In a thrilling Game 4 of the World Series, Anthony Volpe’s grand slam lifted the Yankees to an 11-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers, a moment he later admitted came as a shock even to him. The Yankees’ shortstop revealed he was so focused on rounding the bases that he barely saw his home run as it soared over the fence.
“I didn’t know. I was hustling,” the shortstop said after the win. “I didn’t know I got it, but, and then I blacked out right when it went out.”
Volpe’s game-changing swing in the third inning marked a significant turnaround from his earlier play. Just an inning before, he had hesitated on the bases following Austin Wells‘ deep center double, a hesitation that likely cost the Yankees an extra run or kept Wells from turning his hit into a triple.
The grand slam, however, quickly overshadowed any memory of that minor misstep. Volpe continued his impressive performance in the eighth inning, turning a single into a double, stealing third, and crossing home on a fielder’s choice, showcasing his baserunning instincts.
Volpe’s dearest Yankees moment
A native of New Jersey and a lifelong Yankees fan, Volpe’s performance has captured the hearts of New York fans. Yet, its true significance rests on the outcome of the series. In the Yankees’ storied history, individual achievements only gain legendary status when they contribute to championships.
Anthony Volpe’s third-inning grand slam propelled the New York Yankees to an 11-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 4 of the World Series on Tuesday night, keeping their championship hopes alive despite trailing 3-1 in the series.
The rookie shortstop’s blast off reliever Daniel Hudson marked a historic moment, as Volpe became the first player in World Series history to combine four RBIs with two stolen bases in a single game.
The Yankees’ comeback began in the second inning when Volpe worked a walk off Ben Casparius and stole second base. Austin Wells followed with a double to center field, though Volpe’s cautious baserunning limited him to reaching third. Alex Verdugo’s groundout brought Volpe home, cutting the Dodgers’ lead to 2-1.
The decisive third inning unfolded after Hudson hit Aaron Judge with a pitch. Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s single and subsequent stolen base, followed by Giancarlo Stanton’s walk, set the stage for Volpe. The New Jersey native, who grew up admiring Derek Jeter, launched Hudson’s first pitch over the left-field wall, electrifying the Yankee Stadium crowd and giving New York a 5-2 advantage.
Additional home runs from Wells and Gleyber Torres, combined with strong relief pitching, secured the victory and forced Game 5. The Yankees will turn to ace Gerrit Cole on Wednesday as they attempt to extend the series.
Volpe indicated the team’s resilient spirit throughout the season has prepared them for this challenge, expressing their determination to continue fighting. He emphasized the team’s focus on taking the series one game at a time.
“It was just a big game,” Volpe said. “We just wanted to go 1-0 today and win today and see where it took us. “We’ve been through so much the whole year. We’re not going to go down easy at all.”
If the Yankees can make history by rallying from a 3-0 series deficit to claim their 28th title, Volpe’s grand slam may be remembered as the pivotal moment that sparked an unforgettable comeback.
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