BENGALURU, India (AP) — Sarfaraz Khan scored his maiden century as India continued its comeback on the fourth day of the first cricket test against New Zealand.
Khan was unbeaten on 125 runs off 154 balls as India reached 344-3 in its second innings before rain intervened. Rishabh Pant was also batting on 53 runs, with the hosts still trailing by 12 runs.
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India's Rishabh Pant, left, celebrates with batting partner Sarfaraz Khan after scoring fifty runs during the day four of the first cricket test match between India and New Zealand at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru, India, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
India's Rishabh Pant plays a shot during the day four of the first cricket test match between India and New Zealand at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru, India, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
India's Sarfaraz Khan celebrates after scoring a century during the day four of the first cricket test match between India and New Zealand at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru, India, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
India's Sarfaraz Khan, left, celebrates after scoring a century during the day four of the first cricket test match between India and New Zealand at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru, India, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
India's Sarfaraz Khan celebrates after scoring a century during the day four of the first cricket test match between India and New Zealand at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru, India, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
India's Rishabh Pant, facing camera, hugs batting partner Sarfaraz Khan to congratulate him on scoring a century during the day four of the first cricket test match between India and New Zealand at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru, India, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
India's Sarfaraz Khan, left, and Rishabh Pant encourage each other during the day four of the first cricket test match between India and New Zealand at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru, India, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
India's Sarfaraz Khan, right, and Rishabh Pant run between the wickets to score during the day four of the first cricket test match between India and New Zealand at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru, India, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
India's Sarfaraz Khan celebrates after scoring a century during the day four of the first cricket test match between India and New Zealand at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru, India, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
Lunch was called early by 10 minutes as the duo added 113 runs off 132 balls for the unbeaten fourth wicket to continue India’s turnaround after it had been bowled out for just 46 runs in its first innings.
New Zealand scored 402 runs in its first innings, thanks to Rachin Ravindra’s 134 runs, taking a lead of 356 runs. India had lost Virat Kohli for 70 runs on the last ball of day three and began from its overnight score of 231-3.
Coming into the second test as a replacement for injured Shubman Gill, Khan achieved his maiden hundred in only the fourth test. By lunch on day four, he had hit 16 fours and three sixes before rain stopped his charge.
Meanwhile, Pant scored his 18th test half-century off 55 deliveries. Together, the duo put on 100 off just 120 balls as India looked to turn the game around.
But Bengaluru's weather intervened — the fourth day began under a dark sky with the constant threat of rain, and it arrived shortly before the scheduled lunch break. Rain washed out all play on the first day on Wednesday.
India leads the World Test Championship standings, and a 3-0 win in this series against New Zealand would all but assure its spot for the final at Lord’s next June. India recently beat Bangladesh 2-0.
New Zealand has already been on a long subcontinental tour. It began with a washed-out test against Afghanistan in Greater Noida, India, followed by a 2-0 series loss in Sri Lanka.
The second match in the three-test series will be played in Pune starting next Thursday and the final one in Mumbai from Nov. 1.
AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
India's Rishabh Pant, left, celebrates with batting partner Sarfaraz Khan after scoring fifty runs during the day four of the first cricket test match between India and New Zealand at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru, India, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
India's Rishabh Pant plays a shot during the day four of the first cricket test match between India and New Zealand at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru, India, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
India's Sarfaraz Khan celebrates after scoring a century during the day four of the first cricket test match between India and New Zealand at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru, India, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
India's Sarfaraz Khan, left, celebrates after scoring a century during the day four of the first cricket test match between India and New Zealand at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru, India, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
India's Sarfaraz Khan celebrates after scoring a century during the day four of the first cricket test match between India and New Zealand at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru, India, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
India's Rishabh Pant, facing camera, hugs batting partner Sarfaraz Khan to congratulate him on scoring a century during the day four of the first cricket test match between India and New Zealand at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru, India, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
India's Sarfaraz Khan, left, and Rishabh Pant encourage each other during the day four of the first cricket test match between India and New Zealand at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru, India, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
India's Sarfaraz Khan, right, and Rishabh Pant run between the wickets to score during the day four of the first cricket test match between India and New Zealand at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru, India, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
India's Sarfaraz Khan celebrates after scoring a century during the day four of the first cricket test match between India and New Zealand at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru, India, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
CLEVELAND (AP) — One late-night October meltdown was one too many for the New York Yankees.
