Fry’s 2-run homer in the 10th lifts the Guardians to a stunning 7-5 victory over the Yankees, close to 2-1 in the ALCS

CLEVELAND – Jhonkensy Noel saved Cleveland’s season. David Fry extended it.

With two huge swings, the Guardians fought back against the big, bad New York Yankees and tightened up an AL Championship Series that was on the verge of ending.

Noel hit a two-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning and Fry hit a two-run shot in the 10th as Cleveland beat New York 7-5 on Thursday in an unforgettable Game 3 to draw the Guardians. at 2-1 in the best-of-seven series.

Cleveland’s unexpected season, which included 92 wins and the AL Central title, was on the brink of collapse after Aaron Judge hit a two-run homer off All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase and Giancarlo Stanton followed with a drive solo in the eighth to give the Yankees a 4-3 lead.

But Noel, a burly outfielder known as Big Christmas, delivered a gift in October and Fry followed with his second memorable home run in these postseasons.

“That’s exactly who we are,” first-year Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “We never gave up. We got hit in the teeth pretty hard in the eighth, and our guys put in a huge effort for the one that carried us all year. It was really fun to see.”

It was exhausting, exciting and dramatic as the Yankees and Guardians concentrated the highlights of a season into three innings.

“It was postseason baseball,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “Both teams kept coming with haymakers and big hitters, big moments with two very good bullpens. They outlasted us. They had one more good swing than us. That’s part of it. We We’ll be ready to ride tomorrow.

The Guardians led 5-3, had no runners on base in the ninth and were moments away from falling into a 3-0 deficit when Lane Thomas doubled against Luke Weaver, who had been perfect in eight save chances since he took over as the Yankees closed in. September. Noel then delivered his imposing circuit.

As he rounded the bases, fans at Progressive Field danced in their seats and in the aisles in a moment reminiscent of Rajai Davis’ game-tying homer off Aroldis Chapman in the eighth inning of Game 7 of the 2016 World Series.

It was fitting that Davis, who now works for Major League Baseball, was on hand to see Noel’s homer that now belongs next to his in Cleveland history.

“We are a team that doesn’t give up,” Noel said through an interpreter. “We’re playing 27 outs, so that’s kind of what happened today.”

Fry’s swing ended an instant fall classic.

Bo Naylor singled in the top of the 10th against Clay Holmes and Brayan Rocchio was sacrificed. Naylor moved to third on Steven Kwan’s return before Fry, who hit a Division Series-saving homer in Game 4 at Detroit, sent a 1-2 sinker into the left-field bleachers.

Fry watched the ball sail into the stands before heading to first. He was mobbed by his teammates after crossing home plate as fans threw drinks in the air while trying to deal with the emotional rollercoaster they had endured.

“I passed out,” Fry said. “I remember being halfway down the first base line, looking at the dugout and looking and saying, okay, I just have to make sure I touch all four bases and go home and celebrate .”

Cleveland can even the series with a win Friday.

The Guardians still have a chance to end baseball’s longest current World Series drought, which extends to 1948.

Judge homered in Game 2, but was hitting just .143 (3-for-21) with eight strikeouts in October before stepping up to the plate against Clase, the AL saves leader and most feared reliever of the MLB.

After falling behind 1-2 in the count, Judge, who was on the field taking batting practice five hours before the game, sat down and drove a 99 mph cutter from Clase in the opposite direction toward to the right, the ball just clearing the outfield wall.

New York’s players came out of the dugout to celebrate as Judge, the likely AL MVP after hitting 58 homers in the regular season, circled the bases after his 15th homer of the postseason.

The Yankees, who had been held to three hits through the first seven innings, were still exchanging hugs and high-fives when Stanton crushed a 1-2 slider from Clase, sending it over the center field wall .

But even though they led, the Yankees took nothing for granted.

“I wouldn’t say we’re looking forward to the World Series,” Judge said. “We still have another game, even if it was 3-0.”

Clase was impeccable all season, allowing just five runs and recording 34 consecutive saves while dominating almost every time he took the mound. But he was scored for a three-run homer in the ninth by Kerry Carpenter in the ALDS before Judge and Stanton reached him in the span of eight pitches.

New York had two with no outs in the ninth, but scored only one run, on Gleyber Torres’ sacrifice fly. Eli Morgan ended the inning by throwing a third strike past Juan Soto.

Rookie Kyle Manzardo hit a two-run homer in the third for Cleveland.

The 30th playoff game between the Guardians and Yankees was another hotly contested matchup between two franchises that know each other well at this time of year. This is their seventh meeting in the playoffs.

Cleveland finally got some head start on a starter as Matthew Boyd went five innings, the most Vogt has allowed in the postseason. The left-hander allowed two hits in the second half before grounding out 10 straight times, including seven on easy grounders.

TRAINERS ROOM

Yankees: Reliever Ian Hamilton was relieved in the sixth inning after appearing to be injured while covering first base. The team said he left calf tightness. … Boone said LHP Nestor Cortes took a brief batting practice session Wednesday without any issues. Cortes is recovering from an elbow injury and has not pitched in a game since September 18. If New York advances, he could be added to the World Series roster.

FOLLOWING

Guardians RHP Gavin Williams will start Game 4, his first playoff appearance. Power pitcher Williams had a disappointing regular season (3-10, 4.86 ERA), which began with him on the injured list for several months with an elbow issue. He will face Yankees RHP Luis Gil, who went 15-7 in the regular season.

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