Giancarlo Stanton homers for Yankees in Game 1 of World Series

LOS ANGELES — It was in a earlier version of this Yankees-Dodgers World Collection rivalry that Reggie Jackson grew to become synonymous along with his favourite month. Giancarlo Stanton is nicely on his technique to turning into New York’s new Mr. October.

Stanton launched a go-ahead two-run homer within the sixth inning of Sport 1, a blast relegated to a footnote when Freddie Freeman hit the primary walk-off grand slam in Fall Traditional historical past, powering Los Angeles’ 6-3 victory in 10 innings on Friday evening.

“You by no means need that ending,” Stanton stated. “We’ve taken blows this postseason, however not at this degree of stakes. You’ve obtained to win 4 [games] anyway. Nobody stated it’s going to be straightforward.”

Stanton’s blast off right-hander Jack Flaherty marked his fourth consecutive postseason recreation with a house run. The drive gave the Yankees a 2-1 lead on the time.

“He did an amazing job preserving these offspeed [pitches] on the backside rail,” Stanton stated. “It was simply one thing I used to be in a position to scoop out.”

Every of Stanton’s final 5 hits has been a homer, relationship again to Sport 1 of the American League Championship Collection in opposition to the Guardians. With the blast, Stanton is the primary participant in postseason historical past to have a number of streaks of homering in 4 or extra consecutive video games.

“I’m battling away, grinding every at-bat,” Stanton stated. “Getting all the data I can, simply attempting to provide.”

Stanton’s homer got here on a 79.4 mph knuckle curve, launched off his bat at 116.6 mph and touring a Statcast-calculated 412 toes to left discipline. It was the hardest-hit batted ball within the World Collection beneath Statcast (since 2015).

It was solely the third homer recorded by Statcast with at the least a 116 mph exit velocity and at the least a 35 diploma launch angle. The earlier two had been hit by Aaron Choose (in 2017) and Stanton (in 2023).

“You make a mistake and Giancarlo places a great swing on the ball, which is what he’s executed all postseason and all through his whole profession, actually,” Flaherty stated. “So that you’d like that one again, however you’ve obtained to exit and prepare for the subsequent one.”

Stanton has 17 postseason residence runs, all with the Yankees, together with six this yr. That ranks fourth in franchise historical past, behind solely Bernie Williams (22), Derek Jeter (20) and Mickey Mantle (18).

Moreover, Stanton joined Corey Seager and Nelson Cruz as the one gamers to hit six or extra homers in a number of postseasons.

Stanton has at all times hit nicely at Dodger Stadium, the place he attended video games rising up and would incessantly search batting-practice souvenirs within the left-field bleachers. He now has 11 homers and 28 RBIs in 26 profession video games at Chavez Ravine, the place he received 2022 All-Star Sport MVP honors.

“I’ve had a number of time to see the flight of the ball over time,” he stated.