Spanish broadcast call of Guardians’ Jhonkensy Noel’s two-out game tying homer was electric: ‘Feliz Navidad’
The Guardians and Yankees Game 3 was one of the best playoff games in recent memory. It provided all the dramatic moments from the Yankees’ Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton hitting back-to-back homers off American League Cy Young Award candidate Emmanuel Clase in the eighth inning.
The two homers put the Yankees in the lead, and it was looking like the 32,000 fans in attendance at Progressive Field were about to see their team fall down to 3-0 in the ALCS.
With their backs against the wall and two outs in the ninth inning, Yankees closer Luke Weaver was ready to shut the door on Cleveland. Guardians’ Jhonkensy Noel stepped to the plate, and with a runner on third, he sent an 88-mph changeup from Weaver 404 feet into the left field bleachers, in the process tying the game 5-5.
The Spanish broadcast call of the home run was as electric as home run calls come. Noel, who is nicknamed “Big Christmas,” sent the broadcasters and fans into a frenzy.
Rafa Hernández-Brito’s call of Noel’s home run went viral following the huge game tying moment after he started yelling “Feliz Navidad.”
Hernández-Brito usually sings a rendition of “Dulce Navidad,” according to Chad Jennings of The Athletic.
“I don’t know why I changed it this time, but I have my best impression of José Feliciano doing Feliz Navidad!” Hernández-Brito said after the game. “But it felt like Christmas!”
Noel’s homer wasn’t the only huge moment of the game; Guardians catcher David Fry hit a two-run walk-off homer in the 10th inning, and Cleveland is back in the series, down 2-games-to-1.
