**Yankees Take Commanding Lead in ALCS with Nail-Biting Win Over Guardians**

For the second consecutive night in the American League Championship Series (ALCS), the New York Yankees delivered a thrilling finale, securing an 8-6 victory over the Cleveland Guardians. With two crucial runs in the top of the ninth inning, the Yankees took a 3-1 lead in the series, putting them on the brink of advancing to the World Series.

The game turned dramatically in the final inning when a critical mistake by Cleveland's shortstop Brayan Rocchio allowed the Yankees to capitalize. Alex Verdugo hit what seemed like a routine double play, but Rocchio's error allowed the go-ahead run to score. Gleyber Torres then added an insurance run with an RBI single, sealing the game for New York.

Prominent hitters Juan Soto and Giancarlo Stanton powered the Yankees' offense with home runs in the first and sixth innings, respectively. Stanton's performance continues to shine, as he now leads the Yankees with nine RBIs in the playoffs.

Cleveland faces a do-or-die situation as they prepare for Game 5 tonight at Progressive Field. The pitching matchup features Carlos Rodon for the Yankees, who delivered a stellar performance in Game 1, and Tanner Bibee for the Guardians, who struggled in Game 2. Rodon holds a 1-1 record with a 4.66 ERA in the playoffs, while Bibee has an 0-1 record with a 3.60 ERA.

Historically, teams that win the first two games of a best-of-seven series go on to win the series 83.5% of the time, a statistic that bodes well for the Yankees. Additionally, every game in this ALCS has gone over the total runs line, indicating an exciting and high-scoring series.

The stakes couldn't be higher for the Guardians as they look to extend their postseason run. With the Yankees holding a 4-2 edge in previous playoff series against Cleveland, history and momentum favor New York. Keep an eye on Giancarlo Stanton, whose playoff performance has been nothing short of spectacular, averaging a home run every 7.5 at-bats and an RBI every 3.33 at-bats.

As Cleveland tries to bounce back, fans and analysts alike are eager to see how tonight’s game unfolds. Will the Yankees continue their dominant run, or can the Guardians muster a comeback? Stay tuned for what promises to be another exciting chapter in this year's ALCS.