Yankees Beat Dodgers in Game Four of World Series

Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images

October 30, 2024

Yankees 11, Dodgers 4

The New York Yankees avoided the sweep against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday with their 11–4 victory at Yankee Stadium in New York. The Bronx Bombers staved off elimination after three morale-killing games. The Dodgers have been looking to win the World Series for the first time since 2020, but their opportunity has been postponed until Wednesday. The Dodgers went to the bullpen for Game Four, while Luis Gil started for the Yankees. With the win, the Yankees earn their first win in the World Series since 2009.

Game Summary

The Dodgers opened the scoring by who else but Freddie Freeman. He mashed a two-run home run to the short porch in left field. He continued his home run streak to six games in the World Series and a home run in the first four games. The bottom of the first faced much scrutiny after fan interference with Mookie Betts caused two fans to be ejected. In the bottom of the second, Austin Wells doubled off the centerfield wall, and Anthony Volpe did not score from the second. Alex Verdugo grounded out to first base, allowing Volpe to score. The Yankees left with one run and seemed demoralized from it.

HERE COMES FREDDIE 😤

ANOTHER #WORLDSERIES HOME RUN! pic.twitter.com/sig1uFJr26

— MLB (@MLB) October 30, 2024

The Turning Point

In a bullpen game for the Dodgers, they left Daniel Hudson in after poor pitching. In a bases-loaded situation, the New York kid Anthony Volpe knocked the shoes off of the Yankees faithful. The 23-year-old blasted a grand slam to give the Yankees a 5–2 lead in the third inning. The Bleacher Creatures had something to cheer about. In the fifth, the Dodgers put up a two-spot. Will Smith slapped a solo shot into right field, and Freddie Freeman beat out a double play to score Mookie Betts. In the sixth, Austin Wells launched a solo shot to the second deck to give the Yankees a two-run advantage.

A FULL CIRCLE MOMENT FOR ANTHONY VOLPE!

GRAND SLAM. @YANKEES LEAD! #WORLDSERIES pic.twitter.com/X754vjoPGe

— MLB (@MLB) October 30, 2024

Put the Game to Bed

In a two-run game, the Dodgers can always create magic. However, in the eighth, the Yankees put Game Four on ice. Verdugo grounded out to score Volpe as he did in the second inning. The next batter, Gleyber Torres, mashed a three-run home run. Aaron Judge found his rhythm with an RBI single to score Juan Soto. A five spot for The Pinstripes put Game Four to bed.

THE @YANKEES HAVE PUT UP 10 RUNS IN #WORLDSERIES GAME 4! pic.twitter.com/qfkORDE5NX

— MLB (@MLB) October 30, 2024

What Went Right for the Dodgers

Freddie Freeman

Every game in the World Series is a bright spot for the Dodgers first baseman. Freeman mashed another home run, breaking the streak for the most consecutive games with a home run, passing George Springer‘s record of five straight games. He added three out of the four RBI the Dodgers had on Tuesday and gave the offense a lead in the first inning.

Saving the Big Guns

The Dodgers used Game Four as a bullpen game but saved their biggest relievers from entering it. Dave Roberts used his strategy to save them in high-leverage situations to win the World Series. There was no option on Tuesday. Instead, he used Landon Knack, Brent Honeywell Jr. and Ben Casparius. Not utilized much in high-leverage situations, Roberts put his big cards back in his pocket to be used for the following games.

What Went Wrong for the Dodgers

Giving Life and Fire

Although the Dodgers did not use their mighty postseason bullpen tonight, this could be the night the Yankees need to pick their bats back up. Giancarlo Stanton and Anthony Rizzo went hitless. The other seven batters earned a knock and needed to badly. If the Yankees bats now pick back up, it could be detrimental for the Dodgers.

Too Many Big-Time Mashes

It explains itself. Too many high leverage moments were ended by the home run. A grand slam and a three-run blast. Seven runs off of two swings. It’s hard to come back and win if you give up these plays.

What Went Right for the Yankees

Anthony Volpe

The New York Native created the plays needed to give the Yankees a spark. He scored three times, played well in the field and swung the bat with fire. The grand slam woke the Yankees up, and they have not lost their lead since then. A big moment with two outs could’ve become why they failed. Now, he is the hero in Game Four.

Bullpen

After the exit of Gil, who gave up four earned runs, it was a shutdown bullpen experience. The pen allowed one hit in five innings, allowing the offense to hold on to the lead—a remarkable turnaround for the Yankees bullpen after some blunders in the first three games.

What Went Wrong for the Yankees

Luis Gil

A four-inning start allowing four earned runs is not beneficial to any team. However, the Yankees helped limit Gil’s rocky start with an offensive explosion. Gil needed to step up, and he scratched his start without being rebuked for the performance. His hanging slider to Freeman became history, and the high fastball to Will Smith.

Quick Hits

Freddie Freeman History

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 Atlanta Braves’ 2021 World Series run, Freeman has homered in 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 hit a home run in 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 homered in the first three games of their respective Fall Classics.

Overall, there has 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).

SIX STRAIGHT WORLD SERIES GAMES WITH A HOME RUN

HAS NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE pic.twitter.com/IPOCt2pjDI

— MLB (@MLB) October 30, 2024

Running Riot and Rookie Pitching

Anthony Volpe (2 SB), Jazz Chisholm Jr., Tommy Edman and Austin Wells each stole a base on Tuesday, and there have now been 61 stolen bases this postseason, which is 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, 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.

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.

Quotes

“No, I think I pretty much blacked out as soon as I saw it go over the fence. No, we just want to keep putting pressure on them, and I think everyone had confidence in everyone in the lineup that someone was going to get the big hit.” — Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe on the emotions of hitting a Grand Slam

“Just a lot of guys being able to tack on. I don’t know. I think we’ve been close to that here in these first few games where we just haven’t gotten that big hit or haven’t been able to break through. Credit to the other side too; they’ve pitched us tough.” — Yankees manager Aaron Boone asked if there is a difference in approach.

“I feel great. I feel great. It’s about the guys that you have available. Some of those guys are — they’re all rested. So we have guys that can do up down. So where we’re at tomorrow, knowing there’s an off day tomorrow, we’re in a great spot with leverage receivers.” — Dodgers manager Dave Roberts on his bullpen

Looking Ahead

Luke Weaver earned the win, while Daniel Hudson picked up the loss.

The Dodgers and Yankees will play Game Five on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium in New York. The Game One starters will be up as Gerrit Cole (1-0, 2.82 ERA in the postseason) looks to capture his revenge against Jack Flaherty (1-2, 6.10 ERA in the postseason) back in the Bronx.