NEW YORK — In a thrilling match on Tuesday night, the New York Yankees managed to stave off a World Series sweep by the Los Angeles Dodgers, winning 11-4 and forcing a decisive Game 5. This game was marked by Anthony Volpe’s remarkable third-inning grand slam, which overshadowed Freddie Freeman’s historic home run streak.
Freeman, who homered in the first inning, achieved an impressive feat by hitting a two-run homer for a record sixth consecutive game in the World Series, much to the dismay of the Yankee Stadium crowd. New York responded emphatically, pulling ahead 5-2 after a series of strategic plays that included Alex Verdugo’s RBI grounder in the second, followed by Volpe’s powerful drive into the left-field seats against pitcher Daniel Hudson.
In the second inning, Volpe walked after going down 0-2 in the count, marking New York’s first run of the game. He also contributed with a double and successfully stole two bases, showcasing his versatility on the field. The Yankees also saw additional contributions from Austin Wells and Gleyber Torres, both of whom hit home runs, helping the team eclipse the seven runs they had amassed in the initial three games of the series with a five-run explosion in the eighth inning.
The Dodgers attempted to narrow the gap with a two-run fifth, bolstered by Will Smith’s homer off starter Luis Gil, along with an RBI grounder by Freeman. Notably, Freeman avoided a double play after a review overturned an earlier call, cementing his determination despite a sprained right ankle. Wells followed up with a powerful homer in the sixth inning, while Verdugo furthered New York’s lead with an RBI grounder in the eighth, right before Torres hit a three-run homer off Brent Honeywell.
The Yankees’ relief pitching held strong, with Tim Hill, Clay Holmes (who earned the win), Mark Leiter Jr., Luke Weaver, and Tim Mayza combining for five innings of one-hit relief, racking up seven strikeouts. This victory was particularly meaningful for New York, as it avoided a potentially devastating first-ever Series sweep since the 1976 World Series.
Looking ahead, Game 5 is set for Wednesday night, featuring Yankees’ ace Gerrit Cole going against the Dodgers’ Jack Flaherty in a rematch of Game 1. Yankees star Aaron Judge finally made an impact, driving in his first run of the Series with an RBI single in the eighth, though he stands at just 2 for 15 over the four games. Meanwhile, Dodgers sensation Shohei Ohtani has mirrored this struggle with a similar 2 for 15 performance, marking his first hit since partially separating his left shoulder in Game 2.
Historically, 21 of the last 24 teams that took a 3-0 lead in the World Series went on to secure a sweep, with few exceptions that include the 1910 Philadelphia Athletics, the 1937 Yankees, and the 1970 Baltimore Orioles, who all saw their Series end in five games. The 2004 Red Sox uniquely rewrote the narrative by overcoming a 3-0 deficit against the Yankees in the AL Championship Series.
New York’s recent win ended a seven-game World Series losing streak against the Dodgers that dated back to 1981. Interestingly, the Yankees’ initial seven RBIs came from the lower tiers of their batting order, showcasing contributions from Volpe, Wells, and Verdugo who collectively started the series off poorly at 4 for 32 with just three RBIs.
Freeman’s powerful hit came after he belted a slider from Gil over the right-field short porch, also marking his illustrious achievement as the first player to hit home runs in the first four games of a World Series. His streak of six consecutive games with a home run eclipsed the previous record held by Houston’s George Springer. Freeman’s walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning of the series opener had given the Dodgers a crucial 6-3 edge, and this was the first time since then that the Yankees found themselves back in a position to lead.
As they gear up for the final showdown, the Yankees will aim to continue their momentum and shift the Series dynamics against the Dodgers once again.
