Yankees Take Game 4
The Yankees won Game 4 of the 120th World Series, 11-4, behind a trio of home runs including a grand slam from Anthony Volpe, a solo blast from Austin Wells and a three-run shot from Gleyber Torres. The Yankees brought the series back to 3-1, marking the third time that they have trailed 3-1 in the World Series, joining: 1958 against Milwaukee (4-3 series win); and 1942 against St. Louis (4-1 series loss).
The only club to ever climb out of a 3-0 hole in a best-of-seven series is the 2004 Red Sox, who won Games 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the 2004 ALCS against the Yankees en route to winning the World Series. There has not been a sweep in 12 consecutive World Series, with the last sweep coming by the Giants in the 2012 World Series over the Tigers. 12 consecutive World Series without a sweep is tied for the longest stretch in World Series history, behind a 12-year streak from 1977-1988 which saw no teams record a World Series sweep.
World Series at 3-1
The Dodgers hold a 3-1 lead in the World Series for the third time after previously sitting at 3-1 in 1988 against Oakland (4-1 series win); and 1959 against Chicago (4-2 series win). Teams with a 3-0 series lead have won the World Series in Game 4 21 times, with the four exceptions being the Dodgers in 2024 against the Yankees; the Orioles in 1970 against the Reds; the Yankees in 1937 against the Giants; and the Athletics in 1910 against the Cubs. All three previous clubs went on to win the World Series in Game 5.
It is the 51st time that the World Series has sat at 3-1, with the winner of Game 5 in those series going on to win the World Series 35 times (70.0 %). Overall, the winner of Game 5 has gone on to win the World Series 67 times (68.4%).
Volpe Tees Off
Anthony Volpe put the Yankees into the lead with a two-out grand slam in the third inning, marking the 15th grand slam in Yankees’ Postseason history and the ninth in Yankees’ World Series history. Other Postseason grand slams for New York include: Giancarlo Stanton (ALDS G1, 2020); Gio Urshela (ALWC G2, 2020); Didi Gregorius (ALDS G2, 2019); Robinson Canó (ALDS G1, 2011); Ricky Ledée (ALCS G4, 1999); Tino Martinez (WS G1, 1998); Paul O’Neill (ALDS G3, 1997); Joe Pepitone (WS G6, 1964); Bobby Richardson (WS G3, 1960); Bill Skowron (WS G7, 1956); Hall of Famer Yogi Berra (WS G2, 1956); Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle (WS G5, 1953); Gil McDougald (WS G5, 1951); and Hall of Famer Tony Lazzeri (WS G2, 1936). Per Elias, Volpe (aged 23.184) became the fourth-youngest player with a grand slam in World Series history, joining Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle (21.349, G5 1953); Addison Russell (22.283, G6 2016); and Gil McDougald (23.143, G5 1951).
It was the sixth grand slam of this Postseason across Baseball, surpassing the previous record of five Postseason grand slams in 1998 and matched in 2021. Other grand slams this October include: Freddie Freeman (WS G1); Mark Vientos (NLCS G2); Lane Thomas (ALDS G5); Francisco Lindor (NLDS G4); and Teoscar Hernández (NLDS G3). Along with Freeman’s slam in Game 1, this is the fourth World Series to feature multiple grand slams joining 1987 (Dan Gladden in G1 and Kent Hrbek in G6); 1964 (Ken Boyer in G4 and Joe Pepitone in G6); and 1956 (Bill Skowron in G7 and Yogi Berra in G2). It is just the second World Series in which each club hit a grand slam, joining 1964
Rack ‘Em Up
The Yankees rallied for five runs in the eighth inning, scoring on a fielder’s choice, a three-run homer from Gleyber Torres and an RBI single from Aaron Judge. It was the most runs in a single World Series frame since the Rangers scored five runs in the second and third innings of Game 4 in the 2023 Fall Classic. With his home run, Torres extended his on-base streak to 13 games.
The Yankees’ 11 runs are tied for the second-most ever by a club facing elimination in the World Series, per Elias. Previously the Diamondbacks won 15-2 over the Yankees in Game 6 of the 2001 World Series; the Twins won 11-5 over St. Louis in Game 6 of the 1987 World Series; and the Royals won 11-0 over the Cardinals in Game 7 of the 1985 World Series.
Rookies Take the Ball
Rookies Ben Casparius and Luis Gil took the ball for their respective clubs to start the game, marking the ninth time in World Series history that a pair of rookies started a World Series game. Previous rookie starting pitching matchups in the Fall Classic include: Ian Anderson and Luis Garica (2021 G3); Anthony Reyes and Justin Verlander (2006 G1); Jaret Wright and Tony Saunders (1997 G4); Mike Boddicker and Charles Hudson (1983 G2); Fernando Valenzuela and Dave Righetti (1981 G3); Dick Hughes and Gary Waslewski (1967 G6); Whitey Ford and Bob Miller (1950 G4); and Gene Bearden and Vern Bickford (1948 G3).
