Yankees edge past Guardians to secure a 2-0 lead in MLB playoff series.

Aaron Judge hit his inaugural home run of the Major League Baseball playoffs, leading the New York Yankees to a 6-3 victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday, thereby taking control of the American League Championship Series.

Judge's two-run homer in the seventh inning broke open a closely contested match, allowing the Yankees to establish a 2-0 advantage in the best-of-seven series, which will resume on Thursday in Cleveland.

"We need to maintain our approach," Judge remarked. "It will be a vibrant and exciting atmosphere. We must go out there and continue to play our game... harness the energy and build from it."

The victor of this series will face either the New York Mets or the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series.

Judge, who led Major League Baseball with 58 home runs during the regular season, launched a powerful shot over the centerfield wall, marking his 14th career playoff home run and extending New York's lead to 6-2.

"It was beneficial to add those two runs," Judge commented.

The Guardians left 11 runners on base as four Yankees relief pitchers effectively neutralized Cleveland's offense after starter Gerrit Cole pitched only 4 1/3 innings.

"These players came in healthy and in great spirits, delivering impressive performances," Judge noted regarding New York's relief pitchers.

The Yankees are aiming for their first World Series appearance since their record 27th championship in 2009, while Cleveland has not reached the World Series since 2016 and last claimed the title in 1948.

In the first inning, Gleyber Torres doubled down the left-field line, advanced to third on a single by Juan Soto, and scored the opening run when Judge reached base due to an error by Guardians shortstop Brayan Rocchio.

In the second inning, Anthony Volpe singled, moved to third on a single by Anthony Rizzo, and scored on Alex Verdugo's double down the left-field line, giving the Yankees a 2-0 lead.

Soto was intentionally walked to load the bases for Judge, who then hit a sacrifice fly off relief pitcher Cade Smith, allowing Rizzo to score and extending the lead to 3-0.

Cole navigated a bases-loaded situation in the fourth inning by striking out Rocchio, who had previously set a Cleveland record with hits in his first six playoff games following a single in the third inning.

In the fifth inning, the Guardians once again filled the bases when Steven Kwan recorded a single, extending his franchise-record hitting streak to 12 games, followed by a single from Kyle Manzardo and a walk issued to Jose Ramirez.

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Naylor brought Kwan home with a sacrifice fly, advancing Manzardo to third base. Lane Thomas then walked, reloading the bases, and Will Brennan hit into a fielder's choice that allowed Manzardo to score, narrowing the score to 3-2 before Yankees reliever Clay Holmes struck out Austin Hedges to conclude the inning.

The Yankees increased their lead to 4-2 in the sixth when Volpe walked and Rizzo hit a double to right field, with Volpe scoring due to a throwing error by Cleveland's right fielder Brennan, which set the stage for Judge's home run.

In the ninth inning, Cleveland's Ramirez contributed a solo home run, slightly reducing the final deficit.

The Guardians removed game-one pitcher Alex Cobb from the roster because of a lower left back strain, effectively ending his season. Pitcher Ben Lively was subsequently added to the roster.