Anthony Rizzo laments Yankees' tough loss to Guardians in ALCS Game 3, finds silver lining in viewing experience it gave to fans

Thursday night's showdown with the Cleveland Guardians was not the one that Anthony Rizzo and the New York Yankees were hoping for. After taking a commanding 2-0 American League Championship Series lead, the Yankees looked primed to widen the gap, however, the Guardians showed that they will not go down without a fight.

The New York Yankees entered the bottom of the ninth inning with a solid 5-3 lead, however, thanks to a clutch two-run pinch-hit home run from Jhonkensy Noel, Cleveland tied the game.

Unfortunately for Anthony Rizzo and the rest of the Yankees, the Guardians were able to keep the momentum rolling in extra innings, as David Fry ethced his name in team history thanks to his walk-off home run in the 10th.

Despite the loss, Rizzo was able to find a silver-lining. Although the three-time All-Star expressed his disappointment, he was also aware that Game 3 of the 2024 ALCS became an instant classic.

"It’s tough to be on this end of it, but we'll bounce back tomorrow and get ready to win a game," Rizzo said after the tremendous third game of the ALCS.

Even though the Yankees were unable to hold on to their lead late in Game 3, they still have the advantage in the series heading into Friday's game. It will be interesting to see what New York's response will be as the loss to Cleveland has arguably been the most adversity that they have faced in the postseason.

“That’s a great baseball game if you’re a fan watching, on both sides, or just a fan of the game," Rizzo continued about the excitement of Thursday's showdown.

Although Anthony Rizzo was visibily disappointed after the loss, he was not the only member of the Yankees organization who was entertained by Game 3. Even manager Aaron Boone declared the game a "classic," which is something to say following a heartbreaking loss.

It would be unsurpisring to see Anthony Rizzo back in the lineup for Game 4

The New York Yankees have enjoyed a strong postseason from the veteran slugger, however, the team opted to keep Rizzo out of the lineup for Game 3. Aaron Boone said that the decision to keep him out of the lineup was due to the fact that the Guardians sent left-handed starter Matthew Boyd to the mound.

Given the southpaw starter and the fact that Rizzo is still dealing with fractured fingers that he suffered a few weeks ago, it was not a suprise to see him get a break. That being said, following the loss, it seems likely that Anthony Rizzo will be back for Friday's matchup in Cleveland.