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In the upcoming Game 5, the Yankees’ ace Gerrit Cole will take the mound against the Dodgers’ Jack Flaherty, marking a rematch of their earlier encounter in the series. In Game 1, Cole surrendered only one run over six-plus innings, while Flaherty allowed two runs in 5 1/3 innings, which included a two-run homer from Giancarlo Stanton.
NEW YORK (AP) — Fifteen years after young Anthony Volpe witnessed the Yankees parade with the World Series trophy, he stepped up to save their season, reigniting hopes for an unlikely championship run.
The Yankees found themselves on the brink of being swept in the World Series when Freddie Freeman hit yet another first-inning home run that put pressure on the team early in the game.
However, Volpe, a 23-year-old New York native with a family legacy of Yankees fandom, changed the game with a knee-high slider. His pivotal third-inning grand slam propelled the Yankees to an 11-4 victory against the Los Angeles Dodgers, forcing a decisive Game 5.
“The place was shaking. I literally felt the ground shake,” said Yankees catcher Austin Wells, reflecting on the electric atmosphere in the stadium.
Wells and Gleyber Torres contributed to the surge with their own home runs, helping the Yankees to score five runs in a decisive eighth inning and showcasing their revived confidence after only scoring seven runs in the first three games of the series. Wells celebrated the victory wearing a “Fully Operational Death Star” Yankees T-shirt, a nod to general manager Brian Cashman’s 2018 remark.
During the ninth inning, enthusiastic fans chanted Volpe’s name, a testament to his impact on the game.
“This is what it feels like to see Yankee Stadium truly erupt during a World Series game,” remarked Yankees manager Aaron Boone after his first win in the World Series. “When Anthony hit that ball, it was incredible to witness.”
Post-Monday’s loss, Wells expressed a sense of relief about their situation: “Why not go out tomorrow and have fun?” he said, highlighting the shift in their mindset.
Freeman added to his impressive postseason record with a home run for the sixth consecutive game, hitting a slider from rookie Luis Gil into the right-field short porch after Mookie Betts doubled. Freeman made history by becoming the first player to homer in the first four games of a World Series, extending his streak of home runs in six straight games, surpassing Houston’s George Springer, who set a record in 2017 and 2019.
“I’ll reflect on this later, hopefully after we win tomorrow,” Freeman stated. “It’s pretty special, and I hope to continue it.”
As the Yankees surged forward, they found themselves ahead 5-2, aided by Alex Verdugo’s RBI grounder in the second inning and Volpe’s powerful hit against Daniel Hudson, which sent the first pitch soaring into the left-field stands. “I pretty much blacked out as soon as I saw it go over the fence,” Volpe admitted, excitement evident in his voice.
In what became a historic performance, Volpe became the first player in World Series history to record a grand slam and steal two bases in a single game. He also was just 8 years old when the Yankees last won the World Series.
Volpe, who had a moment of frustration during the game for failing to score on Wells’ double, demonstrated resilience and skill as he walked and scored New York’s first run after falling behind 0-2 in the second inning.
“They’re going to fight,” emphasized Betts. “When you make it this far, you’re dealing with a resilient team that will keep fighting.”
Despite a late rally from Los Angeles, closing the gap to 6-4 thanks to Will Smith’s homer off Gil and an RBI grounder from Freeman, the Yankees held on. Freeman, battling through a sprained right ankle, managed to outrun a relay throw that initially was called out but overturned after a video review.
Wells added a second-deck homer in the sixth off Landon Knack, followed by Verdugo’s RBI grounder, wrapped up with Torres’ three-run homer off Brent Honeywell in the eighth inning. Yankees relievers Clay Holmes, Mark Leiter Jr., Luke Weaver, and Tim Mayza combined for five scoreless innings with seven strikeouts, preventing what would have been the Yankees’ first Series sweep since 1976.
“Having six guys in the bullpen feeling good and rested is a big advantage,” commented Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.
Historically, 21 of the last 24 teams that took a 3-0 Series lead went on to achieve a sweep. The only exceptions were the 1910 Philadelphia Athletics, the 1937 Yankees, and the 1970 Baltimore Orioles, all of which ended their Series in five games. Notably, the 2004 Boston Red Sox remain the sole team to overcome a 3-0 deficit in any playoff series, defeating the Yankees in the AL Championship Series.
In the eighth inning, Yankees captain Aaron Judge brought in his first run of the Series with an RBI single, though he has struggled, with just 2 hits in 15 at-bats this series. Similarly, Dodgers’ star Shohei Ohtani is also at 2 for 15 after recording a single—his first hit since partially separating his left shoulder in Game 2.
The Yankees ended a seven-game Series losing streak against the Dodgers that dated back to 1981, and it was encouraging to see the bottom three hitters—Volpe, Wells, and Verdugo—contribute significantly by driving in the team’s first seven RBIs after struggling in previous games.
After the game, Volpe was interviewed by former Yankees captain Derek Jeter, who is now a broadcaster for Fox. “This is my dream, and it’s also the dream of my friends, cousins, and probably my sister. But winning the World Series is the ultimate goal, above all else. We still have a lot of work ahead,” Volpe shared.
Former Red Sox star David Ortiz, also a Fox commentator, gifted Volpe a shirt that he said is now in his locker. “I can’t wear it—it has his and Red Sox stuff on it,” Volpe joked.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB
