Yankees Keep World Series Hopes Alive, Delay Dodgers’ Celebration with Thrilling Game 4 Win
NEW YORK - They are a team of giants, but one of their slightest figures kept their season alive.
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Yankees Fight Back in World Series, Force a Game 5 with a Thrilling Game 4 Victory
In a do-or-die moment, the New York Yankees delivered a stunning performance to keep their World Series hopes alive. In Game 4, facing elimination at the hands of the Los Angeles Dodgers, it wasn’t the usual powerhouses like Aaron Judge or Giancarlo Stanton who stole the show — it was their 5-foot-9 shortstop, Anthony Volpe, who provided the fireworks with a dramatic grand slam in the third inning. His clutch hit ignited the home crowd and turned the tide of the game, leading to an 11-4 Yankees triumph at Yankee Stadium.
The Yankees, who were down 3-1 in the series, now shift momentum as they hand the ball to ace Gerrit Cole for Game 5. Cole will look to push the series back to Los Angeles, keeping alive their dreams of a World Series comeback.
The Dodgers, who remain just one win away from their eighth franchise title, started Game 4 with the familiar dominance of Freddie Freeman, who crushed his fourth home run in as many games. His two-run blast in the first inning gave L.A. an early lead, but it was quickly neutralized. Despite the Dodgers' bullpen game strategy — their fourth of this postseason — reliever Daniel Hudson struggled in the third inning. With erratic command, he hit Judge, allowed a single to Jazz Chisholm, and walked Stanton before Volpe stepped up and sent a booming grand slam into left field, electrifying the packed stadium of 49,354 fans.
What followed was a tense battle, with the Yankees holding on to a narrow 6-4 lead until the eighth inning. The Dodgers opted to save their key relievers, allowing the Yankees to blow the game open with a five-run rally in the bottom of the eighth. Gleyber Torres’ three-run homer and Judge’s first RBI of the series extended the Yankees’ lead, effectively sealing the victory.
The Yankees' bullpen was stellar throughout the night, combining for five innings of one-hit relief. Closer Luke Weaver delivered crucial outs in the seventh and eighth innings, including a pivotal strikeout of Mookie Betts with the tying run at the plate.
As the series heads into Game 5, the Yankees are determined to keep the champagne on ice for the Dodgers, prolonging the celebration and keeping their World Series dreams alive for at least one more game.
– Gabe Lacques
This thrilling victory not only showcased the Yankees' resilience but reminded everyone why postseason baseball is always full of surprises.