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    • Watchung NJ’s Anthony Volpe powers Yankees’ win over Dodgers in Game 4
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    Watchung NJ’s Anthony Volpe powers Yankees’ win over Dodgers in Game 4

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    NEW YORK — When Anthony Volpe was eight years old and growing up in Watchung, New Jersey, the Yankees’ World Series script was led by the usual cast of characters.

    It was Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada who served as regulars in the plot.

    Volpe took it in like an engrossed young fan and ended up watching the ticker tape parade through the Canyon of Heroes. He was the latest in a long line of Yankees fans, starting with his great-grandfather, who served in World War II and bonded with Volpe’s grandfather over their love of the Bronx Bombers.

    Tuesday night it was Volpe’s turn to star in the latest iconic World Series moment in a potential elimination game for the Yankees.

    With the Yankees trailing by one run, two outs and the bases loaded in the third inning of Game 4 against the Dodgers, Volpe delivered for his hometown team. The 23-year-old, who grew up less than 30 miles from Yankee Stadium, ignited the fan base with a grand slam that turned the tide for the Yankees in their 11-4 victory in front of 49,354 fans at Yankee Stadium.

    “I think I pretty much blacked out as soon as I saw him go over the fence,” Volpe said. “We just want to keep the pressure on them and I think everyone was confident that someone would get the big hit.

    “We’ve had such good at-bats and put such good swings on the ball that we felt like it was just a matter of time.”

    Tuesday’s performance was a dream colliding with reality for Volpe, who finished 2-for-3 with the home run, double, two runs and two stolen bases. In the ninth inning, the entire sold-out crowd sang his name. Volpe delved into what he called the “coolest number one” moment of his life.

    “When Anthony hit that ball, it was fun to see Yankee Stadium erupt,” Aaron Boone said. “It’s like they waited 48 hours to do that. But the way the game just kept going, it was just the energy, the noise, the excitement. It was a Yankee Stadium World Series game.”

    ANTHONY VOLPE: A New Jersey boy brings Delbarton’s championship spirit to the Yankees’ World Series run

    Anthony Volpe turns the momentum around in Game 4

    The Dodgers had blown the air out of Yankee Stadium when they took a 3-0 series lead the night before.

    Freddie Freeman had taken the lead with a two-run home run with the game barely underway in the first inning. It was almost a copy Tuesday night when Freeman fired another two-run home run off Luis Gil in the opening frame.

    If the Yankees hoped to stay alive, something had to change.

    In the second inning, Volpe helped get the Yankees back within one run when he walked, stole second base and scored. Volpe was frustrated when he misread an Austin Wells double into the right-center field gap and advanced only 100 feet, but he scored on an Alex Verdugo ground ball the next at bat.

    “It’s not a hard read, one that we practice, one that Little Leaguers make,” Volpe said. But (Verdugo) picked me right back up. I was frustrated with myself because I felt like I had to do better, but I had faith in (Verdugo) that he would pick me up.

    After Anthony Rizzo made the Yankees’ first attempt with the bases loaded in the third inning, Volpe wasted no time in putting them ahead. The shortstop connected on a slider off the first pitch from the Dodgers’ Daniel Hudson and placed it over the wall in left field to give the Yankees a 5-2 lead – their first in two home games.

    The team that had scored first in the World Series had won in eight straight games dating back to 2022, but Volpe provided the key separation. The Yankees broke away with a five-run eighth inning, followed by a three-run explosion from Gleyber Torres.

    “I think it was important tonight to get an early lead, and (Volpe) gave it to us with that one swing, and that was huge,” Wells said. “It allowed us to keep the lead and continue to push and have aggressive at-bats.”

    Positive signals from Anthony Volpe

    Boone believed there was positive momentum underneath Volpe’s mediocre offensive numbers.

    Despite a sophomore season in which Volpe hit .243/.293/.364 with 12 home runs, 60 RBI and scored 90 runs in 160 games, Boone saw some key adjustments made by Volpe.

    “I think he’s grown a lot this postseason,” Boone said before the game. “Not surprised by the mental toughness he has shown. Hopefully this is also a little springboard for him to grow on the attacking side as well.”

    Entering Game 4, Volpe was slashing .244/.380/.268 with one double, six runs, two RBI and three stolen bases in the playoffs. He left the night with the biggest moment and match of his young career. But there is still room to realize more of his childhood dreams.

    “Hopefully when we win the World Series and I’m with my family, we can all think about everything,” Volpe said. “It was just an important game. We just wanted to finish 1-0 today and win today and see where it took us.”

    A moment for fellow newcomer Austin Wells

    Volpe wasn’t the only Yankees player to collect his first World Series home run on Tuesday night.

    Wells’ introduction to the postseason was marked by struggles. The rookie catcher entered Tuesday night with four hits in 43 at-bats and found himself on the bench for Game 3 on Monda night.

    But Wells recovered by going 2-for-3 with a home run, double, RBI and two runs. When the Dodgers pulled within 5-4 in the fifth inning, the 25-year-old belted a 300-foot solo home run from Landon Knack to the second deck in right field.

    “I just tried to slow it down and have fun,” Wells said. “I didn’t put too much pressure on any pitch, any count, any at-bat. So I just went out there and tried to have a good swing and just kind of slow it down.”

    The Yankees catcher said he felt the pressure easing after the team fell behind by three games following Monday’s 4-2 loss. On Tuesday, he, along with his good friend Volpe, were key in helping the Yankees regain some momentum heading into their final game at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday.

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