Yankees, Aaron Judge take Game 2 of ALCS over Guardians

NEW YORK – Still waiting on their captain's home run swing in this postseason, the Yankees watched Aaron Judge deliver some needed leverage in Game 2 of the AL Championship Series.

Judge's towering two-run homer in the eighth provided a four-run lead, and the Yankees' bullpen took it from there.

In the ninth, Luke Weaver finished a 6-3 win against the Cleveland Guardians at Yankee Stadium, moving the Yankees halfway to the World Series with a two games-to-none lead in this best-of-seven ALCS.

Manager Aaron Boone received excellent relief work from Clay Holmes, Tim Hill and Tommy Kahnle before Weaver, in a non-save spot, gave up one run on a Jose Ramirez homer in the ninth.

In his second game back since suffering fractured fingers, Anthony Rizzo delivered two hits and Alex Verdugo had an RBI double, but once more the Yanks couldn't fully capitalize on early Cleveland mistakes and a second-inning knockout of starter Tanner Bibee.

But the Yankees will head to Cleveland with a chance to win a pennant, with Games 3 and 4 set for Thursday and Friday at Progressive Field.

Aaron Judge has just sent a towering, two-run homer to center off righty Hunter Gaddis. It's 6-2, Yanks in the seventh.

At a moment when the Yankees needed something to separate themselves from the Guardians, and the Yanks' own mistakes, the captain provided - belting his first homer of this postseason.

The bullpen carousel spins again, and nice job by Tim Hill - retiring all five batters he faced - before handing off to Tommy Kahnle, who protects a 4-2 lead going into the bottom of the seventh.

And the standing, cheering fans at the Stadium appreciated the veteran lefty's work. Announced crowd of 47,054 here tonight.

The Yankees take another runner in scoring position off the bases as catcher Austin Hedges traps Anthony Rizzo - and where's he going? - with Gleyber Torres batting to end the sixth. 4-2, Yanks.

After a walk to Anthony Volpe set up first and second, Jazz Chisholm Jr. got himself picked off second base for the first out of the Yankee sixth (an NYY replay challenge failed, too).

But here's Anthony Rizzo with a line drive base hit to right, and Will Brennan's misplay allows Volpe to aggressively score from first base. It's 4-2 Yanks.

Against Cleveland's lefty heavy lineup, Hill has a 1-2-3 sixth. This is a reason lefty Tim Mayza is also on the Yanks' relief roster, and high leverage right-handers Tommy Kahnle, Ian Hamilton and Jake Cousins are still lurking.

And we are due to see the splendid Emmanuel Clase at some point tonight for Cleveland.

The bulk of the Yanks' relief work this postseason has been by Holmes and Luke Weaver, who threw 24 pitches in ALCS Game 1.

Jazz Chisholm Jr., clearly alert to our last post, has led off the Yanks' sixth with a long double to left off Cleveland lefty Erik Sabrowski. Yanks are trying to add to their 3-2 lead.

Clay Holmes allowed an inherited run, nothing more, and it's 3-2 Yanks going into the last of the fifth. Good play by catcher Austin Wells, potentially saving a run by blocking a 58-foot Holmes sinker.

Cleveland has relievers for days, and they've just brought on their third tonight, Eli Morgan, who quickly retires the Yanks middle of the order in Judge, Wells and Stanton.

The Yankees have lefty Tim Hill coming into the sixth inning. Cole's line: 4.1 IP, 6 hits, 2 ER, 4 walks, 4 Ks.

Boone is into his bullpen in the fifth inning, with the bases loaded, one out and Clay Holmes entering to protect a 3-1 lead after Josh Naylor's sac fly and a walk to Lane Thomas.

So far this postseason, in a setup role, Holmes has now appeared in all six Yankees playoff games and has not allowed an earned run across six innings in those first five games.

Here it is, with first and second, none out in the fifth, and the Yanks up 3-0.

