As noted by Dan Szymborski in his ALCS preview, ZiPS projected the Gerrit Cole vs. Tanner Bibee matchup in Game 2 at Yankee Stadium as the most one-sided battle in the series. The Yankees, with their superior roster and home field advantage, seemed to have the upper hand. However, the Guardians were hopeful with Bibee on the mound as their reliable starter who could provide much-needed innings. Unfortunately for Cleveland, Bibee could not make it past the second inning, while the Yankees capitalized on their strong bullpen to secure a 6-3 victory and take a 2-0 series lead.
Cole quickly dispatched the Guardians in the first inning, setting the tone for the game. In the bottom half, the Yankees took an early lead when a misplay by the Guardians’ defense allowed Torres to score. Despite escaping further damage in the first, Bibee ran into trouble in the second inning, giving up runs to Torres and Verdugo. The Yankees loaded the bases with no outs, leading to a pitching change for Cleveland.
Though Bibee was replaced after a short outing, the Guardians’ bullpen, led by Cade Smith, kept the Yankees in check for the remainder of the game. Smith’s solid performance gave Cleveland hope of mounting a comeback, but they struggled to solve Cole on the mound. The Guardians had opportunities to score, loading the bases in the fourth inning, but failed to capitalize as Cole and the Yankees’ defense held firm.
In the end, the Yankees’ strong pitching and timely hitting proved too much for Cleveland to overcome, as they fell behind 2-0 in the series. While Cleveland’s bullpen showed promise in limiting the Yankees’ offense, their inability to generate runs against Cole ultimately cost them the game.
