Volpe's grand slam helps Yankees avert World Series sweep
Anthony Volpe delivered a grand slam, enabling the New York Yankees to avoid a sweep in the World Series with an 11-4 triumph over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday. Volpe's home run in the third inning provided the Yankees with a 5-2 lead, marking their first advantage since the opening game.
Additional home runs from Gleyber Torres and Austin Wells contributed to New York's commanding victory.
"I pretty much blacked out as soon as I saw it go over the fence," Volpe remarked. "Everyone had confidence that someone was going to get the big hit... when the guys have confidence in you, I feel like you could do anything."
With this win, the Yankees narrowed the series to 3-1 in the best-of-seven Major League Baseball championship, with game five scheduled for Wednesday at Yankee Stadium.
"We demonstrated our potential as a team," Torres stated. "We'll aim to maintain that momentum. We will approach tomorrow as if it is our last opportunity."
Historically, no team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit to win the World Series, yet the Yankees became the first team in 54 years to force a fifth game after being down 0-3.
"It's going to take a lot," Wells acknowledged. "No one has achieved what we are attempting to do."
New York thwarted the Dodgers' pursuit of an eighth World Series title and their first since 2020, while simultaneously keeping alive the Yankees' aspirations for their first championship since 2009 and their 28th overall.
"It's beneficial to have pressure," Wells commented. "It indicates that we are in a favorable position and that people are relying on you, so I embrace the pressure."
Wells, at 25, became the youngest Yankees catcher to hit a home run in the World Series, having previously struggled with a 4-for-43 performance in the playoffs.
"I just said screw it, we're down three and just went out there," Wells reflected. "I just blacked out. I don't really know what I did."
In a record-setting performance, Los Angeles first baseman Freddie Freeman hit a two-run homer in the first inning, becoming the first player to hit home runs in the first four games of a World Series.
Freeman, who hit a walk-off grand slam to secure victory in the first game, has surpassed George Springer by establishing a new record for home runs in six consecutive World Series games, which includes the final two games from his 2021 championship run with Atlanta.
In the first inning, Mookie Betts hit a double and subsequently scored on Freeman's home run. He also made an impressive catch in foul territory, despite a Yankees fan attempting to interfere by pulling the ball from his glove.
In the second inning, Volpe scored from third base following Alex Verdugo's ground out, but the most significant moment was yet to unfold.
The game shifted in the third inning when the Yankees loaded the bases, setting the stage for Volpe, who launched a grand slam into the centerfield stands, giving the Yankees a 5-2 lead.
"Establishing an early lead was crucial, and he provided that with one swing, which was monumental," Wells remarked. "It enabled us to maintain our advantage and continue to be aggressive at the plate."
This marked the sixth grand slam of the current playoffs, setting a new MLB record.
In the fifth inning, Will Smith brought the Dodgers closer with a solo home run, and Los Angeles added another run after a video replay overturned a call, declaring Freeman safe at first base, which allowed Tommy Edman to score from third, narrowing the score to 5-4.
However, Wells hit a home run in the sixth, and the Yankees extended their lead in the eighth inning as Volpe doubled, stole third, and beat the throw home from second base to score. Torres contributed with a three-run homer, and Juan Soto doubled and scored on a single by Judge.
"It was fantastic to see so many players contributing," Yankees manager Aaron Boone stated. "Our pitchers performed admirably, and the defense was solid. It was a great night for us, and we look forward to another opportunity tomorrow."
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