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In the fourth game of the ALCS, the Yankees took a solid lead, but the Guardians pulled off a comeback for the second night in a row. On Friday, Cleveland tied the game thanks to a mix-up in the Yankees’ defense, where a play that should have been an easy out turned into an infield hit.
However, it was Cleveland’s own defensive blunders that ultimately cost them the game. The Yankees snatched back the lead late in the game after an error by the Guardians, leading to an 8-6 victory for New York. With this win, the Yankees now have a 3-1 series lead and are just one win away from making it to the World Series.
Let’s break down the key moments of the game, starting with the mistakes made by Yankees pitcher Mark Leiter Jr. and first baseman Anthony Rizzo that allowed the Guardians to tie the game. Then, we’ll look at how an error by Cleveland helped New York regain the lead in the ninth inning.
The Blunders in Game 4
Mark Leiter Jr.’s Error David Fry, who was the hero for Cleveland in Game 3 with a dramatic walk-off home run, stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the eighth inning with a runner on third. Fry hit a weak grounder that rolled to Leiter’s left. Unfortunately, the pitcher lost track of the ball and kicked it away from himself. By the time he recovered it, he had to throw an underhanded pass to Rizzo, who then fumbled the catch. This led to the Guardians tying the game, showcasing just how critical defensive errors can be in high-stakes situations.
Brayan Rocchio’s Error Rizzo managed to redeem himself by getting a hit to kick off the ninth inning, followed by a hit from Anthony Volpe. The Yankees quickly had runners on second and third with only one out. Facing pressure, Alex Verdugo hit a ground ball to Guardians shortstop Brayan Rocchio, but he misplayed the ball. Although a run would have likely scored regardless, Rocchio’s mistake left New York with one out instead of two, allowing them to keep the rally going.
Gleyber Torres then stepped up and delivered an RBI single, giving the Yankees an extra run they desperately needed as they headed into the bottom of the ninth.
Both teams faced challenges in the final innings of this thrilling Game 4, but Cleveland’s errors proved to be more costly. Now, the Guardians find themselves on the brink of elimination, while the Yankees are just one win away from their first World Series appearance since 2009.
