Just five hours before the New York Yankees faced off against the Kansas City Royals in a crucial division series game, Giancarlo Stanton was hard at work on the field. With the pressure building, he wasn’t about to leave anything to chance. A pitching machine was firing balls at him from an angle, set up well off the third-base side of the mound. The goal? To get Stanton used to Kauffman Stadium's batter's eye and find the swing that would propel the Yankees toward postseason glory. And boy, did he find it.
The Yankees are now just one game away from the American League Championship Series (ALCS), thanks largely to Stanton’s massive contributions. In Game 3, Stanton crushed a no-doubt, go-ahead home run in the eighth inning, setting up a thrilling 3-2 victory over Kansas City. That shot not only silenced the rowdy crowd of over 40,000 fans but also put the Yankees in the driver’s seat, with a 2-1 lead in the series.
Stanton's Big Night: The Turning Point
Stanton’s night wasn’t just about that home run. He went 3-for-5, with his bat crackling with energy from the very start. In the fourth inning, he blasted a double to bring in Juan Soto, breaking a scoreless tie. It wasn’t just any double—it was a rocket that left his bat at a staggering 114.1 mph, slamming into the left-center field fence. Stanton followed that up in the sixth inning with a single and, in a surprising turn, his first stolen base in more than four years! That’s right, the big man showed off some speed, lighting up the Yankees dugout.
After the game, Stanton reflected on his efforts, saying, "Can't put all that work in and have zero results. I'm just glad I was working on the right things and was able to do something."
That "something" was huge—his 12th postseason home run, in just 109 at-bats, a testament to how Stanton performs when it matters most. The home run came off Royals reliever Kris Bubic, who had been nearly untouchable all season, giving up just two homers in 33 innings. But on a 3-1 count, Bubic left a slider hanging, and Stanton made him pay, launching the ball 417 feet into left-center field.
Yankees third baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. had nothing but praise for Stanton’s locked-in approach. "From first at-bat to the last at-bat, I could see how locked in he was. He was doing his thing all day. Even from his work in the cage before the game, watching him swing, you could tell he was really locked in. I expected a big day from him, and he delivered."
Pitchers' Duel: A Game of Missed Opportunities
While Stanton was putting on a show at the plate, the game’s early innings were all about pitching. Royals starter Seth Lugo and Yankees starter Clarke Schmidt were locked in a pitchers' duel, trading zeros through the first three innings. The Royals, in their first postseason home game since winning the World Series back in 2015, were eager to put on a good show for their fans. Even Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was in attendance, adding to the electric atmosphere.
However, the Royals' hitters just couldn’t break through when it mattered. Their best chance came in the eighth inning when they put runners on first and third after Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez singled off Yankees closer Luke Weaver. But just as the crowd was beginning to sense a rally, Yuli Gurriel’s fly-out to center field ended the threat.
Weaver, who joined the Yankees as a long reliever after spring training, has been lights-out in his unexpected role as the closer. He picked up a crucial five-out save in Game 3 and has become a secret weapon for New York. "I've had a few saves now here and at the back end of the year, but I think I'm just a man on a mission," Weaver said. His ability to shut down opposing teams late in games has been a huge boost to the Yankees' bullpen, especially with postseason pressure mounting.
Yankees Poised for ALCS, But Royals Won't Go Quietly
The Yankees are now just one win away from their 19th ALCS appearance. They’re feeling good about their chances heading into Game 4, with reigning AL Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole set to take the mound. Cole has been lights-out all season, and the Yankees are banking on him to carry them to the next round.
But the Royals aren’t going down without a fight. They’re expected to start their ace, Cole Ragans, in Game 5 if the series goes the distance. Ragans, fully rested and ready to go, could be a major hurdle for the Yankees, should the Royals force a deciding game back in New York.
"We need to wrap it up [Thursday]," Stanton emphasized. "No wiggle room. We've got to get it done." That sense of urgency was echoed throughout the Yankees' clubhouse after the game, as they know the dangers of letting a series slip away.
Exciting Elements: Key Moments That Define Postseason Magic
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Stanton’s Home Run: It wasn’t just the distance or the timing that made this homer special. It was the moment. A tied game in the eighth inning of a postseason contest, with a raucous crowd desperate to see their team pull ahead—Stanton’s blast was a showstopper, both literally and figuratively.
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Stolen Base Shock: Stanton, known for his power and presence, surprised everyone by swiping a base in the sixth inning. It was his first stolen base in over four years, and it electrified the Yankees dugout more than his home run did, according to Stanton himself.
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Weaver’s Five-Out Save: Becoming a closer was never in the cards for Luke Weaver at the start of the season, but here he was, shutting the door on the Royals in a critical game. His composure in tight situations has been a revelation for the Yankees, especially in a game where one mistake could have turned the tide.
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The Fans vs. Chisholm: Jazz Chisholm Jr. was not exactly a fan favorite at Kauffman Stadium, especially after his post-Game 2 comments, where he said, “They just got lucky.” The fans booed him mercilessly throughout the game, and while he went 0-for-4, Chisholm seemed unfazed, saying afterward, “I ain’t never seen nobody boo a bum.”
What's Next: Yankees Must Close It Out
Game 4 is shaping up to be another thriller. With Cole on the mound for the Yankees and the Royals fighting to stay alive, tensions are sky-high. But for the Yankees, the mission is clear: avoid a Game 5 at all costs. With their season hanging in the balance, the Royals will throw everything they have at New York.
The Yankees don’t plan to leave anything to chance. As Stanton said, "No wiggle room. We've got to get it done."
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