Gil is the first Yankees starter aged 26-or-younger to start a World Series game since 26-year-old Andy Pettitte took the ball in Game 4 of the 1998 World Series. Casparius, who is 25 years and 261 days old, is the youngest starter in a potential World Series clinching game since Tucker Davidson took the ball for Atlanta in Game 5 of the 2021 World Series. Casparius is the youngest Dodgers starter to take the ball in a potential World Series clinch since Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax (23.280) was tagged with the loss in Game 5 of the 1959 World Series. There have been just three other Dodgers starters under 25 to start a potential World Series clincher, including: Johnny Podres (23.004, G7 in 1955); Karl Spooner (24.102, G6 in 1955); and Billy Loes (22.298, G6 in 1952). Additionally, Casparius is the second pitcher ever to make his first career start (regular season or Postseason) in the World Series, joining Dylan Lee, who took the ball for Atlanta in Game 4 of the 2021 Fall Classic
So(to) Sweet
Juan Soto reached base twice, via a walk and knocking a single in the eighth inning. Dating back to Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series with San Diego in 2022, Soto has reached base in each of his last 24 Postseason games. His current on-base streak is tied for the fifth-longest streak in Postseason history with Carlos Ruiz’s 24-game streak from 2008-10 and Carlos Beltrán’s 24-game streak from 2004-12. The current streak trails only Miguel Cabrera’s 31-game steak from 2011-13, Chase Utley’s 27-game streak from 2007-09, Jose Altuve’s 25-game streak from 2017-19, Pablo Sandoval’s 25-game streak from 2012-14 and Boog Powell’s 25-game streak from 1966-71. During the streak, Soto is batting .292/.396/.551 (26-for-89) with six homers, 16 RBI, five doubles, 15 walks, 17 runs scored, a stolen base and a .947 OPS.
Backstops Going Deep
Will Smith homered in the fifth inning to bring the Dodgers within a pair of runs at 5-3 before Austin Wells teed off on a solo shot in the bottom of the sixth inning to make it 6-4. Per Elias, it is the fifth game in World Series history in which a catcher from each club hit a home run, joining: Game 2 in 2019 (Kurt Suzuki and Martin Maldonado); Game 5 in 1977 (Thurman Munson and Steve Yeager); Game 3 in 1975 (Carlton Fisk and Johnny Bench); and Game 5 in 1948 (Bill Salkeld and Jim Hegan). Each club hit multiple home runs, marking the 41st time in World Series history that each team homered at least twice in a game. It is the first time it happened since the 2020 Fall Classic when Tampa Bay and Los Angeles each hit multiple home runs in Game 2 and Game 4.
Running Wild
Anthony Volpe (2 SB), Jazz Chisholm Jr., Tommy Edman and Austin Wells each stole a base tonight and there have now been 61 stolen bases this Postseason, which are the most ever in a single Postseason, surpassing 1995 (59 SB). The only other Postseasons with at least 50 stolen bases are 2023 (57); 1999 (56); and 2008 (51). Chisholm has now swiped six bags this Postseason which are the most-ever in a single Postseason by a Yankees player, surpassing the previous record of five stolen bases set by Alfonso Soriano in the 2003 Postseason.
Freddie Keeps Going
Freddie Freeman opened the scoring with a two-run homer in the first inning for the second straight night. Along with his home runs in Game 5 and 6 of the Braves’ 2021 World Series run, Freeman has homered in each of his last six World Series games, surpassing George Springer for the most consecutive World Series games with a home run. Springer had a homer in five straight games, including Games 4, 5, 6 and 7 in 2017 and Game 1 in 2019.
Freeman has now hit a home run in each of the first four games in this World Series. He is the first player to hit a home run in each of the first four games of a World Series, surpassing Barry Bonds (2002) and Hank Bauer (1958), who each homered in the first three games of their respective Fall Classics. Overall, there has a been a player that hit a home run in back-to-back World Series games in each of the last nine Fall Classics. The players include: Corey Seager (2023, G3 and G4); Kyle Schwarber (2022, G5 and G6); Freddie Freeman (2021, G5 and G6); Travis d’Arnaud (2021, G2 and G3); Randy Arozarena (2020, G3 and G4); Justin Turner (2020, G3 and G4); Anthony Rendon (2019, G6 and G7); Juan Soto (2019, G5 and G6); Robinson Chirinos (2019, G3 and G4); Steve Pearce (2018, G4 and G5); Springer (2017, G4, G5, G6 and G7); and Kris Bryant (2016, G5 and G6).
Freeman added an RBI in the fourth inning andis batting .313 (5-for-16) with four homers, 10 RBI, a triple, a walk, four runs scored, a .353 onbase percentage, a 1.188 slugging percentage and a 1.540 OPS in the series. Freeman’s 10 RBI in the World Series are the most by a Dodgers player within a single World Series, surpassing Hall of Famer Gil Hodges (1956) and Hall of Famer Duke Snider (1952) who each had eight RBI in their respective series. Freeman’s 10 RBI are tied for the third most in a single World Series with Mike Napoli (2011); Sandy Alomar Jr. (1997); Ted Kluszewski (1959); and Hall of Famer Yogi Berra (1956). He trails only Bobby Richardson (12 RBI in 1960); and Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle (11 RBI in 1960).