Yankees win American League Pennant and clinch spot in The World Series
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
The New York Yankees have secured their spot in the 2024 World Series. With a mix of clutch hitting, dominant pitching, and a resilient team effort, the Bronx Bombers are set to chase their 28th championship title.
On Saturday, Oct.19, the New York Yankees defeated the Cleveland Guardians to win the American League (Al) pennant. This is the Yankee's forty-first pennant and their first World Series appearance since 2009. The Yankees will face the Los Angeles Dodgers. This matchup will reignite a classic baseball rivalry, with the two teams having met 11 times in the World Series. Though they haven't met in the World Series since 1981, this matchup has the potential to be one of the most exciting World Series in recent memory. Both teams have some of the best and biggest stars in the entire sport. In this article, though, we’ll break down how the Yankees clinched a berth in the World Series.
It is safe to say this game was dramatic from start to finish, starting in the first inning when the Guardians executed a perfect relay to tag out Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres at home plate. Later in the inning, Yankees’ first baseman Anthony Rizzo flew out to leave the bases loaded. In the second inning, the Guardians got an early lead as catcher Bo Naylor drove in his brother, first baseman Josh Naylor. Cleveland added another run with a run-batted-in (RBI) single from left fielder Steven Kwan to make it 2-0.
Guardians starting pitcher Tanner Bibee was rolling through five innings until Yankees’ slugger Giancarlo Stanton showed off his power with another towering home run. The two-run home run tied the score at second and brought the Yankees right back into the game. Stanton’s home run was his fourth of the series and his fifth of the playoffs. After Stanton’s home run, both teams' bullpens escaped some major jams. Yankees’ reliever Tim Hill got a double play in the sixth and seventh innings. Then, Guardians’ reliever Tim Herrin had a double play of his own in the sixth inning.
The game remained tied at two when the Guardians brought their all-star closer, Emmanuel Clase, in the ninth inning. Clase was spectacular in the regular season, pitching at an incomprehensible 0.61 earned run average (ERA); he, however, has struggled in the postseason—giving up multiple runs in games three and four. Clase’s stuff was on in game five as he got Yankees center fielder Aaron Judge to fly out, struck out Giancarlo Stanton, and got Yankees utilityman Oswaldo Cabera to ground out and keep the game tied.
The Yankees immediately countered the Guardians by bringing in their closer, Luke Weaver, for the bottom of the ninth inning. Luke Weaver would have another excellent outing. His 1-2-3 inning shut the door on the Guardians. In the tenth inning, Cleveland brought in one of their best relievers, Hunter Gaddis. Gaddis walked catcher Austin Wells, and an error allowed left fielder Alex Verdugo to reach base. Gleyber Torres then struck out to bring up superstar right fielder Juan Soto. Soto and Gaddis had an epic duel as Soto batted and fouled off multiple competitive pitches from Gaddis. On the seventh pitch of the at-bat, Soto launched a high fly ball to right center field that cleared the seats for a go-ahead three-run home run.
This home run would make all the difference in the game, as Luke Weaver would close out the Guardians at the bottom of the tenth inning. Yankees fans have been waiting for a night like this for 15 years. Juan Soto’s three-run home run was a moment New York fans won’t forget for a long time after five consecutive losses in the American League Championship Series (ACLS). Soto’s heroics were exactly what the Yankees envisioned when they traded for the superstar outfielder last summer. Giancarlo Stanton was named ALCS Most Valuable Player after his four home runs and seven RBIs in the series. The Yankees will start the World Series in Los Angeles against the Dodgers on Friday, Oct. 25.