Yankees stun Guardians, Emmanuel Clase with back-to-back Judge, Stanton home runs

New York Yankees fans were this close to ruining message boards across the internet after the team's lackluster performance in Game 3 of the ALCS against the Cleveland Guardians. In fact, we already did when Jose Trevino made an out on the bases and ruined the second inning.

But then came the eighth inning. The Yankees were four outs away from losing the game, but Juan Soto worked a walk and forced Guardians manager Stephen Vogt to go to the bullpen. His panic moves have helped the Yankees in the first two games, but it was hard to argue with this one: he was going to the league's best closer, Emmanuel Clase, to face Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton.

Only problem? Clase has not been great this postseason. He allowed four earned runs in 5 2/3 innings in the ALDS against the Detroit Tigers. For perspective, he allowed five earned runs in 74 1/3 regular season innings.

Whatever the problem with Clase, it all continued to unravel for the right-hander. after backing Judge into a corner on a 1-2 count, he left a cutter over the middle of the plate that the towering Yankees star blasted over the right field wall. It was an opposite-field rocket and the two-run shot tied the game, silencing Progressive Field. Stunned. No words. Judge was 0-for-3 with two strikeouts before that at-bat, too.

Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton stun Guardians, Emmanuel Clase with back-to-back HRs

Admittedly not good for the Guardians, but Clase just needed to get one more out to keep the game tied heading into the bottom of the eighth. He had Stanton on a 1-2 count, too, possessing the upper hand.

But Stanton battled, fouling off multiple pitches. He waited for one over the plate, and he got a slider that he belted to center field. Another screaming line drive that traveled 390 feet. Just like that, another one cleared the wall, and the Yankees had a 4-3 lead after trailing 3-1 and down to their last strike in the eighth.

The Yankees' dugout erupted. Everybody started pouring out and celebrating. Absolute pandemonium as the home fans sat there in silence. The Guardians, in a last-ditch effort, challenged the play to see if Stanton forgot to touch first base, but their attempt was as futile as Clase's.

It was tense the rest of the way, but Boone stuck with Tommy Kahnle, who lasted 1 2/3 innings, before going to Luke Weaver again. Weave got the Yanks out of a jam in the eighth and the Yankees continued to put the pressure on in the ninth.

The game isn't in the clear yet, but Cleveland is on its last breath. Nothing but a tense ballpark with the opposing dugout making all the noise.