Cleveland Baseball Insider

Guardians' Clutch Home Runs Make MLB Postseason History In ALCS Game 3

Cleveland's Jhonkensy Noel and David Fry each hit a game-changing two-run home run in Game 3 of the 2024 ALCS versus New York on Thursday night.
Logan Potosky|
Oct 17, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians outfielder Jhonkensy Noel (43) hits a two-run home run during the ninth inning against the New York Yankees in game 3 of the American League Championship Series at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Oct 17, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians outfielder Jhonkensy Noel (43) hits a two-run home run during the ninth inning against the New York Yankees in game 3 of the American League Championship Series at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

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Cleveland Guardians

In Game 3 of the 2024 ALCS versus the New York Yankees on Thursday night, the Cleveland Guardians were one out away from trailing 3-0 in the best-of-seven series.

But a pair of clutch home runs changed the game, and ultimately gave Cleveland its first win of the set.

With two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, pinch hitter Jhonkensy Noel faced Yankees closer Luke Weaver, who entered the contest allowing just three hits and one run in six appearances this postseason.

And Noel, also known as "Big Christmas," delivered the biggest swing of his young career, as his two-run home run to left field tied the game at 5-5. With this homer, the 23-year-old rookie did something achieved just one other time in over a century.

Per Stathead, Noel hit the second pinch-hit, two-out, game-tying home run in the ninth inning-or-later of an MLB postseason game since at least 1903. Jim Leyritz also hit a pinch-hit, two-out, two-run shot for the San Diego Padres in the bottom of the ninth inning during Game 2 of the 1998 NLDS against the Houston Astros.

A baseball player swinging a baseball bat while wearing a white jersey, white pants, and a navy batting helmet.
Oct 17, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians outfielder Jhonkensy Noel (43) hits a two-run home run during the ninth inning against the New York Yankees in game 3 of the American League Championship Series at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

One inning later, David Fry secured the Guardians' comeback victory with a walk-off, two-out, two-run home run to left center field. This home run also cemented a spot in MLB postseason history.

According to Luke Potosky on X, this homer made Cleveland the second team since at least 1923 with multiple two-out home runs in the ninth inning-or-later of a playoff game, joining the Yankees in Game 4 of the 2001 World Series versus the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Guardians now look to even the series at 2-2 on Friday night with a victory over New York in Game 4 of the 2024 ALCS, with first pitch set for 8:08 p.m.

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Logan Potosky
LOGAN POTOSKY

Logan Potosky is an aspiring play-by-play sports broadcaster who, to date, has called approximately 350+ hours of professional, college, and high school sporting events. He is currently the Play-by-Play Broadcaster for the Lake County Captains, the High-A Affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians. He graduated from John Carroll University in May of 2023 with a degree in Communication, with a concentration in Digital Media, and a minor in Entrepreneurship.

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