Oct 14, 2024; Bronx, New York, USA; Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt is introduced before playing against the New York Yankees game one of the ALCS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Stephen Vogt Describes Resilient Guardians In One Phrase

Originally posted on Cleveland Guardians on SI
By Matthew Schmidt | Last updated Oct 17, 2024 10:10 PM ET

The Cleveland Guardians came to the brink of heartbreak in Game 3 of the ALCS against the New York Yankees on Thursday night, but they ultimately snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

After All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase surrendered back-to-back home runs to Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton in the eighth inning, causing the Guardians to fall behind 4-3, Cleveland ultimately outlasted the Yankees by a scor e of 7-5 in extra innings to close to within 2-1 in the series.

Following the affair, Guardians manager Stephen Vogt accurately described his team in one phrase.

"This is exactly who we are. We never quit," Vogt said.

"That was an incredible game on both sides... I couldn't be more proud of our guys. This is exactly who we are, we never quit."

- @CleGuardians manager Stephen Vogt on Cleveland's instant classic win#Postseason pic.twitter.com/atimTdfAH1
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) October 18, 2024

Vogt added that "if there was an emotion, we all felt it," encapsulating the ups and downs of the back-and-forth contest.

"We get punched in the teeth pretty hard there in the eighth, and our guys stepped up huge for the guy that carried us all year long, and that was really fun to see," Vogt said.

After New York tacked on another run in the ninth inning, a two-run, pinch-hit homer by Jhonkensy Noel allowed Cleveland to tie the game, and the Guardians then ultimately won on a two-run walkoff shot by David Fry in the bottom of the 10th.

It was certainly one heck of a game, and it aptly epitomized Cleveland's season, which has been a roller-coaster ride of emotions that has led the Guardians to this point.

Had Cleveland fell in Game 3, it surely would have been a death knell for the Guardians in this series, but now, they have life.

Cleveland will host Game 4 on Friday night.

This article first appeared on Cleveland Guardians on SI and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: