Anthony Volpe’s grand slam helps Yankees avoid sweep and force Game 5
The New York Yankees kept their season alive with an 11-4 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 4 of the World Series.
Sports Seriously
NEW YORK — World Series Game 5 will determine what gets cracked open after midnight Wednesday night: Champagne or suitcases.
The New York Yankees extended what looked to be a dormant World Series with a Game 4 rout and now will get a third and final home game at Yankee Stadium, once again with their season on the line. Trailing 3-1 to the Los Angeles Dodgers, they’ll trot out ace Gerrit Cole four days after his solid six-inning outing in Game 1.
The Dodgers will counter with Jack Flaherty, who was dominant in Game 1 before giving up a go-ahead two-run homer to Giancarlo Stanton in the sixth. Ultimately, the Dodgers prevailed on Freddie Freeman’s walk-off grand slam, and he hasn’t stopped hitting homers since.
Perhaps the Yankees will pitch around the slugger who’s gone deep in all four games, including giving the Dodgers 2-0 first-inning leads in both Game 3 and 4.
The Dodgers are seeking their eighth title in franchise history, first since 2020 and first in a full season since 1988.
A Yankee win, and it’s back to L.A. with the Dodgers holding a 3-2 lead, with Game 6 Friday night.
– Gabe Lacques
Keep it here for updates from Wednesday night’s game in the Bronx:
NEW YORK – The New York Yankees gave the Los Angeles Dodgers three extra outs in the fifth inning of World Series Game 5. And that may turn out to be a fatal mistake.
With ace Gerrit Cole working on a no-hitter and sitting on a five-run lead, the Yankees made three egregious misplays, beginning with a muffed fly ball by center fielder Aaron Judge, and culminating in Cole’s failure to cover first base on a grounder to Anthony Rizzo. And the always dangerous Dodgers struck for five runs to tie the game 5-5 heading into the bottom of the fifth.
The big blows ostensibly were struck by Freddie Freeman, who hit a two-run single, and Teoscar Hernandez, who tied the game with a two-run double. Yet those came with an air of inevitability after the Yankees flung the door wide open.
First, Judge, who simply muffed a routine fly from Max Muncy for an error after Kiké Hernandez’s leadoff single. Then, an awkward grounder off Will Smith’s bat into the hole, where Anthony Volpe felt his only play was to third. He bounced the throw for an error.
Cole nearly steadied himself and escaped the bases-loaded jam, striking out Gavin Lux and Shohei Ohtani. Then Mookie Betts topped a grounder down the first base line. It spun and hopped and sliced and hooked and Rizzo stayed down instead of charging it.
Cole did not get off the mound to cover the bag. Betts was safe, it was 5-1 – and moments later, 5-5, all the runs unearned.
NEW YORK – It’s bombs away in the Bronx.
The New York Yankees are sending their home yard out in style in Game 5 of the World Series, as Giancarlo Stanton crushed their third home run of the night to give them a 5-0 lead after three innings.
And it was a blast for the record books: Stanton’s seventh home run marks the most in a single Yankees postseason, although the team’s most decorated legends did not play in the three-round era.
Nonetheless, Stanton’s 105-mph, 385-foot shot off reliever Ryan Brasier created more cushion on a night starter Gerrit Cole is cruising and manager Aaron Boone would love to stay away from his top relievers.
NEW YORK – Jack Flaherty shut out the New York Yankees for five innings of World Series Game 1. In Game 5, they chased him after just 35 pitches and four runs.
And now this World Series may be experiencing a reversal of fortune similar to Flaherty’s.
The Yankees seized a 4-0 lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers after two innings of Game 5, chasing Flaherty after he recorded just four outs. Game 4 hero Anthony Volpe laced a leadoff double in the second and came home on Alex Verdugo’s RBI single hit just over the outstretched glove of second baseman Gavin Lux.
That was enough for Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who went to lefty Anthony Banda to finish the second. The teams have an off day Thursday, so Roberts can once again empty his bullpen after saving his top relievers in a Game 4 loss.
But a 3-0 Series lead is now in danger of becoming 3-2 – much to the Bronx’s delight.
NEW YORK – Aaron Judge sent one deep into the Bronx night, and went a long way toward booking a return flight to Los Angeles.
Judge, the embattled slugger whose flaccid postseason dominated the early portion of this World Series, pushed the New York Yankees closer to life by crushing a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning. Jazz Chisholm made it back-to-back shots off Los Angeles Dodgers starter Jack Flaherty and the Yankees took a 3-0 lead in Game 5 of the World Series.
Judge, who came in batting .152 this postseason and just 2 for 15 with seven strikeouts this World Series, drove a first-pitch fastball from Flaherty 403 feet into the right field seats, sending Yankee Stadium into a bobbing sea of bedlam.
Chisholm then hit that eurostep after crossing home, yanking a Flaherty fastball out to right field. Flaherty started the mess by walking Juan Soto on five pitches.
