Giancarlo Stanton leads the Yankees to victory in Game 3 against the Royals.

 KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Five hours before the New York Yankees faced the Kansas City Royals in a crucial division series game on Wednesday, a pitching machine was set up off the third-base side of the mound, sending balls toward Giancarlo Stanton. The Yankees' slugger was working to adapt to the Kauffman Stadium batter's eye and rediscover his swing, fully aware of the significance of his performance for New York's postseason aspirations.

Stanton succeeded in his quest, propelling the Yankees to within one game of the American League Championship Series.

He belted a decisive home run in the eighth inning of Game 3, while newly appointed closer Luke Weaver secured a five-out save, leading to a 3-2 victory in front of a lively crowd of 40,312. With this win, New York takes a 2-1 lead in the AL Division Series and is set to start reigning AL Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole in Game 4 on Thursday night.

Stanton's home run capped a stellar 3-for-5 performance, during which he also delivered a powerful double in the fourth inning to drive in Juan Soto, breaking a scoreless tie, and added a single and his first stolen base in over four years in the sixth inning.

"I can't put in all that work and not see any results," Stanton said. "I'm just glad I was focusing on the right things and able to make an impact."

Stanton’s 12th postseason home run—accomplished in just 109 at-bats—came three innings after the Royals had tied the game. Facing Royals reliever Kris Bubic, who had allowed only two home runs in 33 innings this season, Stanton hit a 3-1 slider 417 feet into the left-center field staircase.

"From his first at-bat to his last, I could see how locked in he was," Yankees third baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. remarked. "He was on his game all day. Even during batting practice, it was clear he was really focused, so I anticipated a big day from him."

Stanton's standout performance brought the Yankees' offense to life, as he recorded three of the team’s four hits, including both of New York’s extra-base hits.

This marked the second time in Stanton's playoff career that he accounted for all of his team's extra-base hits in a game (the first being in Game 2 of the 2020 ALDS against the Rays). He is the first player in Yankees history to achieve this feat multiple times in the postseason (minimum two extra-base hits).

Yankees by Hitter in Game 3:

• Giancarlo Stanton: 3-5, 2 XBH, 2 RBIs
• Rest of team: 1-25, 0 XBH, 1 RBI

Stanton’s big day overshadowed the Royals’ first postseason home game since their 2015 World Series victory. The crowd, which included Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, witnessed a pitchers’ duel in the early innings between Royals starter Seth Lugo and Yankees starter Clarke Schmidt, who both kept the scoreboard clean for the first three innings.

A leadoff walk by Soto in the fourth set the stage for Stanton’s two-out double, which left the bat at 114.1 mph and ricocheted off the fence in left-center. In his first at-bat, Stanton had hit a 108.2 mph ground ball to shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., demonstrating his ability to make solid contact.

"He works hard, man," Yankees left fielder Alex Verdugo said. "He puts in the effort, and today you really saw that pay off."

Stanton’s unexpected stolen base in the sixth, his first since August 3, 2020, energized the Yankees' dugout. "That was probably even better than the homer, to be honest," Stanton admitted, though the team couldn't capitalize on the momentum.

The Royals had their own missed opportunities, especially in the eighth inning when Witt and Salvador Perez both singled off Weaver, putting runners on first and third. Yuli Gurriel’s fly-out to center ended the threat, and Weaver, who made the Yankees out of spring training as a long reliever, continued to excel in the closer role he assumed in early September.

"I know it sounds silly," Weaver said. "I've managed a few saves now, but I feel like I'm on a mission."

As the Yankees look to secure their 19th ALCS appearance with a win on Thursday, they anticipate facing a similarly hostile crowd, especially after Chisholm’s comments following the Royals' Game 2 victory—“They just got lucky”—made him a target for boos at Kauffman Stadium.

"I ain't never seen nobody boo a bum," Chisholm said after going 0-for-4 following his ninth-inning homer in Game 2.

With performances like Wednesday's, the Yankees have solidified their standing. However, with the potential of facing Royals ace Cole Ragans on full rest at Yankee Stadium for a Game 5, the Yankees are eager to avoid that scenario.

"We need to wrap it up [Thursday]," Stanton said. "No wiggle room. We've got to get it done."

Francisco Lindor's Grand Slam Propels Mets to NLCS

NEW YORK — After the New York Mets secured a thrilling postseason victory on Wednesday night, extending their dream season to the National League Championship Series, Francisco Lindor made a point to embrace as many teammates as possible before the celebratory team photo.

As the star of the night, thanks to a go-ahead grand slam, Lindor bounded across the infield grass at Citi Field, sharing heartfelt hugs with teammates, coaches, and even owner Steve Cohen’s wife, who was in tears.

Lindor, who hit a grand slam in the sixth inning, led the Mets to a 4-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 4 of the NL Division Series, marking their first NLCS appearance since 2015. Though there’s still work to be done—eight wins remain to achieve their ultimate goal of winning the franchise's first World Series since 1986—this victory was emotionally significant.

"This is amazing," Lindor said. "Today is incredible."

With the series victory at 3-1, the Mets clinched their first playoff series at Citi Field in the ballpark's 15-year history and their first series win at home since the 2000 NLCS. They’ll fly cross-country for Game 1 of the NLCS on Sunday, an opportunity that seemed improbable just five months ago.

The season began poorly for the Mets, who started 0-5 and endured a rough stretch in May, losing 15 of 19 games and falling 11 games under .500. The situation became so dire that Lindor called a players-only meeting, after which the team turned its fortunes around with a 72-42 record.

"Nobody had us anywhere close to this moment," Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. "To be celebrating here at home with Lindor delivering in such a big way is a remarkable story."

The narrative surrounding the Mets this season has included various quirky elements—from a purple fast-food mascot believed to spark a seven-game winning streak after throwing out the first pitch in June, to a World War II veteran named Seymour Weiner who gained internet fame after being honored in April.

Most notably, it includes a wealth of clutch hitting, with Lindor shining once again. Just weeks after a back injury threatened his season and just 12 days after hitting a go-ahead two-run homer in the playoff-clinching victory over the Atlanta Braves, he stepped up with the bases loaded in the sixth.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson opted to bring in closer Carlos Estévez to face Lindor, a decision that backfired. Estévez fell behind in the count and delivered a 99 mph fastball that Lindor sent soaring 398 feet into the visitors' bullpen.

"That 341 is looking pretty freakin' good right now," Steve Cohen told The New York Post, referring to Lindor's contract.

Lindor’s restrained celebration contrasted sharply with the fervor surrounding his $341 million contract. Earlier in the season, he faced boos for a slow start, but now, he’s a postseason hero.

"I remember putting my hands up," Mets first baseman Pete Alonso recalled. "I was just in awe. That was an unbelievable swing—the swing of a lifetime."

Up until that point, the Mets had struggled to capitalize on scoring opportunities, leaving the bases loaded in both the first and second innings against Ranger Suárez. Despite two hits and a walk in the fourth, they managed only an unearned run thanks to a bobble from third baseman Mark Vientos.

Quintana, pitching effectively, held the Phillies to just one unearned run, two hits, and two walks, maintaining his impressive postseason ERA.

As the Mets secured their fourth win, the atmosphere was electric, with Lindor’s grand slam pushing the team closer to their ultimate goal. The success he envisioned when he signed his contract extension in 2021, and that his teammate Nimmo envisioned when he was drafted a decade earlier, is now within reach.

"This moment is so special because of everything we've been through," Lindor said. "I love them for believing in me. I truly believe anyone can do something special at any moment."