CNN
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The New York Yankees advanced to the World Series for the first time since 2009 after defeating the Cleveland Guardians 5-2 in extra innings of Game 5 of the AL Championship Series on Saturday.
A dramatic game-tying home run by Giancarlo Stanton in the sixth inning and a three-run blast by Juan Soto in the 10th sent the Yankees back to the Fall Classic.
With the win, the Yankees secured their 41st World Series appearance, marking a return to the Fall Classic after a 15-year absence when they won their 27th championship.
Delivering the decisive blow, Soto called the opportunity to send his team to the World Series “the best feeling you can ever have.”
“That’s what we play for, that’s what we’ve been here for since day one, we’ve grinded every day, we’re here, we’ve done it,” Soto said after the game. “We have all the talent we need to go all the way. We’re feeling good right now.”
The Yankees now await the winner of the NLCS between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets. The Dodgers take a 3-2 series lead into Sunday’s Game 6 in Los Angeles.
Cleveland took a 2-0 lead into Game 5 when Guardians starter Tanner BB shut down the Yankees’ offense. BB pitched a shutout over 5 2/3 innings, retiring 12 of 13 batters entering the sixth inning.
However, fatigue began to show as he faced the heart of the Yankees lineup, allowing Kleiber Torres and Soto to hit back-to-back singles.
After Aaron Judge grounded into a double play, the Yankees’ rally appeared to be extinguished.
But Giancarlo Stanton had other plans. Down to his last strike, with two outs, Stanton crushed a 446-foot moonshot into left-center field, his 16th career postseason home run to tie the game 2-2.
Stanton’s blast, 117.5 mph off the bat, moved him past Babe Ruth and Judge for fourth-most postseason homers in franchise history. His four home runs in the ALCS earned him back-to-back MVP honors.
In the 10th inning, catcher Austin Wells drew a full-count walk off Guardians reliever Hunter Gaddis to spark the Yankees offense. Moments later, Alex Verdugo came to bat and turned into a double play, but shortstop Brian Rocchio dropped it, allowing both runners to be safe.
Soto’s big offseason acquisition came when he was traded to the Yankees from the San Diego Padres in a seven-player trade in December following the Gleyber Torres strikeout.
Down 1-2, Soto battled through a seven-pitch at-bat before hitting a three-run home run to seal the victory for the Yankees. The superstar outfielder celebrated at first base as he watched his team’s dugout beat his chest before circling the bases.
“An old at-bat,” Boone said of Soto’s shot. “No wonder he does it. He’s somebody like that. He’s very good at seizing the moment.
Soto’s blast was the first postseason series home run in extra innings since Boone’s iconic homer in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS against the Boston Red Sox.
Yankees closer Luke Weaver, who picked up the save in Game 3, redeemed himself by pitching two innings while facing four batters in the bottom of the frame to shut down the Guardians’ hopes of a comeback.
“Obviously we’re hurting. What a game to end it. This team worked really hard from day one. We believed and we believe we can be better. We can be more,” Guardians manager Stefan Vogt said after the game.
“But I couldn’t be prouder of what this team has accomplished. There’s only one team to win the last game of the year and unfortunately it’s not going to be us.
The Yankees now prepare for the World Series, with Game 1 scheduled for Friday, October 25, as they seek to capture the 28th title in franchise history.
