October 9, 2024, Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City — Giancarlo Stanton delivered when it mattered most, launching a go-ahead home run in the eighth inning to lead the New York Yankees to a 3-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals in Game 3 of the American League Division Series. With the win, the Yankees took a crucial 2-1 series lead, positioning themselves for a potential series-clinching victory on Thursday night.
In a game marked by a battle of the bullpens, both teams leaned heavily on their relief corps to keep the game tight. The Yankees, whose relievers have been nearly flawless this postseason, extended their dominance to 13 2/3 innings without allowing an earned run. Luke Weaver, who earned the save, closed out 4 1/3 scoreless innings for New York, preserving the Yankees’ slim lead after Stanton’s late-game heroics.
Stanton’s home run came off Royals reliever Kris Bubic, a starter turned bullpen ace who had been brought in to preserve a 2-2 tie in the eighth. After striking out Austin Wells, Bubic faced Stanton, who worked the count to 3-1 before unleashing a 420-foot shot to left field, silencing the home crowd and putting the Yankees up 3-2.
“Just trying to stay in the moment and get a good pitch to hit,” Stanton said of his decisive swing. “I knew it had a chance as soon as I made contact, and it feels great to come through for the team.”
Stanton’s overall performance was instrumental in the Yankees’ win, as he finished the night with three hits, drove in two runs, and stole a base—a rarity for him, and his first in four years. His aggressive approach on the basepaths was part of the Yankees’ effort to apply pressure on Kansas City’s pitchers, adding to their nine walks on the night.
While Stanton shined, Aaron Judge’s postseason struggles continued. The regular-season AL MVP front-runner went 0-for-4, dropping to 1-for-11 in the series with only an infield single to show for it. Yet, Judge managed to draw one of the Yankees’ nine walks, contributing to their ability to keep the Royals’ pitchers working hard throughout the game.
The Royals, meanwhile, showed resilience but ultimately fell short in their attempt to rally in the bottom of the eighth inning. After Bobby Witt Jr. recorded his first hit of the series and Salvador Perez added a two-out single, the pressure was on Weaver to escape the jam. He did just that, getting Yuli Gurriel to fly out to end the inning. Weaver then returned to the mound in the ninth, where he closed out the game with calm precision, giving the Yankees a chance to clinch the series in Game 4.
New York will now look to Gerrit Cole, their six-time All-Star ace, to secure a spot in the American League Championship Series. Cole, who has been a consistent force for the Yankees, is expected to take the mound with the same intensity that carried him through a strong regular season.
“We’ve put ourselves in a good position, but there’s still work to do,” Cole said ahead of the pivotal Game 4. “I’m ready to go out there and give it everything I’ve got.”
For Kansas City, the loss is a tough blow, especially after strong bullpen contributions from their own relievers earlier in the game. The Royals used four pitchers before turning to Bubic, who had been reliable throughout the season but couldn’t hold off Stanton’s bat when it counted most. They’ll need to regroup quickly if they hope to stave off elimination and extend their postseason run.
As the series shifts to a potential clinching Game 4, the Yankees are just one win away from advancing, thanks to a late-inning power surge and the resilience of their bullpen. With Cole on the mound, New York hopes to punch its ticket to the next round, while Kansas City faces a win-or-go-home situation. Wednesday night’s thriller at Kauffman Stadium was a testament to the tension and drama of October baseball, with Stanton’s homer as the defining moment.
