees to the next set of the Ward Series. “I'm so proud of them. Another tough, tough game, a lot of guys stepped up for us. We knocked on the door a few times. And now I'm going to dance.”
The Yankees came out as usual. Gleyber Torres again hit a leadoff single to start the game. Soto followed with rockets – this time two into the wall. The problem was that Torres couldn't reach home before the ball arrived.
And for a while it seemed like it might be expensive. The Guardians led 1-0. They took a 2-0 lead. Their starter, Tanner Bibby, is starting to gain confidence. He started mowing down the Yankees. People within the progressive field began to feel it. They began to believe.
Cleveland as a believer brand.
However, Stephen Vogt, who did a great job with the Guardians in his rookie season as a manager, leading them to 92 wins and a playoff victory over the Tigers, made some questionable decisions in this series. I put it down. And now he's done something even worse. He had two outs and 1st base in the 6th inning. Giancarlo Stanton stood up.
“Give me back Tanner's pitch a million more times,” Vogt insisted. [Stanton] Above. “
Stanton was the Yankees' most consistently damaging hitter in the playoffs. Stanton turned Progressive Field into his own playpen.
Stanton fell behind 0-and-2, but got the court back to 3-and-2.
And then I saw the most amazing thing. Bybee's slider was not just a hanger, nor was it just a spinner. By the time he reached the plate, it seemed to have stopped for half a heartbeat.
And Stanton knows what to do with such gifts. By the time it touched down, the Yankees were tied 2-2. And by the time it landed, it felt like it was only a matter of time before someone else finally delivered the kill shot that ended the Guardians.
The Yankees defeated the Guardians in the ALCS. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
Soto did just that.
“We did a really good job,” Soto said. “And now we're the best team in the American League.”
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For years, the Yankees have struggled every October when no one seems to be able to make big hits when it really matters. Most were against the Astros, a few against the Red Sox, and a few against the Tigers. They grew closer and coveted.
Not this time.
“They lose tough games like we lost on Thursday, and they're very resilient,” Hal Steinbrenner said.
In Cleveland, the Yankees came up with an incredible explosion, a never ending series of swings, three nights in a row. Thursday with Aaron Judge and Stanton. Staunton on Friday. Staunton again on Saturday. When the game ended, the fly ball landed in Soto's glove, and they celebrated with the vigor and passion that the moment deserved. Even the Yankees are allowed to act like children when they win the pennant. They did. You should.
“This is the best feeling ever,” Soto said.
It certainly was. That's certainly true.
