It was less a calculated Cleveland threat and more a series of events that were not breaking right for Max Fried.
After two quick first-inning outs, José Ramírez flared a broken-bat looper in front of third baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. for an infield single.
Fried tried to pick him off, but first baseman Ben Rice couldn’t handle the dart that moved Ramírez to second.
Ramírez more cleanly stole third, and Fried could not finish off David Fry, who took first base when a full-count curveball from Fried went awry.
Fry stole second, and Fried engaged in a long, eight-pitch battle with Carlos Santana, the game feeling — for a second straight start and for really only the second time this season — as if Fried might lack complete control.
But like the lefty’s gorgeous curveball, which looks as if it slips out of his hand before it begins its plunge, the night abruptly reversed.
Arguably the best pitcher in the American League escaped that first-inning jam by inducing a pop-up to Santana, which essentially was the first and only Guardians chance against Fried in a 4-0, series-clinching Yankees victory in front of 41,665 in The Bronx on Thursday.
The Yankees (38-23) have won eight of their past nine series and matched a high-water mark in reaching 15 games over .500.
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After a snoozer of a shutout loss Wednesday, the Yankees bounced back.
And after Fried endured a rough day at Dodger Stadium on Friday, he, too, showed resilience.