Anthony Volpe, shortstop for the New York Yankees, celebrated as he rounded the bases after hitting a grand slam that helped lead the team to an 11-4 win against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 4 of the World Series on Tuesday. (Photo by Frank Franklin II/AP)
Anthony Volpe’s thrilling third-inning grand slam helped revive the struggling New York Yankees and brought them an 11-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers, keeping the Yankees in the World Series and forcing a Game 5. This much-needed win allowed the Yankees to dodge a series sweep and reignited hope among fans.
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman had an incredible night himself, extending his record-breaking streak with home runs in six consecutive World Series games. Freeman’s two-run homer in the first inning put the Dodgers up early and silenced the crowd at Yankee Stadium. However, the Yankees turned things around in the second inning, with Alex Verdugo’s RBI grounder and Volpe’s grand slam off Daniel Hudson in the third, sending the ball deep into left field.
Reflecting on his momentous home run, Volpe admitted he was focused on hustling and didn’t immediately realize he’d hit it out of the park. His strong performance wasn’t limited to his grand slam—Volpe also contributed as a baserunner, scoring after working his way on base and avoiding a costly baserunning error.
Gleyber Torres and Austin Wells further boosted the Yankees’ momentum, each hitting homers of their own to help secure the win. New York’s offence, previously sluggish with only seven runs over the first three games, finally exploded with five additional runs in the eighth inning, putting the game well out of reach for the Dodgers.
Though Los Angeles kept the game close for a while, closing in at 6-4 by the fifth inning, the Yankees’ relievers dominated, limiting the Dodgers to just one hit in the last five innings. Winning pitcher Clay Holmes and his fellow bullpen teammates delivered an outstanding performance, combining for seven strikeouts and sealing the game for New York. Yankees Manager Aaron Boone was pleased with his team’s resurgence and optimistic about their upcoming match.
Freeman’s notable home run marked the first time a player has homered in four consecutive World Series games, breaking records held by George Springer. Meanwhile, Yankees’ slugger Aaron Judge managed his first RBI of the series in the eighth, while Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani struggled, going 1-for-4. Both players have had a difficult series, each hitting just 2-for-15 across the first four games.
The Yankees’ win was especially meaningful given their losing streak in Series games against the Dodgers, dating back to 1981. Volpe, Wells, and Verdugo—batting at the bottom of the lineup—provided the bulk of the offence with seven RBIs, defying expectations. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts acknowledged the Yankees’ resilience and remained confident in his bullpen for the next game.
Game 5 will see Yankees ace Gerrit Cole face off against the Dodgers’ Jack Flaherty in a rematch of Game 1. With the Yankees now striving to become the first team to overcome a 3-0 World Series deficit, fans are eagerly anticipating whether New York’s revived energy can continue.
