Dodgers vs. Yankees: Anthony Volpe’s grand slam helps New York force World Series Game 5

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  Wed, October 30, 2024 at 4:34 AM GMT+1

  And hindsight is 20/20, but the Dodgers’ biggest regret in this game is probably sticking with Daniel Hudson after he loaded the bases in the third inning. Staying with a struggling reliever has paid off before in this series, most notably not pulling Blake Treinen when he was in hot water in the ninth inning of Game 2, but sticking with what is maybe your fourth-best reliever in that spot was questionable and, eventually, lamentable.

  The good news is Hudson was the only bullpen arm of note that the Dodgers used in Game 4. The rest of their top arms are rested to back up Jack Flaherty, who has been the Dodgers’ steadiest pitcher since the team acquired him at the trade deadline.

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  Wed, October 30, 2024 at 4:33 AM GMT+1

  Let’s just note something about how statistics work: No team has ever come back from down 3-0 in the World Series, but teams have come back from down 3-1 in the World Series, and that’s what matters now. Unprecedented doesn’t mean impossible, and the Yankees are already past that.

  Granted, the Yankees now have to win three games in a row with starting pitcher matchups that they lost the first time around, but the flip side is that the Dodgers’ rotation will all have to replicate some of the best starts of their season. The Yankees can make history just by sending this series back to Los Angeles, and it’s going to be a very different vibe if they do.

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  Wed, October 30, 2024 at 4:29 AM GMT+1

  It can’t be understated how good the Yankees’ bullpen has been in this series, Nestor Cortes Jr. notwithstanding. Freddie Freeman’s grand slam represents the only four earned runs that unit has allowed all series, and they came up huge again in this game, with five scoreless innings after four runs allowed by Luis Gil.

  Any more runs allowed, and the Dodgers would have used their better relievers rather than ride Landon Knack and Brent Honeywell all game.

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  Wed, October 30, 2024 at 4:27 AM GMT+1
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  Wed, October 30, 2024 at 4:24 AM GMT+1

  FINAL: Yankees 11, Dodgers 4

  There will be no sweep in the 2024 World Series. The Yankees blow out the Dodgers in Game 4 to force a Game 5 on Wednesday, which will see Gerrit Cole face Jack Flaherty.

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  Wed, October 30, 2024 at 4:21 AM GMT+1

  The Bleacher Creatures just started chanting: “We want Soto!”

  Juan Soto turned around and waved to them. He is beloved here, and with good reason.

  — Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 30, 2024

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  Wed, October 30, 2024 at 4:16 AM GMT+1

  Giancarlo Stanton pops out to put a merciful end to the inning, in which Honeywell threw 50 pitches. In comes Tim Mayza to get the final three outs of what quickly turned into a rout.

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  Wed, October 30, 2024 at 4:11 AM GMT+1

  Yankees 11, Dodgers 4

  Aaron Judge scores Soto with a single to left, and it was maybe his best-struck ball of the series. It was in garbage time, but the Yankees will welcome any opportunity for their MVP to get hot.

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  Wed, October 30, 2024 at 4:09 AM GMT+1

  Juan Soto hits a double, and the Dodgers are just going to let Honeywell wear this rather than use any other relievers.

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  Wed, October 30, 2024 at 4:06 AM GMT+1

  Yankees 10, Dodgers 4

  Gleyber Torres breaks this thing open with a three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth. We will be playing a Game 5 at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday.

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  Wed, October 30, 2024 at 4:04 AM GMT+1

  Yankees 7, Dodgers 4

  With runners on second and third, Alex Verdugo works an 11-pitch at-bat against Brent Honeywell and hits a grounder to second. Anthony Volpe beats the throw home, and Yankee Stadium can breathe a little easier.

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  Wed, October 30, 2024 at 3:52 AM GMT+1

  In comes Brent Honeywell for the eighth and, if needed, the ninth inning for the Dodgers.

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  Wed, October 30, 2024 at 3:50 AM GMT+1

  Luke Weaver has retired all four batters faced, with three strikeouts. (21 pitches)

  Does he come back for the 9th? Aaron Boone second-guessed himself for not bringing Weaver back in Game 1.

  — Bryan Hoch ⚾️ (@BryanHoch) October 30, 2024

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  Wed, October 30, 2024 at 3:49 AM GMT+1

  Luke Weaver strikes out Teoscar Hernández and Max Muncy to finish the top of the eighth, and the Yankees are three outs from forcing a Game 5.

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  Wed, October 30, 2024 at 3:44 AM GMT+1

  Luke Weaver stays in and gets a huge out from Freddie Freeman to open the inning. The Yankees can avoid the Dodgers’ top of the order again if they get five of the next six batters out.

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  Wed, October 30, 2024 at 3:40 AM GMT+1

  Knack gets three straight flyouts and is at 56 pitches through four innings of work. Very little reason for the Dodgers to remove him if they don’t do anything in the top of the eighth.

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  Wed, October 30, 2024 at 3:36 AM GMT+1

  It’s still Landon Knack in for the Dodgers. It’s his fourth inning of work, and he’ll start it against Aaron Judge.

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  Wed, October 30, 2024 at 3:31 AM GMT+1

  Weaver strikes Betts out swinging, and that leaves only six more outs to get.

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  Wed, October 30, 2024 at 3:26 AM GMT+1

  And in comes Luke Weaver to face Mookie Betts with a man on second and two outs.

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  Wed, October 30, 2024 at 3:25 AM GMT+1

  Wells delivers key insurance

  Austin Wells has yo-yo’d in and out of the lineup lately as manager Aaron Boone has weighed Wells’ offensive struggles against Jose Trevino’s defensive impact, but the reality is that Wells’ offensive ceiling is significantly higher even when he’s going cold.

  Swings like the one Wells delivered to send a Landon Knack heater to the second deck in right field are a nice reminder of that. That could be a huge insurance run for the Yankees, who now have a two-run cushion with 9 outs to go to avoid elimination.