Relying on the long ball can be a dangerous strategy for a baseball team. But when you have Juan Soto, Aaron Judge, and Giancarlo Stanton on your team, victory is just a matter of time.

The New York Yankees used this strategy to beat the hometown Cleveland Guardians 5-2 last night.

The Bronx Bombers won the American League pennant are heading to their first World Series since 2009.

AN ACE TO THE END

Tanner Bibee gave Cleveland every chance to get a victory and a return to the Big Apple. He pitched into the sixth inning before giving up any runs.

Meanwhile, the Guardians built a precarious 2-0 lead on a double by Bo Naylor in the second and a single by Steven Kwan.

But Stanton wiped out the lead with one massive blow against Bibee. He blasted a 446-foot shot to left center field. Gleyber Torres also scored, and the game was tied.

The tension mounted as the team matched zeros down the stretch. Cade Smith, Tim Herrin, and the beleaguered Emmanuel Clase kept the Yankees off the board.

In the 10th inning, however, Juan Soto connected with a three-run homer off Hunter Gaddis.

Cleveland’s offense couldn’t score off the Yankees’ bullpen for 5 1/3 innings, so it was finally time to go home.

The Guardians wildly overachieved and delivered a fun, scrappy brand of baseball for their appreciative fans.

With a young manager and nucleus, 2024 could be the beginning of another winning era of Cleveland baseball.