Anthony Volpe grand slam propels Yankees to World Series Game 4 win over Dodgers: Live updates and reactions

The New York Yankees aren’t finished just yet, and neither is this World Series.

Facing a potential sweep, the Yankees fell behind early but came back on Anthony Volpe’s grand slam then pulled away late to beat the Dodgers, 11-4, in Tuesday’s Game 4 at Yankee Stadium.

Before breaking the game open in the eighth inning, the Yankees had only five hits and the bottom of their lineup had driven in their first seven runs, but it worked. On a night when staying alive was the only thing that mattered, the Yankees finally got the big hit they needed, then managed to add on until the game was well out of reach.

Volpe, a homegrown shortstop from nearby Morristown, N.J., made a bad read while running the bases in the second inning. The mistake might have cost the Yankees a chance to tie the game, but redemption came an inning later on a first-pitch slider that Volpe hit 390 feet to left-center field. The grand slam put the Yankees in front 5-2, their first lead since the 10th inning of Game 1.

The Dodgers pulled within a run two innings later, but Yankees rookie Austin Wells — who had been stone cold at the plate — hit a solo homer in the sixth, and the Yankees piled on with five runs in the eighth. Aaron Judge finally got a hit, drove in a run, and went all night without a strikeout. Five Yankees relievers combined for five scoreless innings while allowing just one hit to a Dodgers lineup that, coming into the game, seemingly couldn’t be stopped.

Freddie Freeman’s fourth home run of the series — he’s hit one in every game — gave the Dodgers a 2-0 lead in the first inning, but this time the Yankees fought back. Their bullpen made up for a so-so outing by rookie starter Luis Gil (four runs in four innings), Volpe and Wells combined to reach base six times, and No. 9 hitter Alex Verdugo drove in two runs.

The Yankees will turn to ace Gerrit Cole on Wednesday, and the Dodgers will counter with mid-season acquisition Jack Flaherty. It’s a Game 1 rematch that didn’t seem certain when the day started, but it turns out, this World Series has at least one more game to play.