Whenever the New York Yankees have needed a big swing this post-season, Giancarlo Stanton has stepped up.
Stanton apparently saves his best for the Cleveland Guardians, as the former NL MVP went 4-for-18 in the ALCS with four home runs and seven RBIs, helping his club earn a trip to the World Series.
Dating back to the 2020 AL wild-card series and 2022 ALDS, each of Stanton's last eight playoff hits against the Guardians have been home runs.
For his efforts in this 2024 five-game set, New York's designated hitter was given the ALCS MVP honours.
The 34-year-old slugger had already ripped four home runs in these playoffs entering Saturday's Game 5 of the ALCS. With the Yankees trailing 2-0 in the top of the sixth, he made it five with one of his most impressive blasts yet.
After battling back to work a full count against Guardians starter Tanner Bibee, Stanton got a slider over the middle of the plate and drove it 446 feet at 117.5 m.p.h. off the bat over the wall in left to tie the game.
It marked the 16th post-season home run of Stanton's career — all of which have come in a Yankees uniform — and was the second hardest-hit playoff dinger he has put his bat on.
Stanton furthered his October legacy with the smash, as he passed Babe Ruth and teammate Aaron Judge on the all-time Yankees playoff home run list. The only players with more than Stanton's 16 are Bernie Williams, Derek Jeter and Mickey Mantle.
Before his big swing, Stanton was 0-for-2 with two strikeouts, but didn't miss when he got his pitch from Bibee. His OPS this post-season now stands at 1.179 — the top mark of all Yankees hitters.
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