Yankees Defeat Cleveland 5-2 in ALCS Opener

The New York Yankees secured a 5-2 victory over the Cleveland Guardians in Game 1 of the AL Championship Series, driven by homers from Juan Soto and Giancarlo Stanton. Carlos Rodón earned his first postseason win, limiting the Guardians to just two singles before conceding a homer in the sixth. Cleveland's pitching woes were evident as they set a postseason record with five wild pitches, including two that resulted in runs. The Yankees capitalized on Cleveland's struggles, drawing nine walks in total, while Stanton notched his 13th career postseason homer. Despite a strong performance from Steven Kwan, who extended his hitting streak to 11 games, the Guardians could not overcome the deficit. Game 2 is set for Tuesday, with historical statistics favoring teams that win the opener in the 2-3-2 format.