(Cleveland) Gerrit Cole gave the New York Yankees what they needed.
Posted yesterday at 11:03 p.m.
Thanks to seven solid innings from Cole and a two-run homer from Harrison Bader, the Yankees saved their season and forced a decisive fifth game after a 4-2 victory over the Guardians of Cleveland, Sunday.
Cole allowed two runs, struck out eight batters and defeated the Guardians for the second time in six days. Without dominating, Cole still prevented the Guardians hitters from reaching the bases.
Bader tossed the ball over the fence for the third time in this best-of-five All-American second-round series. He hit the long ball at the expense of Cal Quantrill, who was undefeated at Progressive Field in 44 games heading into Sunday night.
After blowing a lead in Game 3 on Saturday, when the Yankees bullpen suffered its biggest lapse in team history in the playoffs, the New Yorkers have recovered and will take the lead in the home.
Jameson Taillon, the loser of Game 2 of the series, will start for the Yankees Monday night in the deciding game at Yankee Stadium. He will be opposed to Aaron Civale.
The winner will cross swords with the Houston Astros in the final of the American.
Josh Naylor homered for the Guardians, who are trying to end Major League Baseball’s longest World Series drought in their first year after the team’s name change. Cleveland hasn’t won since 1948.
The Guardians are 1-7 in the final playoffs.