Yankees starter Gerrit Cole? He enjoyed a seven-pitch first inning. Advantage: Yankees. At least in Game 5.
The New York Yankees face a monumental task in their bid to overcome a 3-0 deficit in this year’s World Series. However, they’ve already defied recent history by taking the first step.
In defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers 11-4 on Tuesday night, the Yankees live to fight another day, with Game 5 on tap Wednesday night in the Bronx.
There have been 25 teams in World Series history who have trailed 3-0. The Yankees are one of just four to have even forced a Game 5. Of those four teams, none has ever made it to a Game 6.
What time is the World Series? Game 5 on Wednesday
First pitch is scheduled for 8:08 p.m. ET on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium.
What channel is the World Series on?
- Gleyber Torres (R) 2B
- Juan Soto (L) RF
- Aaron Judge (R) CF
- Jazz Chisholm Jr. (L) 3B
- Giancarlo Stanton (R) DH
- Anthony Rizzo (L) 1B
- Anthony Volpe (R) SS
- Austin Wells (L) C
- Alex Verdugo (L) LF
- Shohei Ohtani (L) DH
- Mookie Betts (R) RF
- Freddie Freeman (L) 1B
- Teoscar Hernández (R) LF
- Max Muncy (L) 3B
- Enrique Hernández (R) CF
- Tommy Edman (S) SS
- Will Smith (R) C
- Gavin Lux (L) 2B
The two New York Yankees fans who were ejected from Game 4 on Tuesday night for interfering with Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts won’t be back in their seats down the right field line for tonight’s game.
Despite his initial claim made to ESPN, season-ticket holder Austin Capobianco and his friend John Peter will not be allowed back in the ballpark for Game 5 on Wednesday, the Yankees announced.
“The Yankees and Major League Baseball maintain a zero-tolerance policy toward the type of behavior displayed last night,” the Yankees said in a statement. “These fans will not be permitted to attend tonight’s game in any capacity.”
NEW YORK − The electronic board in the New York Yankees clubhouse Tuesday night revealed their strategy in this World Series for everyone to see.
“Win Tomorrow Fly Thursday.”
The Yankees plan to be on that flight to Los Angeles after trouncing the Dodgers, 11-4, and staying alive in the World Series, with their players reiterating the mantra made famous by Kevin Millar of the Boston Red Sox in 2004.
“Don’t Let Us Win Tonight.”
It was the year the Red Sox became the first and only baseball team in postseason history to be down 3 games to 0 and come back and win the series against the Yankees in the ALCS, leading to their first World Series title since 1918.
The documentary of that historic comeback was just released on Netflix.
“I’d like to make another one,” Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo grinned.
− Bob Nightengale
Freddie Freeman has hit four home runs in the World Series − one in each of the first four games. Can tie the record (5) in Game 5? If so, he would joins:
- Reggie Jackson (Yankees, 1977)
- Chase Utley (Phillies, 2009)
- George Springer (Astros, 2017)
Ironically, Jackson’s five home runs came for the Yankees, who defeated the Dodgers in six games. In 2009, the Yankees defeated the Phillies in six games despite Utley’s five home runs. Finally, in 2017, Springer achieved this feat in seven games.
NEW YORK – The champagne was on ice. The Commissioner’s Trophy was lurking, somewhere, in the bowels of Yankee Stadium. And Game 4 of the World Series – and a sweep of the New York Yankees – was there for the taking.
Yet for the Los Angeles Dodgers, trusting the process that guided them to a National League pennant and built a 3-0 lead over New York in this Fall Classic remained paramount.
So, when reliever Daniel Hudson, nursing a one-run lead in the third inning, lost his command and sprayed the ball all over the strike zone, manager Dave Roberts let him ride it out – even as it resulted in a go-ahead grand slam from Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe.
When the Dodgers clawed back to within one run in the fifth inning, the Dodgers’ high-leverage relievers remained holstered – and long man Landon Knack gave up a home run an inning later to Austin Wells.
And then, trailing by just two runs heading into the bottom of the eighth, the last man on the pitching roster, right-hander Brent Honeywell, was tasked with keeping it close – and instead ended up wearing it all, giving up five runs to put the game out of reach.
Game 4 of the World Series was a different animal. With the Dodgers holding a 3-0 Series lead, there’d be no closer Blake Treinen, no fire-balling set-up man Michael Kopech, no Ryan Brasier or deathly lefties Alex Vesia or Anthony Banda – not unless the Dodgers held a lead and could nail down the championship.
“We’ve got all the faith in the world in Doc,” says catcher Will Smith, who hit a solo home run and guided the Dodgers’ four pitchers through this night. “This whole postseason, he’s been doing that, so sticking with him, he’s been doing great.
“We’re just trying to manage this whole series, keep everything fresh and ready to go. Be back tomorrow, everybody will be healthy.”
– Gabe Lacques
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