CLEVELAND -- The Guardians and Yankees have established themselves as two of the top teams in a wide-open American League in the early going this season. They’ve also played one another four times over the past six days, from which we can draw at least one takeaway.
When these teams square off, there’s a good chance of the game being back and forth, dramatic and competitive. For as much as there’s no simulating the postseason or replicating the emotions of it during the regular season, these clubs have already produced a few nail-biters.
“Every game we’ve played them has been gritty,” Guardians closer Cade Smith said. “They’re a good team over there. We’re a good team here. We play the game the right way. It’s going to be a war of attrition to go out there and win.”
“That's a really good team over there,” Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger said. “These games are always competitive.”
Cleveland prevailed in a competitive three-game set in the Bronx this past week, and we didn’t have to wait long for an encore. The Guardians fell to the Yankees, 7-5, in 10 innings on Monday in an action-packed and nail-biting opener of a three-game series at Progressive Field.
At three hours and 41 minutes, Monday’s game was the Guardians’ longest since Aug. 20, 2024 (4:05 in 12 innings) -- which, naturally, was also against the Yankees.
"Crazy game,” Yankees starter Will Warren said. “It felt like a playoff game a little bit."
The Yankees jumped out to a 3-0 lead, but the Guardians evened things up in the bottom of the third inning when they tallied three runs on three hits and one walk. Kyle Manzardo tied the score by hitting a 100 mph ground ball off Warren that bounced off the mound and under the glove of shortstop José Caballero, who picked up a tough-luck error.
Ryan McMahon put New York back in front with a solo home run in the fifth inning before Angel Martínez belted a two-run homer in the sixth that gave Cleveland a 5-4 lead. It traveled a Statcast-projected 414 feet, the longest home run of the 24-year-old’s career.
The Yankees drew even at 5-5 in the eighth inning when Hunter Gaddis permitted three hits while recording only one out. Guardians manager Stephen Vogt called upon Smith for a high-wire act, and the right-hander delivered with the help of shortstop Brayan Rocchio.
Rocchio turned a stellar 6-3 double play on a ground ball hit by Jazz Chisholm Jr. Rocchio ranged to his left, slid and picked the ball on a tough hop. Rocchio then tapped second base with his glove while still mid-slide, rose to one knee and fired a one-hopper to Rhys Hoskins, who picked the throw on a short hop to retire Chisholm.
“The thing I remembered is Chisholm is one of the fastest runners in the league,” Rocchio said of the play through interpreter Agustin Rivero. “So I just wanted to get rid of it. I knew it wasn't the best throw, but I just wanted to get rid of it as quickly as possible.”
“Plays like that, it’s incredible to watch,” Smith said. “I have no idea how he made that play. Sliding, tagging the bag while he was on his butt and then making that throw is incredible.”
Patrick Bailey and Rocchio each reached base with one out in the eighth to position the Guardians for the go-ahead run. But Travis Bazzana popped out and José Ramírez flied out.
Smith struck out three Yankees batters in the ninth inning, but Bellinger delivered a two-run single in the top of the 10th that put New York ahead, ultimately for good.
These clubs are 2-2 head-to-head this season. Cleveland has outscored New York 20-17. The Guardians had myriad chances to open that differential up wider on Monday, when they went 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position and left 11 men on base.
Instead, this series opener marked the continuation of an early trend when these two postseason hopefuls meet.
“Obviously they're a very good team. We're a very good team,” Vogt said. “That was a fun baseball game. Obviously, you wish you were on the winning side of it, but there was a lot of action in that game, a lot of good plays, a lot of good at-bats.
“But unfortunately, we didn't come out with the win.”