CLEVELAND, Ohio — With embattled closer Emmanuel Clase unavailable Monday after pitching in three consecutive games, Guardians manager Stephen Vogt handed the ball to Cade Smith when it came time to protect a two-run lead and get the final three outs of Cleveland’s 6-4 win over the Yankees.
A rookie sensation last season, Smith was hardly surprised that in order to finish the job he would have to go through two-time American League MVP Aaron Judge, who represented the tying run at the plate with two out in the top of the ninth inning.
Judge, who currently leads the majors in batting average, hits, slugging percentage, on-base percentage and runs batted in, had walked, struck out and doubled in his three previous at-bats. In four combined plate appearances against Smith between the regular season and postseason last year, Judge was 2 for 3 with a double, an RBI sacrifice fly and one strikeout.
But the Canadian right-hander was unfazed during Monday’s at-bat, telling reporters afterward that there is a difference between fearing a hitter and respecting the hitter.
“Everyone knows what he’s capable of, so you have to approach it smartly,” Smith said. “You want to make sure your misses are safe.”
Smith started Judge off with a fastball away for a called strike before challenging him over the middle of the plate with another fastball, this time elevated in the zone at 97 mph that the Yankees captain fouled off for strike two. After taking a splitter in the dirt for a ball, Smith got Judge to swing over the top of a splitter at the bottom of the zone for strike three.
It was Smith’s second career big league save, and the second time he saved a game against a New York team. His first came May 22 of last season against the Mets at Progressive Field. Smith extended his streak of innings without allowing a home run to 54 1/3, the second-longest active streak in the majors, according to Elias behind Tampa Bay’s Drew Rasmussen (62 innings).
Catcher Bo Naylor said Smith’s execution was the difference in the at-bat.
“That’s a really good pitcher on the mound and it’s a really good hitter at the plate,” Naylor said. “When you have two guns going like that, anything could really happen, but we have all the faith in the guy that we have on the bump. He went out there and executed pitches.”
Smith emphasized afterward the importance of sticking to the game plan given to him when he gets on the mound, especially against big time hitters like Judge.
“The thing that I am learning is the significance of the execution piece,” Smith said. “Everyone has the kind of stuff that gets ‘em here, but it’s another thing to have that consistent kind of command and execution that’ll keep you here.”
Vogt called Judge one of the best players in the world, but said the feeling of watching him step to the plate as the tying run in the ninth inning is the same feeling the Yankees get when José Ramírez bats. From there, it becomes a matter of believing in the guy out on the mound.
“That’s where we trust our pitchers to go make pitches, and Cade executed four great pitches to Aaron Judge right there,” Vogt said. “Our guys know how to pitch, they know how to attack.”
- BETTING: Guardians moneyline is -104 on FanDuel for Tuesday’s game against the Yankees. Our complete list of Ohio sportsbook promos will help you find a sportsbook to use.
Breakfast and trivia
Steven Kwan posted his eighth multi-hit game of the season on Monday with a single and a double against Yankees righty Clarke Schmidt. Kwan also matched a season high by hitting in his fifth straight game. How many five-game hitting streaks does Kwan have already this season?
Next
Today: Guardians vs. Yankees at 6:10 p.m. CLE.Guardians.TV, WTAM, WMMS and the Guardians radio network will carry the game. RHP Tanner Bibee (1-2, 5.85) vs. RHP Will Warren (1-0, 5.17)
Guardians 2025 regular season schedule
Wednesday: Guardians vs. Yankees at 1:10 p.m. CLE.Guardians.TV, WTAM, WMMS and the Guardians radio network will carry the game. RHP Luis Ortiz (2-2, 5.48) vs. LHP Carlos Rodón (2-3, 4.34) Wednesday.
Thursday: The Guardians have an off day.
Trivia answer
Kwan has three separate five-game hitting streaks, including April 1-6 and April 10-15. He is the only player in the majors this season to have three different hit streaks of five games or more.
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