Guardians even series as ALDS heads back to Cleveland

It took an extra day because of rain - and extra innings – but the Cleveland Guardians evened the ALDS at one game apiece on Friday afternoon in another postseason thriller.

The Yankees jumped out to an early lead when Giancarlo Stanton hit a two-run home run off Cleveland ace Shane Bieber in the bottom of the first inning. The Guardians would claw back, scoring a run in the fourth off a bases loaded single by Andrés Giménez, and tying the game on a fifth-inning home run by Amed Rosario. Bieber settled in and was solid before turning things over to the bullpen, which continues to be dominant this postseason.

In extra innings, José Ramírez did what he has done so often this season, lining a double into left field and advancing to third on a throwing error by Yankees third baseman Josh Donaldson. Ramírez led the AL in doubles this season and has been the Guardians’ best bat so far this postseason. Oscar Gonzalez, who hit the walk-off home run to end the wild-card series, drove Ramírez in for the go-ahead run. Josh Naylor plated Gonzalez as an insurance run, and closer Emmanuel Clase finished the game, earning the win after coming in with two outs in the eighth.

Here are a couple observations from the game, and a look ahead as the series shifts to Cleveland.