Yankees vs. Guardians score: Live updates as Giancarlo Stanton home run breaks open ALCS Game 4

The Guardians are trying to even the best-of-seven series after a thrilling Game 3 win

The New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians will meet at Progressive Field for Game 4 of the American League Championship Series on Friday. The Yankees lead the best-of-seven series by a count of 2-1. The Guardians, however, are coming off a thrilling walk-off win in Game 3. On the Yanks' side of things, slugger and AL MVP favorite Aaron Judge will be trying to homer for a third straight game.

For Game 4, the Yankees started rookie right-hander Luis Gil, who had not made a start since Sept. 28 and had not pitched well since Sept. 17. The Guardians countered with right-hander Gavin Williams, who was pulled before the end of the third inning as manager Stephen Vogt once again turned to his bullpen early. 

Juan Soto started the scoring with a two-run home run in the first inning, but the Guardians scored twice against Gil early to keep things interesting. It remained 3-2 until the sixth inning, when Giancarlo Stanton crushed a three-run home run (his fourth homer of the postseason) off reliever Cade Smith.

CBS Sports will be here to provide live updates, highlights, and analysis throughout Game 4. You can find that just below.

[Oct 18, 2024 at 10:11 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

Guardians have a two-out baserunner. 

[Oct 18, 2024 at 10:07 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

Jake Cousins in for the bottom of the sixth. Yankees lead 6-2.

[Oct 18, 2024 at 10:00 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

Stanton breaks this one open

Giancarlo Stanton has always performed well in the postseason. He hit a big-time home run last night, albeit in a team loss. He just delivered another big one here in the sixth, launching a three-run shot to open up the Yankees' lead to 6-2. Take a look:

It's notable that Stanton's home run came against Cade Smith, one of the Guardians' best relievers. Smith wasn't his usual effective self tonight: he walked Soto, allowed a single to Judge, and then gave up this blast to Stanton.

[Oct 18, 2024 at 9:56 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

Chisholm bunts to advance both runners.

[Oct 18, 2024 at 9:56 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

And now Judge sneaks a single under a diving Rocchio. Yankees in business here in the sixth.

[Oct 18, 2024 at 9:55 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

Soto with a walk to begin the sixth. Not what the Guardians wanted.

[Oct 18, 2024 at 9:54 pm ET · Mike Axisa]

Cade Smith is in again. He's worked a ton in his postseason and it shows. He starts his outing with a few 94 mph fastballs. He's usually around 97-98 mph.

[Oct 18, 2024 at 9:53 pm ET · Matt Snyder]

Big Guardians arms coming

It's time for Cade Smith, followed by Tim Herrin, Hunter Gaddis and Emmanuel Clase, in all likelihood. 

[Oct 18, 2024 at 9:51 pm ET · Mike Axisa]

Yankees up 3-2 through five innings

It's a battle of the bullpens now, which is advantage Cleveland. Gonna go out on a limb and guess this game will not end with a 3-2 score.

[Oct 18, 2024 at 9:50 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

No joke: I wish some source logged how often relievers warmed up. 

[Oct 18, 2024 at 9:48 pm ET · Matt Snyder]

I feel like every team has one dude that is perpetually warming up. For the Yankees, it's Tim Hill. He's on the mound now, but it feels like he warms up every single game, whether he comes in or not.

[Oct 18, 2024 at 9:40 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

Morgan gets through the fifth without much trouble. We're on to the bottom half of the frame.

[Oct 18, 2024 at 9:35 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

Eli Morgan is on for the fifth. Cade Smith warming.

[Oct 18, 2024 at 9:28 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

Gil opens the bottom of the fourth with 70 pitches.

[Oct 18, 2024 at 9:25 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

Sabrowski gets through the top of the fourth. 

[Oct 18, 2024 at 9:15 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

It wasn't pretty, but Gil gets through the third. We're heading to the fourth. Yankees up 3-2.

[Oct 18, 2024 at 9:13 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

Gil nearly airmailed a pitch there.

[Oct 18, 2024 at 9:10 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

Guardians now have two on and two out here in the bottom of the third. 

[Oct 18, 2024 at 9:06 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

Naylor drops one into left field and the Guardians score their second run of the night. Now just a 3-2 Yankees lead.

[Oct 18, 2024 at 8:56 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

Sabrowski got Soto and Judge to close out the top of the third.

[Oct 18, 2024 at 8:51 pm ET · Matt Snyder]

Gavin Williams is done

Unsurprisingly, the Guardians are pulling starter Gavin Williams. He gave up three runs on three hits in 2⅓ innings. He struck out four and didn't walk anyone, but the the two home runs burned him. The Guardians are going to Erik Sabrowski, a lefty, to face Juan Soto here. 

[Oct 18, 2024 at 8:50 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

That'll do it for Williams.

[Oct 18, 2024 at 8:46 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

Rocchio nearly made Gil pay for that mistake. Instead it goes down as a warning track fly out. Inning over.

[Oct 18, 2024 at 8:44 pm ET · Matt Snyder]

Luis Gil just walked Austin Hedges -- the worst hitter in the playoffs -- with two outs. If nothing else, it helps the Guardians turn the order. Just terrible. 

[Oct 18, 2024 at 8:36 pm ET · Matt Snyder]

Yankees get the run back

It is 3-1 Yankees now after Austin Wells went deep. 

Wells had mostly been hitting cleanup -- between Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton -- for a while. He was dropped down to the eight hole in the lineup for tonight and came through. 

Wells hadn't hit a home run since Sept. 9. He finished the regular season going 1 for his last 29. He was just 2 for 26 in the playoffs before this blast.

[Oct 18, 2024 at 8:35 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

Wells homers to make it 3-1

He's been in a funk since the start of September, so that's a sight for sore New York eyes.

[Oct 18, 2024 at 8:29 pm ET · Mike Axisa]

Luis Gil has not started a game since Sept. 28. Gavin Williams not since Sept. 22. They've been throwing on the side and whatnot to stay ready, but it's been a long time since these two guys pitched in an MLB game.

[Oct 18, 2024 at 8:27 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

Gil fans Thomas to end the first. It's 2-1 Yankees.

[Oct 18, 2024 at 8:24 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

It's now 2-1 Yankees on a sac fly.

[Oct 18, 2024 at 8:22 pm ET · Matt Snyder]

Guardians in business, too

Steven Kwan walked, Kyle Manzardo doubled down the right-field line and it looks like the Guardians are ready to respond to the Yankees' two-run first.