New York Yankees vs Cleveland Guardians Box Score on Oct 15, 2022

Oscar Gonzalez is a little over four months into his major league career and slightly over a week into his postseason career.

The rookie right fielder also is now linked to all-time clutch postseason performer David Ortiz.

Gonzalez produced his third game-winning hit in the postseason Saturday night. He laced a bases-loaded, two-strike single with two outs in the ninth inning as the host Cleveland Guardians rallied for a dramatic 6-5 victory over the New York Yankees on Saturday night in Game 3 of the American League Division Series.

Gonzalez now has three clutch hits in his first four postseason games. He capped last Saturday's 15-inning marathon over Tampa Bay in the wild-card round with a game-ending homer and then hit a tiebreaking single to shallow right field in the 10th inning of Game 2 Friday in New York.

A night later, Gonzalez fouled off two straight sliders, got the same pitch and lined it by reliever Clarke Schmidt's glove, past second baseman Gleyber Torres and into center field to score Steven Kwan and Amed Rosario.

"He can take some swings early in the count, and you're like uh-oh," Guardians manager Terry Francona said. "When he gets to two strikes, he gets the barrel of the bat to the ball a lot of times, and did it again tonight."

Gonzalez matched Ortiz for the most go-ahead hits in the ninth inning or later in a single postseason. He also became the first Cleveland player with multiple game-ending hits in the same postseason.

Ortiz got his three such hits during Boston's 2004 run to its first World Series title since 1918, including two hits against the Yankees during their comeback from a 3-0 deficit in the ALCS. Gonzalez was a 6-year-old growing up in the Dominican Republic.

"It's incredible," Gonzalez said through an interpreter. "I didn't know about that stat, and I just thank God for that and what makes it more special is it's from another fellow countryman."

Gonzalez's dramatic hit put Cleveland on the verge of advancing to the ALCS against Houston. Game 4 is Sunday when New York's Gerrit Cole opposes Cal Quantrill in a rematch of Game 1.

The hit capped a three-run, five-hit rally (all singles) in the ninth off Wandy Peralta and Schmidt (0-1). Peralta was two outs away from completing a seven-out save before allowing singles to Myles Straw and Kwan. He was replaced by Schmidt.

Schmidt allowed Rosario's RBI single that made it a one-run game. He then gave up an infield single to Jose Ramirez, who hit the ball against the shift as shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa was positioned closer to second base.

After Schmidt struck out Josh Naylor, Gonzalez came through and sent Cleveland its first win in 42 postseason games when trailing by multiple runs entering the ninth, according to ESPN Stats and Information.

"I think it's crazy when you kind of expect something like that to happen," Kwan said. "I mean, he's always so calm in those positions."

New York, which has overcome 2-1 deficits twice in the ALDS (2001 and 2017), lost for the first time in 168 postseason games when leading by multiple runs entering the ninth inning, according to ESPN Stats and Information.

"It stings right now, and it's raw," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "You know, you're frustrated because you're so close to the end there, but we've got to turn the page

Schmidt was attempting to get the save because Boone said Clay Holmes was unavailable after throwing 16 pitches in the ninth inning Friday. Holmes said he expected to pitch and felt fine.

"I prepared today to do my job," Holmes said. "Sometimes those decisions aren't mine. I feel like I'm available to pitch."

Before Gonzalez's dramatic single, the Yankees held a 5-3 lead thanks to three homers to erase an early two-run deficit.

Aaron Judge and Oswaldo Cabrera hit two-run homers off Cleveland starter Triston McKenzie in the first five innings. Harrison Bader added a solo shot in the seventh off Sam Hentges, but the Yankees had just two at-bats with runners in scoring position throughout the game.

"We can't sit here and sulk on it," Judge said. "We got a big game tomorrow and couldn't get it done today."

Naylor and Kwan hit early RBI singles for Cleveland, which totaled 15 hits, including 13 singles, and finished 9-for-17 with runners in scoring position.

Eli Morgan (1-0) pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to set up Cleveland's dramatic rally.

New York's Luis Severino settled in nicely after a shaky start to allow three runs on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out six, walked none and threw 106 pitches in an outing that saw him allow six hits through the first two innings

McKenzie allowed four runs on four hits in five innings. He struck out five and walked one.

--Larry Fleisher, Field Level Media