World Series Game 4: Wide Awake in New York

 

Fifteen years ago tonight, there was a World Series game in New York, and I was there.

It was a once in a lifetime opportunity for me, I barely stopped to breathe while it was happening. But I saw my team play in a World Series game, and I saw Hideki Matsui and Mark Teixiera hit home runs. And it's wild to me that it was 15 years ago. It's been that long.

So seeing that it was a 15 year line, to the day, from a W.S. win, and the Yanks had a do or die game tonight, I thought it would be heartbreaking if the light went out here. When things rhyme, they don't do so cruelly. There had to be a reason this all lined up. It had to be for something. And with the Freddie homer early, I got worried. I got worried I'd gotten my hopes up again.

And then...somehow...the Yankees arrived. And played their best game in a week. I'm still in awe, kind of. I did not think this team had anything left. But basically every aspect of this team came into vogue tonight, in the best way. 

It did worry me that a chance at tying the game early was foiled by Anthony Volpe's base running. Even then I thought Volpe was trying not to repeat the mistake Stanton made last night, and despite the immediate outcry, he did what he thought was right. But the rest of the game was defined by Volpe's sheer tenacity. A HUGE grand slam to flip the game [and give the Yanks a lead for the first time in 3 games], followed by an incredible home plate slide that helped the rally in the eighth. Around Volpe, everyone else came in line. Gleyber Torres's incredible late homer, Luis Gil's surprisingly strong work after the homer, Holmes and Weaver shutting the Dodgers down, Judge finally awakening and batting Soto home, Wellsy homering because he could. It was the full team effort I'd wanted from the Yankees all series. Usually it had come down to one guy, and here it was everybody. And when everybody pitches in, this team can score 10+ runs against an enemy once thought impenetrable. 

And yes, the Dodgers still tried to claw back, and had some sneaky little hits midgame, but tonight it wasn't enough. And it's relieving to me that a Freddie Freeman homer isn't gonna be enough to keep the Yankees down at this point in the series. 

I know the other shoe could drop at any moment. I know the Dodgers very well could figure out Cole tomorrow night. But right now I'm happy the Yankees won a game and prevent a sweep. I know the odds are against us, and with things as they are it may not go to 7...but at this point, I'm along for the ride. They defied the odds tonight. Maybe they can keep doing that.