Guardians' Clase calls lack of execution in ALCS 'surprising' - ESPN

CLEVELAND — For an entire season, Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase provided something that even the best relievers rarely can claim: near certainty.

But after two straight nights of struggles in the highest-stakes games of the year, that certainty has been shaken.

On Friday, Clase gave up a pair of go-ahead runs to the Yankees in the ninth inning, absorbing the loss in New York's 8-6 win in Game 4, a defeat that pushed the Guardians to the brink of elimination in the AL Championship Series.

This came on the heels of a stunning Game 3, won by Cleveland in a wild finish that was set up by a rare Clase blown save. In that one, he gave up back-to-back homers to Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton to lose the lead — two homers in consecutive at-bats against a pitcher who gave up just two homers all season, posted a 0.61 ERA and converted 47 of 50 save opportunities.

«I just haven't been executing,» Clase said after Friday's loss. «I'm failing against the hitters and I haven't had the results.»

Uncertainty suddenly reigns around the game's premier closer, though the Guardians' support of their relief ace remains steadfast. Cleveland's deep and dominant bullpen has been the team's chief weapon all season, but with Clase's October ERA now at 10.29 and other leaks springing throughout the bullpen, the group now has a 3.83 ERA, five losses and Thursday's blown save on its playoff dossier.

Emmanuel Clase gave up five earned runs in 74⅓ innings during the regular season. The postseason, though, has been a far different story:

«We play a game based on failure,» Guardians first baseman Josh Naylor said. «They've done such an incredible job for us. We believe in them and get excited every time they go to the mound.»

Clase's struggles in