Stanton: Yankees successful against Clase because they're not 'scared'

The New York Yankees are having a lot of success against Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase in the postseason, and Giancarlo Stanton says it has to do with their mentality against the normally dominant reliever.

"Not being scared, not being intimidated, just going in there with the right proper plan," Stanton said after the Yankees' 8-6 win in Game 4 on Friday, according to MLB.com's Bryan Hoch.

"It's going to be a tough at-bat, we know that, but this game is tough, and we need runs."

The Yankees scored two earned runs, including the eventual game-winner, against Clase in the ninth inning of Friday's win. It was the second consecutive game in which New York got to the Guardians closer after Aaron Judge and Stanton hit back-to-back homers off him in Game 3.

The poor Game 3 outing from Clase prompted him to flaunt his MLB awards on social media in response to criticism he's received during the playoffs.

Clase said after Friday's loss that he isn't executing in the same way as he was during the regular season but remains confident in himself moving forward.

"I'm not losing my confidence," Clase said, according to ESPN's Bradford Doolittle. "I'm going to give my best. It's something that I'm surprised about, what's happening."

Despite Clase owning a 27.00 ERA in the championship series following Friday's outing, Stanton isn't thinking any less of the pitcher or the Guardians as the Yankees look to close out the ALCS and advance to their first World Series since 2009.

"As far as I'm concerned, we haven't done nothing," Stanton said. "We'll enjoy this for now, but we've got to get it done tomorrow and on to the next."