NEW YORK — The Yankees finally won their first World Series in front of a rocking Bronx crowd and, in doing so, reminded everyone that they are not going down without a fight. Whether it was the pressure of competing in the playoffs and pitching, or seeing more relief arms and capitalizing on the Dodgers’ bullpen, the Yankees’ 11-4 victory Tuesday night was just what they needed to regain their confidence. in the Fall Classic.
After all, they are the best team in the American League for a reason.
Here are the four biggest takeaways from Game 4 in the Bronx.
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1. Volpe’s signature Yankees minute
It was great, redeeming Anthony Volpe. One inning after he didn’t score on second base double Austin Wells, the chance to atone for his mistake was his when the Yankees, trailing 2-1, loaded the bases in the third. The Yankees were finding ways to get on base, but they still needed that big, and it looked unlikely that they would be able to capitalize after Anthony Rizzo walked out with the bases loaded in the second. But it was also clear that Daniel Hudson, who was the second man out of the bullpen for the Dodgers, was not having it.
Volpe rode the first pitch Hudson gave him, an 89 mph slider that hit the ground before the Yankees shortstop blocked it in left field. The fans couldn’t believe it as the ball kept falling over the head of Teoscar Hernández, who is sharp on the left and landed on the seats. It wasn’t until it landed safely over the left-field wall that the anxious home crowd of 49,354 finally erupted for the first time in the World Series.
Volpe’s grand slam gave the Yankees a lead they would never relinquish. His first home run of his postseason career was his second since Aug. 4. – Deesha Thosar
2. Freeman you do it again
No, that wasn’t a replay. Freddie Freeman had no extra hits, one run and one RBI in the first two rounds of the postseason. He was too sprained on his ankle to play in Game 6 of the NLCS decider against the Dodgers, and there were questions about his valiant effort to be in the lineup — despite his obvious pain, and despite how painful it seemed. forcing his teammates, who praised the daily efforts to enter the field – doing more harm than good.
The Yankees have yet to see that version of the All-Star first baseman. The bye week transformed Freeman from a singles hitter into a slugging juggernaut. His teammates thought he was having a stroke and watched him take batting practice a few days before the start of the World Series, watching him line baseballs over the shortstop the way he usually does when he swings right.
The Yankees didn’t get that version of Freeman either. Instead, they saw the historic postseason pacer at home. Freeman hit the first walk slam in World Series history in Game 1, added a solo shot in Game 2, silenced the Yankee Stadium crowd in the first inning of Game 3 with a two-run shot, and again . in Game 4. In the process, Freeman — who also homered in the final two games of the Braves’ 2021 title game — has set a major league record by hitting in six consecutive World Series games.
He has now played in four games in a row to start this World Series. At the time of his Game 4 outburst, Freeman had scored more runs in the series than the entire Yankees team. His 10 RBIs are the most by any Dodger player in the World Series. This time, however, it was no joke that it was Game 3, as the Yankees’ lineup fought back. – Rowan Kavner
3. With a little help from the Judge’s friends
It was hard to imagine the Yankees getting one win out of this World Series without one of two things happening: Either Aaron Judge wakes up, or the guys who have been carrying him all year finally give him that support. It was the final Tuesday, as the Yankees’ order finally put together some quality at-bats for the first time in the series. Austin Wells, one of the Yankees’ best hitters in July and August and who played his way into the American League Rookie of the Year discussion, blasted a solo shot to right field in the sixth inning for some much-needed insurance. That homer came after an impressive at-bat in the second inning, when he doubled off the center field.
There is no safe lead with the Dodgers in the other dugout, as the Yankees learned the hard way in Game 1. That may explain New York’s five-run outburst in the eighth inning, when Volpe and Wells reached safely again to set the table. Gleyber Torres’ three-run home run. Amazingly, the Yankees scored their first 10 runs in the game without Juan Soto or Judge playing a prominent role. — Thozar
4. The Dodgers’ bullpen game is going south fast
Tuesday was the fourth bullpen game of the postseason for the Dodgers. The first, in closing Game 4 of the NLDS, was clinical, with eight different pitchers combining to hold the Padres scoreless in an 8-0 shutout that came amid the Dodgers’ record 33-game hitting streak. landing staff.
The last three have not gone well, including the first of the World Series on Tuesday in the Bronx. With four chances to win one game, manager Dave Roberts decided against bringing out all of his top pieces as he needed to in a do-or-die first game in San Diego. It looked a lot like Game 2 of the NLCS, where, after the Mets tagged Landon Knack for five runs, the Dodgers actually hit. Roberts didn’t want to tire out his leadoff arm in a long series, and he didn’t want the Mets to look at those arms again in a playoff situation. The move eventually paid off.
It was a similar situation on Tuesday against the Yankees. While Roberts said everyone is available, it’s clear he’ll need the length of rookies Ben Casparius and Knack and will decide who to use based on the state of the game from there. “Everybody will have costs going forward,” Roberts said. Michael Kopech had pitched in each of the first three games. Blake Treinen, Anthony Banda, Alex Vesia and Brusdar Graterol had two goals each. Neither of them saw the pitch after Volpe hit Daniel Hudson and put the Yankees in the driver’s seat.
Roberts has pushed a lot of the right buttons so far this October, so we’ll see if saving his best guys for Game 5 and beyond was the right call once again. – Rowan Kavner
Deesha Thosar is an MLB reporter for FOX Sports. He previously covered the Mets as a beat reporter for the New York Daily News. The daughter of Indian immigrants, Deesha grew up on Long Island and now lives in Queens. Follow him on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar.
Rowan Kavner is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. He previously covered the LA Dodgers, LA Clippers and Dallas Cowboys. An LSU grad, Rowan was born in California, raised in Texas, and returned to the West Coast in 2014. Follow him on Twitter at @RowanKavner.
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