2:57 AM ET
Marly RiveraESPN Writer
SAN DIEGO– All-Star slugger Giancarlo Stanton may have finally endeared himself to New York Yankees fans by having a signature postseason minute.
Stanton lived up to his former National League MVP pedigree on Monday, hitting the very first postseason grand slam of his profession in the Yankees 9-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 1 of the American League Division Series.
” That was big, to come out how we did. It was big,” Stanton said. “That was actually cool. I cant reject that. The area I helped put the team in, dont wish to take your foot off the gas. Up by [two] compared to by 6 is a substantial distinction.”
There is no doubt that the 27-time World Series champs, the winningest franchise in baseball, are a club developed for the postseason. Donning pinstripes in October comes with massive expectations.
2 RelatedStantons ninth-inning home run made him the very first Yankees designated hitter to smack a grand slam in a postseason game. Stanton is the third Yankee to homer in the clubs very first 3 video games of a postseason, joining Aaron Judge in 2018 and Hank Bauer in 1958.
The Yankees became the first string in AL history to strike grand slams in back-to-back postseason games. Third baseman Gio Urshela homered with the bases packed in Game 2 of the Yankees wild-card sweep of the Cleveland Indians. The Yankees have hit 11 home runs in their very first 3 championship game this postseason, a new big league record.
” They can hit. There is no trick in that,” Rays supervisor Kevin Cash stated of the Yankees. There were a handful of gamers who didnt have constant representatives against us or throughout the 60-game season for injury reasons.
Stantons career in pinstripes has been marred by injuries and aggravation, which has made him persona non grata for Yankees fans because he was acquired from the Miami Marlins before the 2018 season. He was limited to 18 video games last season since of myriad injuries, and he played in 23 of 60 video games in this years pandemic-shortened routine season while battling leg injuries.
Nonetheless, Stanton appears to have regained his stroke this postseason, going 2-for-7 with two HRs in the wild-card round.
” Hes had a hard time simply since he hasnt been healthy,” Yankees supervisor Aaron Boone stated. “I feel great for him. This is what I pictured for him last year. I felt he remained in such a good location [when he came off the IL at end of the season], and now hes carrying it into the postseason. Hes such a dangerous player in the middle of the lineup. When hes controlling the strike zone, hes as fatal as anyone.”
Before the start of the ALDS, Stanton spoke about not only revealing things on paper, “but be out there and do it.” And so he did, hitting his eighth profession grand slam and first since Sept. 20, 2018, versus the Boston Red Sox.
” I grew up about an hour and a half, two hours away, so I usually have my family here and buddies, so thats always an excellent boost,” stated the Southern California native, the Yankees player most acquainted with Petco Park after his eight seasons in the NL. “And its the first video game that my moms and dads had the ability to come to, so that was big. My papa for sure doesnt miss more than a month [of the season] at a time, not to mention … were in October now.”
CloseMarly Rivera is an author for ESPNdeportes.com and ESPN.com.
The Yankees became the first group in AL history to strike grand slams in back-to-back postseason games. 3rd baseman Gio Urshela homered with the bases packed in Game 2 of the Yankees wild-card sweep of the Cleveland Indians. The Yankees have actually struck 11 home runs in their very first 3 playoff video games this postseason, a new significant league record.
“And its the very first video game that my moms and dads were able to come to, so that was huge.” Its one game.
In 19 profession games at Petco Park, where he won the 2016 Home Run Derby, Stanton has actually struck.323 with 8 homers and a 1.190 OPS.
When inquired about his success at the plate up until now this postseason, Stanton stated he doesnt think he has actually accomplished anything yet.
That was absolutely actually required today, however Im not really looking at it that method,” Stanton stated. Weve got more to do tomorrow and the next day, so Im enjoying this for a little bit.
Boone agreed.
” Its one video game. Weve got to win 3,” the supervisor added. We have to win two more, and thats going to be a challenge.”
