Yankees beat Guardians in Game 5, reach third ALCS in six years

NEW YORK -- Giancarlo Stanton blasted a three-run home run in the first inning, Aaron Judge followed with a solo drive an inning later and the New York Yankees beat the Cleveland Guardians 5-1 in Game 5 of the American League Division Series on Wednesday. The Yankees overcame a 2-1 deficit in a best-of-five series for the third time -- and second time against Cleveland -- to advance to their third ALCS meeting with the Houston Astros, who have been off since beating Seattle in 18 innings on Saturday. Game 1 is Wednesday night in Houston. After a 2 1/2-hour rain delay on Monday led to the second rainout of the series, the Yankees took the lead early and never looked back. Stanton homered four batters in after Gleyber Torres opened with a walk and Anthony Rizzo was hit by a pitch. Stanton hit his second homer of the series when he blasted a 2-0 cutter from Aaron Civale (0-1) into the right-center field seats. Upon connecting, Stanton held his bat halfway down the first base line, yelled into his own dugout and dropped the bat before completing his trot. Judge homered in the second against Sam Hentges when he sent a 1-0 curveball 394 feet to right-center. It was his major-league record fourth homer in a winner-take-all game. Rizzo added an RBI single for the Yankees, who advanced to their 18th ALCS and third in six seasons. New York's pitching plans also worked out well. The Yankees were initially slated to start Jameson Taillon Monday but turned to Nestor Cortes (1-0) on three days' rest. Cortes allowed one run on three hits in five innings. He walked one, struck out two and threw 61 pitches. Jonathan Loaisiga stranded three over two innings, Clay Holmes tossed a 1-2-3 eighth and Wandy Peralta finished up the ninth as Gerrit Cole warmed up. Cleveland opted against using ace Shane Bieber on short rest, saving him for a possible relief appearance or Game 1 start in the ALCS. Civale got only one out and allowed three runs on two hits, one walk and one hit batter. He was lifted after Josh Donaldson reached on an infield single. Jose Ramirez hit a sacrifice fly in the third for the Guardians, who dropped to 1-8 in winner-take-all games. Cleveland has lost eight straight in a winner-take-all since Game 5 of the 1997 ALDS against the Yankees. --By Larry Fleisher, Field Level Media