Anthony Volpe’s Grand Slam Sparks Yankees’ Comeback in World Series Game 4 Win Over Dodgers
For a couple of hours on Tuesday night, Anthony Volpe lived out his wildest dreams in Game 4 of the World Series. The New York Yankees’ homegrown shortstop, a lifelong fan who grew up in New York and New Jersey, delivered a critical grand slam to keep the Yankees alive against the Los Angeles Dodgers, powering an 11-4 win that cut the series deficit to 3-1.
Volpe’s grand slam, a scorching 107.6 mph drive, sailed over Yankee Stadium’s left-field wall in the third inning, propelling the Yankees to a lead they never lost. This slam came full circle for Volpe, who once watched the Yankees’ 2009 championship parade as an 8-year-old and was now leading the charge on the field himself.
In the ninth inning, with victory in sight, chants of “VOL-PE! VOL-PE!” echoed from the Bleacher Creatures and throughout the stadium, reaching the 23-year-old as he stood at shortstop. That moment, he admitted, topped even the grand slam itself: “Definitely No. 1.”
Yankees’ Offensive Spark Comes Just in Time
The Yankees had struggled offensively in the first three games, scoring only seven runs and missing multiple opportunities to take control. After going down 10-0 in Game 3, they found themselves in desperate need of a big moment. The early game didn’t seem promising either, as Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman extended his home-run streak to six consecutive World Series games, leaving the Yankees trailing.
Then, in the third inning, with the bases loaded and two outs, Volpe stepped up. Dodgers reliever Daniel Hudson had hit Aaron Judge, allowed a single to Jazz Chisholm Jr., and walked Giancarlo Stanton, loading the bases. After Anthony Rizzo popped out, Volpe came to the plate with the Yankees’ season on the line. Recognizing Hudson’s slider, he launched the ball over the fence, igniting the crowd and the Yankees’ offense.
“I think I pretty much blacked out as soon as I saw it go over the fence,” Volpe said, reflecting on the game-changing moment.
A Historic Swing and Series-Reviving Momentum
Volpe’s slam was more than just a crucial hit; it was historic. At 23, Volpe became the youngest Yankee to hit a World Series grand slam since Mickey Mantle in 1953. His homer energized the dugout and brought a needed sense of relief. “That big hit, we’ve been looking for it,” said Alex Verdugo. “Everybody could play free and easy again.”
Though the Dodgers narrowed the gap to 6-4 in the fifth inning, New York’s bullpen stifled them the rest of the way. The Yankees’ relievers combined to keep Los Angeles hitless over the final four innings, giving the offense room to build on its lead.
Austin Wells, struggling at 4-for-43 in the postseason, added a solo homer in the sixth inning, while Gleyber Torres broke the game open in the eighth with a three-run blast, part of a five-run inning that put the game out of reach. The late surge allowed Yankees manager Aaron Boone to preserve Luke Weaver for Game 5, a critical move as the Yankees try to claw back from a 3-0 series deficit.
A Season on the Line and a Career-Defining Night
Volpe’s dramatic performance followed a challenging start to his postseason. Entering Game 4, he was just 1-for-12 in the World Series. But after a strong showing in the ALCS, where he batted .310 with an .804 OPS, Volpe remained confident. His powerful swing and clutch performances have been a key component of the Yankees’ resilience.
Reflecting on the unforgettable night, Volpe acknowledged his dream finally realized in front of family, friends, and the iconic Yankee Stadium crowd: “It’s my dream, but it was all my friends’ dreams, all my cousins’ dreams, probably my sister’s dream too.”
With the series still at 3-1, Volpe knows there’s more work ahead, but Tuesday night was a reminder of his immense impact on this Yankees team. “Winning the World Series was first and foremost by far. Nothing else compares. So we still got a lot of work to do.”