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The Cleveland Guardians turned the ALCS into a legitimate series on Thursday night, beating the New York Yankees 7-5 in 1o innings to win their first game in the series (the Yankees now lead 2-1).
Game 3 of the American League Championship Series between the Cleveland Guardians and New York Yankees was everything that’s great about baseball, as it was chock full of clutch plays from star players, including Jhonkensy Noel’s game-tying two-run two-out home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to send the game to extras.
While Noel’s home run is obviously a highlight in and of itself, the reaction on social media seems to suggest that the *true* high-point of the moment is the call from play-by-play man Brian Anderson, who delivered one of the calls of the year with equal parts shock, joy, and wit.
It helps, of course, that Noel has a nickname as incredible as “Big Christmas.”
“OH MY GOODNESS! BIG CHRISTMAS HAS TIED IT! THE ULTIMATE PRESENT UNDER THE TREE! OH MY GOODNESS! JHONKENSY NOEL — THE BIGGEST SWING OF HIS LIFE!”
“I have such an incredible appreciation for an announcer who understands the moment. I live for calls like this. Thank you Brian Anderson. What a moment,” one tweet about Anderson’s call said.
“This is such an elite call from Brian Anderson. Just raw, real excitement, followed by some great lines. Both FOX & TBS have excellent play-by-play guys right now for baseball,” said another baseball fan.
“Brian Anderson is a great big-moment announcer. He makes a memorable call, and then gets out of the way,” another sports fan claimed.
In their likely series-saving win against the Guardians (the only team to ever come back from an 0-3 deficit are the 2004 Boston Red Sox, who did it against the Yankees in the ALCS), Noel, as a pinch hitter, had just one at-bat. As you saw above, that at-bat might be the biggest swing of the 23-year-old’s life so far.
Game 4 of the ALCS between the Guardians and Yankees will be on Friday, October 18 at 8:08 p.m. EST.