CLEVELAND — Rookie Óscar González hit a two-run single with two outs in the ninth inning, rallying the Cleveland Guardians to a 6-5 win over the New York Yankees on Saturday night to take a 2-1 lead in their AL Division Series.
González, a hero earlier in the postseason as well, lined a 1-2 pitch from Clarke Schmidt through the middle to score rookie Steven Kwan and Amed Rosario as the young Guardians, who have shown no fear during this storybook season, rallied once again and pushed the Yankees to the brink of elimination.
Aaron Judge hit a two-run homer for New York, which carried a 5-3 lead into the ninth before its bullpen flopped and the Guardians staged yet another comeback win.
As Rosario crossed the plate, González flung his helmet high in the air standing near first base as his teammates rushed onto the field to mob him. The 24-year-old hit a walk-off homer in the 15th inning last week to sweep the Tampa Bay Rays in the wild-card round.
Game 4 is Sunday night, when the Yankees turn to ace Gerrit Cole to prevent an early postseason exit.
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