Austin Wells admits to ‘lot looser’ motivation after helping Yankees stay afloat

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Austin Wells shifted from a Game 3 bench role to a central figure in the Yankees’ season-saving Game 4 win, helping propel the team to an 11-4 victory over the Dodgers and cutting their World Series deficit to 3-1.

Reflecting on the team’s mindset, Austin Wells noted that facing elimination brought a surprising sense of calm, allowing them to play with a relaxed focus. He emphasized the rarity of a World Series appearance, saying that this perspective helped the Yankees embrace a more carefree approach during the do-or-die matchup.

“The situation we were in [down 3-0], I think that we just kind of needed to say, ‘Screw it’ and go after it and have fun because some guys may never come back to the World Series again,’’ the Yankees’ rookie told after the game. “So we were enjoying the game and I think that allowed us to play a lot looser tonight.”

Austin Wells made his mark early in the game, smashing a double to center in the second inning after Anthony Volpe’s walk against Dodgers opener Ben Casparius. Though Volpe hesitated on the basepaths, stumbling and preventing Wells from notching an RBI, the play still paid off. Moments later, Alex Verdugo’s groundout brought Volpe home, narrowing the Dodgers’ lead by a run.

His contributions reached a peak in the sixth when he launched a leadoff homer, capping an evening of timely hitting and underscoring the Yankees’ determination to stay in the fight. Austin Wells’ performance embodied the resilience that kept New York’s championship hopes alive for at least one more game.

Austin Wells’ Game 4 impact peaked in the sixth inning with a towering home run into Yankee Stadium’s second deck, pushing New York’s lead and providing the bullpen some breathing room as they closed out a victory over the Dodgers.

Remarkably, Austin Wells found unexpected relief after Monday’s loss and his brief stint on the bench, explaining that the 3-0 series deficit lifted some of his personal pressure. He suggested that with the Yankees’ season on the line, it was now the Dodgers who felt the greater weight of finishing the series.

“[Monday] night, I feel like all the pressure just kind of went away — for me at least, personally,’’ Austin Wells said. “We were down 3-0 and it was like I feel like the pressure is on them to win the last game. No one’s done what we’re trying to accomplish, so I think if you put too much pressure on it at this point you’re gonna fail yourself and you’re not gonna enjoy the journey.”

Yankees manager Aaron Boone’s choice to start Jose Trevino over Austin Wells in Game 3 reflected a careful strategy for his young catcher. Boone, in pregame discussions, voiced confidence in Wells’ hitting fundamentals despite his recent struggles, citing his belief in Wells’ ability to deliver when the stakes were highest.

Austin Wells’ stats highlighted his recent challenges at the plate. After hitting successfully in his first two postseason games, he entered Game 4 with just two hits over his last 36 at-bats, including 17 strikeouts across ten games. Against this backdrop, his Game 4 resurgence was timely, underscoring his potential to contribute in must-win moments.

Yankees rally behind Volpe to fight back

The Yankees kept their World Series hopes alive with a commanding 11-4 victory over the Dodgers in Game 4, staving off elimination at Yankee Stadium. The win, while still leaving them down 3-1 in the series, injected new life into their championship bid.

New Jersey native Anthony Volpe was the spark in this comeback, crushing a third-inning grand slam that turned the game around as the Yankees faced a one-run deficit. After the game, Volpe kept a level head, emphasizing the team’s game-by-game focus, though he admitted this moment would be one to share with his family down the line.

Anthony Rizzo set out a hopeful path earlier, pointing to the scheduled Game 5 start by ace Gerrit Cole and a ready Carlos Rodon for a potential Game 6 in Los Angeles, with an anything-goes attitude for a possible Game 7.

Volpe’s slam electrified the 49,354 fans and gave the Yankees their first lead since extra innings in Game 1, putting them up 5-2. While the Dodgers clawed back to 5-4 with two runs off Luis Gil in the fifth, the Yankees bullpen held its ground.

Relievers Tim Hill, Clay Holmes, Mark Leiter Jr., Luke Weaver, and Tim Mayza combined for five shutout innings, while the Yankees’ offense pulled away. Austin Wells’ solo homer in the sixth, followed by Gleyber Torres’ three-run shot as part of a five-run eighth, turned the game into a blowout. 

This late surge saved Weaver from an extended appearance, preserving his availability for Game 5. Aaron Judge capped off the night with an RBI single, wrapping up a much-needed team effort to keep the series alive.

Anthony Volpe took center stage in Game 4, thrilling Yankees fans with an all-around performance that showcased his talent and composure under pressure. Volpe’s night was packed with highlights: two hits, a double, a walk, two stolen bases, three runs scored, and flawless defensive work. His biggest moment came in the third inning with a two-out grand slam off Dodgers reliever Daniel Hudson, who had just entered the game.

Volpe launched Hudson’s low slider just over the left-field wall, a moment that he said felt like a childhood dream come true. In the aftermath, Volpe admitted he “blacked out” as the ball sailed out, a sentiment that resonated with the roaring crowd, reinforcing the budding bond between the young star and Yankees fans.

Manager Aaron Boone likened the eruption to classic Yankee Stadium playoff electricity, while Alex Verdugo called it a release of the team’s pent-up energy in the dugout.

The Dodgers cut the lead to 5-4 in the fifth, but Austin Wells answered in the sixth with a crucial solo home run. Wells, bouncing back from a .093 postseason slump, went 2-for-3 with a double and a walk in an impactful showing.

The game started as a tough battle for the Yankees after Freddie Freeman’s two-run homer off Luis Gil in the first inning, continuing his powerful streak in the series. But New York responded with grit, keeping their season alive.

With their confidence renewed, Verdugo voiced the team’s determination to bring the series back to Los Angeles, fueled by their first win in the Fall Classic.

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