Again? Fugedaboudit.
The Yankees scratched out two runs in the ninth inning off All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase and bounced back from a gut-wrenching loss a day earlier, beating the Cleveland Guardians 8-6 on Friday night to take a 3-1 lead in the American League Championship Series.
New York broke a 6-6 tie in the ninth as shortstop Brayan Rocchio booted Alex Verdugo’s RBI grounder for an error and Gleyber Torres followed with a run-scoring single.
Giancarlo Stanton hit a three-run homer, Juan Soto had a two-run, first-inning shot and Austin Wells also connected for the Yankees, who can advance to their 41st World Series — and first since 2009 — with by winning Game 5 on Saturday night.
Just 24 hours after leaving Progressive Field wondering what went wrong, the Yankees showed resiliency.
“Not surprised with these guys,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "Obviously last night was a really tough loss. And whatever happened today, win, lose or draw, there’s no doubt in my mind we’d come out ready to roll, ready to turn the page.
"Not a perfect game, but a gritty, tough, winning game.”
It was a messy ninth for Clase (0-2) as baseball's best reliever faltered for the second night in a row.
New York got three singles in the ninth off the right-hander, who gave up back-to-back homers in the eighth inning of Game 3 but got bailed out when the Guardians hit two-run homers in the ninth and 10th.
He wasn't as lucky this time as New York's bullpen bent but didn't break.
“I haven’t been able to execute my pitches,” Clase said through an interpreter. “Credit to them because they’ve been able to execute their at-bats.”
The Guardians are facing elimination in the postseason for the second time. They rallied in the ALDS to get past Detroit and will have to win three straight, including two at Yankee Stadium, to have any chance of ending their 76-year World Series drought.
“We’re going to show up ready to win,” first-year manager Stephen Vogt said. “That’s who these guys are. Our backs are against the wall, we play our best baseball. We don’t quit. This team has no quit in it. It hasn’t all year long.”
For the second straight night, the Yankees relievers struggled in high-leverage situations. The Guardians scored three in the seventh, one in the eighth and threatened in the ninth, putting two runners on.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone went to Tommy Kahnle — and not closer Luke Weaver — for the last three outs and the right-hander was able to put away Cleveland by throwing 18 pitches, all changeups.
Stanton’s 404-foot drive in the sixth inning off rookie Cade Smith put the Yankees ahead 6-2. Stanton has seven career postseason hits against Cleveland, all home runs.
After Cleveland closed to 6-5 in the seventh, rookie Jhonkensy Noel sent a shiver through the ballpark when he flied out to the warning track with a man on. Noel's pinch-hit, ninth-inning homer had tied Game 3.
The Guardians tied the score in the eighth when the Yankees botched an easy play in the infield, yet another of their fielding and baserunning miscues.
Bo Naylor doubled and moved up on an infield grounder. Mark Leiter Jr. (1-0), added to the Yankees' ALCS roster earlier in the day as Ian Hamilton's injury replacement, got Steven Kwan to pop up. Leiter appeared to get out of the inning when David Fry, one of Cleveland’s Game 3 home run stars, hit a slow grounder to the right side.
Leiter charged the ball on the grass, knocked it down and scooped the ball barehanded as he neared the foul line toward first. His low flip to first went through Anthony Rizzo’s legs for an error as Naylor scored.
Stanton, who hit back-to-back homers with Aaron Judge in the eighth inning Thursday, gave the Yankees a four-run lead with his 15th career postseason homer.
