It was the third postseason walk-off home run in Guardians history, joining Tony Peña in Game 1 of the 1995 AL Division Series against Boston and Oscar Gonzalez in the deciding game of the 2022 AL Wild Card Series against Tampa Bay.

Fry’s home run came one inning after rookie right fielder Jhonkensy Noel hit a two-out, two-run home run of his own to tie the score in the bottom of the ninth and force extra innings. Fantastic defense from Andrés Giménez and Josh Naylor in the top of the 10th kept the score stagnant at 5 runs each.

Bo Naylor opened the inning with a leadoff single to right against former Yankees closer Clay Holmes. He moved into scoring position after a sacrifice bunt by Brayan Rocchio and took third after Steven Kwan sent a grounder back to the mound and Holmes inexplicably threw to first base for the second out.

Holmes then trailed Fry 1-2 before throwing a 96-mph sinker into the strike zone and over the inside portion of the plate to the Guardians All-Star. Fry, who came into the game as a pinch-hitter for Kyle Manzardo in the seventh inning, said he “fainted” after getting a hit on the pitch.

“I just told God, ‘Hey, man, take this.’ “It’s a tough fight…you take the attack,” Fry said. “In situations like that it’s hard to keep your wits about you and just try to act normally, but luckily tonight was a good night.”

Manager Stephen Vogt then praised Fry for what he has meant to the Guardians on the field and in the clubhouse all season, while he struggled with an elbow injury for most of the second half.

“What this guy went through all year, what he gave to this team, the leadership he gave us and facing one of the best pitchers in the game in that moment… was a moment I will never forget.” said Vogt.

Fry had already provided an unforgettable moment in Game 4 of the AL Division Series against Detroit when his narrow home run in the seventh inning gave Cleveland a 5-4 lead.

But after falling behind in the eighth when Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton delivered two home runs off All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase, Fry said the Guardians showed who they were as a team.

“Everyone really loves each other,” Fry said. “We come onto the pitch full of anticipation. It’s like we got punched in the mouth by the best pitcher in baseball, and it’s like he picked us up all year long. It’s time we picked him up.”

Two tough losses to open the series in New York prompted Fry to tell reporters it was time to play guard ball again.

“Bunts, bombs and mayhem,” Fry said. “We talked about that. It felt like we got back to it tonight.”