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.

In a recent game, Fry successfully stole second base. Following this, Fried found himself in a challenging situation facing Carlos Santana in an intense eight-pitch showdown. This game felt different compared to his previous starts, as Fried seemed to struggle with maintaining full control for only the second time this season.

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.

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.