Smith, dominant during the regular season, walked Soto leading off the sixth. Judge singled and Stanton drove a 1-2 fastball into the bleachers where a sizable contingent of Yankees fans were waiting for it to land.
“I was in the zone and I got behind in the count,” Smith said. “I guess I threw what he was looking for.”
Stanton tied Carlos Beltrán and Nelson Cruz for the most homers in the first 35 career playoff games. He also moved into a tie with Judge and Babe Ruth for fourth in club history.
But the personal accolades meant nothing to Stanton. After Game 3, a victory was all that mattered.
And now New York needs one more.
“No lead is safe,” Stanton said. “It’s a great team over there, but it’s just important to keep pushing. They answered the bell. It’s a wave. It’s a roller coaster. But yeah, it was good to come out on top today.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Yankees: Hamilton injured a calf while covering first base in the sixth inning of Game 3. He won't be eligible for the World Series if New York advances. Boone said he considered adding lefty Nestor Cortes but wants to give the lefty as much time as possible to recover from an elbow strain.
UP NEXT
Yankees LHP Carlos Rodón makes his second start of the series after a strong Game 1 outing — one run and three hits with nine strikeouts in six innings. He'll face Guardians right-hander Tanner Bibee, who was pulled after just 39 pitches in Game 2 and will pitch on three days' rest.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
New York Yankees' Aaron Judge, right, and Anthony Rizzo celebrate after Game 4 of the baseball AL Championship Series against the Cleveland Guardians Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, in Cleveland. The Yankees won 8-6 to take a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Cleveland Guardians players watch from the dugout during the ninth inning in Game 4 of the baseball AL Championship Series against the New York Yankees Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, in Cleveland. The Yankees won 8-6. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
New York Yankees' Jazz Chisholm Jr. (13) and Oswaldo Cabrera celebrate after Game 4 of the baseball AL Championship Series against the Cleveland Guardians Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, in Cleveland. The Yankees won 8-6 to take a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
New York Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton, right, celebrates with Aaron Judge after hitting three-run home run against the Cleveland Guardians during the sixth inning in Game 4 of the baseball AL Championship Series Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
New York Yankees' Austin Wells watches his home run against the Cleveland Guardians during the second inning in Game 4 of the baseball AL Championship Series Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Gavin Williams throws against the New York Yankees during the first inning in Game 4 of the baseball AL Championship Series Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
New York Yankees' Juan Soto (22) celebrates with Aaron Judge after hitting a two-run home run against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning in Game 4 of the baseball AL Championship Series Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
New York Yankees' Juan Soto, right, celebrates with third base coach Luis Rojas (67) after hitting a two-run home run against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning in Game 4 of the baseball AL Championship Series Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
New York Yankees' Juan Soto celebrates after hitting a two-run home run against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning in Game 4 of the baseball AL Championship Series Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
New York Yankees' Austin Wells (28) celebrates with Alex Verdugo after hitting a home run against the Cleveland Guardians during the second inning in Game 4 of the baseball AL Championship Series Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
New York Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton tosses his bat after hitting a three-run home run against the Cleveland Guardians during the sixth inning in Game 4 of the baseball AL Championship Series Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
New York Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton (27) celebrates with teammates after hitting a home run against the Cleveland Guardians during the eighth inning in Game 3 of the baseball AL Championship Series Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in Cleveland.(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
New York Yankees' Juan Soto, left, celebrates after hitting a two-run home run against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning in Game 4 of the baseball AL Championship Series Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Cleveland Guardians pitcher Emmanuel Clase throws against the New York Yankees during the ninth inning in Game 4 of the baseball AL Championship Series Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
New York Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton celebrates after hitting a home run against the Cleveland Guardians during the eighth inning in Game 3 of the baseball AL Championship Series Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in Cleveland.(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
New York Yankees pitcher Tommy Kahnle celebrates after Game 4 of the baseball AL Championship Series against the Cleveland Guardians Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, in Cleveland. The Yankees won 8-6 to take a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
