The New York Yankees took control in the third inning when Anthony Volpe launched a grand slam to center field, giving the Yankees a 5-2 lead over the Dodgers. The grand slam, the sixth of this year’s playoffs, set an MLB postseason record. Yankees catcher Wells praised the timely hit, saying, “Just getting the lead early was important…that was huge. It allowed us to keep the lead and keep pushing.”
The Dodgers made a push in the fifth, narrowing the gap to 5-4 after Will Smith’s solo home run and a close play at first base that allowed Tommy Edman to score on a replay reversal. But Wells responded for the Yankees with a solo shot in the sixth, and the team pulled away in the eighth. Volpe doubled, stole third, and then raced home on a close play, followed by Gleyber Torres’ three-run homer and Juan Soto’s run off an Aaron Judge single, securing the Yankees’ lead.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone celebrated the team effort, highlighting contributions across the lineup and strong defensive play: “A lot of people getting in on the act was great…Good night for us, and we’ll get another opportunity tomorrow.”