Jose Ramirez is a .353 hitter (12-for-34) vs. Gerrit Cole in the regular season, but he's 0-for-2 so far tonight, with two fly outs.

And Ramirez wins this plate appearance, drawing a walk to load the bases with none out. It's Cleveland's best chance.

And Stephen Vogt has sent up a pinch-hitter for his catcher Bo Naylor in David Fry...who fouls out on Cole's first delivery for the second out.

With the fans standing at the Stadium, Cole strikes out Brayan Rocchio looking at a 2-2 curveball to end the inning, still 3-0 Yanks.

They took an error away from third baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. and credited an infield hit to the speedy Lane Thomas, on a soft grounder that both Chisholm Jr. and Anthony Volpe charged.

Since his ninth inning homer in AL Division Series Game 2 and saying the Kansas City Royals "just got lucky'' to win that game, Jazz Chisholm Jr. is 0-for-13 with five strikeouts and a walk.

He's 0-for-2 tonight, but the Yanks are up 3-0, and Gerrit Cole is cruising into the fourth inning.

One out in the second, and Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt has already removed starter Tanner Bibee - leaving the bases loaded after intentionally walking Juan Soto to get to Aaron Judge (2-for-16 this postseason).

Let's see how this goes...

...it's a sac fly for Judge off Cade Smith, who then strikes out Austin Wells (2-for-22 this postseason). It's 3-0 Yanks, heading into the third.

Last time we saw Soto intentionally walked ahead of Judge, it was probably by the White Sox in August, and Judge followed with his 300th career home run.

Anthony Rizzo hadn't played since Sept. 28, due to two fractured fingers on his right hand, and "I didn’t expect his at-bats to even be that good,'' Aaron Boone said of Rizzo's 1-for-3 with a walk in Game 1.

Now, Rizzo has rifled a single after Anthony Volpe (single) who aggressively took third, and Alex Verdugo made it three straight hits with an RBI double here in the second inning. It's 2-0, Yanks.

So, in five of the Yanks' six postseason games so far, Gleyber Torres and Juan Soto have started by reaching safely, and Aaron Judge has followed by going 0-for-5 with three strikeouts, a DP grounder and a pop up.

But that towering pop up produced a gift run in tonight's first inning, when it was dropped by shortstop Brayan Rocchio.

Despite all five of those Gleyber-Soto kickstarts, the Yankees have scored a grand total of two first-inning runs (including tonight's unearned run). 1-0, Yanks moving to the second inning.

After Cole's 1-2-3 first inning, Gleyber Torres led off with a double and Juan Soto singled him to third. Now, we'll see if Aaron Judge - yet to cash in, in these playoff first innings - can make it happen...

...and he pops up. But wait a minute!

Cleveland's Gold Glove finalist shortstop Brayan Rocchio dropped Judge's towering pop fly, everyone's safe, and Torres scores, making it 1-0 Yanks.

Through five playoff games, the Yankees are still waiting for Aaron Judge to join the party – offensively, that is.

Defensively in center field, Judge has been above average.

But he’s yet to show that regular season MVP form (.322, with a league-leading 58 HR, 144 RBI, 1.159 OPS) in 21 October plate appearances (2-for-15, double, one RBI, 6 walks, 6 strikeouts).

“I think he’s going to be fine. In don’t think he has any pressure,’’ said teammate Juan Soto, after the Yankees’ 5-2 AL Championship Series win in Monday’s Game 1.

“It’s going to take every single guy in that lineup,’’ said Soto. “We can’t lean on only him.’’

In ALCS Game 1, Judge struck out in another first inning, men-on-base spot where the Yanks failed to capitalize.

Judge is now 0-for-4 with three strikeouts and a double play in four instances this postseason where leadoff man Gleyber Torres and Juan Soto have opened by reaching base.

SP: Gerrit Cole, RHP

SP: Tanner Bibee, RHP