New York Yankees offense explodes against Los Angeles Dodgers to prevent elimination in Game 4 of World Series

CNN
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Struggling through the first three games of the World Series, the New York Yankees’ offense exploded Tuesday night, using three home runs to stave off elimination at Yankee Stadium.

The Yankees beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 11-4 In Game 4, Los Angeles spoiled a historic night for Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman. The Bronx Bombers’ 11 runs were more than the team had scored in the previous three games combined.

Down 2-1 in the third inning, Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe, a New York native playing for his boyhood team, hit a grand slam off Daniel Hudson to make it 5-2. It was a lead the Yankees would not relinquish.

After the match, Volpe was asked about the Grand Slam.

“I think I blacked out a lot when I saw it go over the fence. We just wanted to keep putting pressure on them and I think everybody had hope that somebody was going to get a big hit,” Volpe said.

“We’ve been having such good at-bats and putting such good swings on the ball that we felt it was just a matter of time.”

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he was happy for the fans following Volpe’s slam.

“I was happy last night because it felt like the fans were ready to explode and we fell behind and couldn’t punch things in. It’s like you finally see the first pitch in Yankee Stadium in a World Series game,” Boone told reporters.

“When Anthony hit that ball, it was fun to watch Yankee Stadium explode. Like waiting 48 hours to do it. Then the way the game went on, just the energy, the noise, the excitement. It’s a World Series game at Yankee Stadium.

The Dodgers now lead the series three games to one. Los Angeles has another chance to capture the franchise’s eighth championship when the two teams play Game 5 in New York on Wednesday.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the team will be ready.

“I think they beat us. Volpe played well. They took advantage of a couple of free passes. They got it right later,” Roberts said afterward. “I think we could have done some things a little earlier to get them in the pen.

“Again, at the end of the day, we’re still in a good place and we feel good. We’re ready to go tomorrow.

The match started off promisingly for the visitors as Freeman continued his hot World Series run.

The first baseman set a World Series record after homering in his sixth straight Fall Classic game. Freeman hit a two-run homer off Yankees starter Louis Gill in the first inning to give the Dodgers an early 2-0 lead. He finished 1-4 with three RBIs.

Freeman homered in Games 5 and 6 as a member of the 2021 World Series champion Atlanta Braves against the Houston Astros. On Monday, he joined Astros outfielder George Springer as the only player to hit a homer in five straight games.

The 35-year-old became the first player to hit a homer and have at least 10 RBIs in the first four games of the World Series.

The Dodgers would score twice in the top of the fifth to cut the deficit to 5-4 and cut into the lead provided by Wolfe’s slam. But in the top of the sixth, Yankees catcher Austin Wells connected on a solo homer to extend New York’s lead to 6-4.

In the eighth, Volpe once again provided the heroics — this time with his speed. He turned a single into a double with his wheels before stealing third base. When left fielder Alex Verdugo hit a sharp ground ball to second base, Volpe sprinted home and his head-first slide beat the tag of catcher Will Smith to make it a 7-4 game.

A batter later, Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres put an exclamation point on the game with a three-run home run, Wells — who walked — and Verdugo to make the score 10-4.

But New York wasn’t done yet. Right fielder Juan Soto continued his solid streak with Torres’ homer and center fielder Aaron Judge — who had struggled mightily in the series — drove him in with a hard base hit into left field.

The offensive breakout gives Yankees fans hope for one of the most anticipated editions of the Fall Classic in recent years between two of the game’s most legendary franchises.

Jack Flaherty, who had a stellar game for the Dodgers in Game 1, is back in line to hold the rubber while New York’s top starter, Gerrit Cole, takes the mound on Wednesday.

This story has been updated with additional information