The New York Yankees got off to a strong start in the 2024 ALCS with a 5-2 victory over the Cleveland Guardians in Game 1. The game was highlighted by a solo home run from outfielder Juan Soto and a dominant pitching performance from Carlos Rodon.
Rodon, who struggled in his previous outing in the ALDS, bounced back with an impressive performance, allowing just one run on three hits over six innings while striking out nine batters. His 25 swings and misses were the most by a Yankees pitcher in a postseason game since 2008.
The Yankees broke through in the third inning when Soto hit his first postseason home run with the team off Guardians starter Alex Cobb. The wild pitching from Cleveland allowed the Yankees to score more runs, with Joey Cantillo struggling to find the strike zone and walking in runs.
Rodon continued to pitch well, retiring 11 straight batters at one point before giving up a solo home run to Brayan Rocchio in the sixth inning. Giancarlo Stanton added to the Yankees’ lead with a home run of his own in the seventh inning.
The Guardians managed to score another run in the eighth, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Yankees’ lead. With the win, the Yankees are now just three wins away from their first World Series appearance since 2009.
Game 2 is set for Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium, where the Yankees will look to build on their strong start and take a commanding lead in the series. Be sure to visit AMNY.com for more updates and coverage on the Yankees throughout the postseason.
