Anthony Volpe Grand Slam, Yankees Offense Energize MLB Fans in WS G4 Win vs. Dodgers
Joseph Zucker@@JosephZucker
Featured Columnist IVOctober 30, 2024
The New York Yankees aren't waving the white flag just yet.
The Bronx Bombers extended the 2024 World Series with an 11-4 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 4 on Tuesday night.
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman quickly quieted the Yankee Stadium crowd with a two-run homer in the first.
The home team got a run back in the second before shortstop Anthony Volpe hit a grand slam in the third.
After the Dodgers trimmed their deficit to one run, Yankees catcher Austin Wells gave his team some breathing room with a solo shot.
The American League champions tacked on additional insurance runs in the eighth, three of which came off the bat of second baseman Gleyber Torres.
Volpe is an example of the fine margins between being the hero or the goat in the postseason.
In the bottom of the second, it looked like he might've cost New York a run with his sloppy baserunning. What could've been an RBI triple by Wells was instead a double that put runners on second and third. While Volpe scored on a fielder's choice, the Yankees only got one run when they might've been able to tie the game.
All was forgiven when Volpe went yard.
New York needed some unsung heroes to step up considering Juan Soto, Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton combined to have two hits, both of which came when the outcome was pretty much decided.
The supporting cast more than delivered to compensate.
Because Dodgers manager Dave Roberts made this a bullpen game from the outset, there was always the chance it would get away from Los Angeles in a big way. New York's offensive outburst could prove to be an anomaly.
Ask the San Diego Padres how much a blowout victory against the Dodgers can mean toward the series as a whole.
Jack Flaherty is scheduled to oppose Gerrit Cole on Wednesday night. The L.A. right-hander has allowed 14 earned runs in 20.2 innings in these playoffs. If the Yankees can jump on Flaherty early, their seemingly impossible comeback bid gets a little bit closer to a reality.