After 15 years without a World Series appearance, the Yankees appeared poised and ready to face off against the Dodgers in what looked to be the most anticipated World Series matchup in years. The best teams in the American League and the National League faced off against each other, a colossal battle of titans, a series that was guaranteed to be competitive down to the wire.
But that was last Friday. Coming into Game Four on Tuesday, the Yankees were down 3-0 against the Dodgers, their entire season on the line. After a devastating walk-off grand slam by Freddie Freeman in Game One and being almost completely shut out in Games Two and Three, the Yankees were on the verge of elimination.
But that’s when New Jersey native Anthony Volpe stepped in. Born in Manhattan and growing up in Watchung, NJ, Volpe has been a dedicated Yankees fan since his childhood. He idolized Yankee legend Derek Jeter, playing baseball throughout his school years and eventually managing to land as a shortstop for the Yankees in 2023, only a decade after Jeter held the position. With his hero earning the nickname “Mr. November” for his incredible postseason performances, it was now Volpe’s turn to make a name for himself.
With one swing of the bat, Volpe crushed a go-ahead grand slam against the Dodgers, giving the Yankees a 5-2 lead. The massive home run invigorated a slumping team and a (relatively) quiet crowd, sparking a huge offensive night for the Yankees. By the end of the game, the Bronx Bombers had scored 11 runs, more than they had in the last three games of the World Series combined. A stellar performance by their bullpen supplemented the win, with a scoreless four innings between the five relievers the Yankees put in.
With the electric outburst of energy the offense had on Tuesday, it was easy to take the feeling of hope for granted. However, that was a lot harder to sustain while the Yankees fell three times against the Dodgers, which is where the Yankees’ second New Jersey native, Anthony Rizzo, came into play.
Rizzo, whose family lives in Lyndhurst, made sure to keep spirits up in the clubhouse and on the field, even as the prospects for the Series appeared dimmer and dimmer. Mirroring his famous 2016 Game Five speech to the Chicago Cubs before they went on to their first World Series win in 108 years, Rizzo spoke to his teammates in pinstripes before Game Three, rallying them to maintain hope. And while Game Three went against the Yankees, Rizzo’s constant optimism definitely played a factor in their explosive performance the next day.
Rizzo didn’t only rally the batters, however. As Yankees pitchers struggled to contain the Dodgers’ star-studded lineup, Rizzo took every mound visit opportunity he got to encourage the pitcher and make sure they knew the support they had in their fellow fielders. Rizzo made sure that the Yankees slogged through, even in their worst moments, bringing them to a moment where his fellow Anthony on the team could deliver when he needed to.
It’s do or die tonight when the Yankees host the Dodgers in Game 5. Here’s the recap of the series:
- Game 1 – Friday, Oct. 25: Dodgers 6 – Yankees 3
- Game 2 – Saturday, Oct. 26: Dodgers 4 – Yankees 2
- Game 3 – Monday, Oct. 28: Dodgers 4 – Yankees 2
- Game 4 – Tuesday, Oct. 29: Yankees 11 – Dodgers 4