Giancarlo Stanton's Historic Home Run Propels Yankees to 2-1 ALDS Lead: A Milestone Not Seen in 12 Years

Yankees

Yankees Take 2-1 ALDS Lead with Giancarlo Stanton's Historic Home Run

The New York Yankees edged the Kansas City Royals 3-2 on Wednesday night, seizing a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five American League Division Series at Kauffman Stadium.

With the victory, the Yankees are now just one win away from advancing to the AL Championship Series, where they would face either the Detroit Tigers or the Cleveland Guardians. The game was tied 2-2 until Giancarlo Stanton delivered a pivotal moment, launching a massive home run in the top of the eighth inning to put the Yankees ahead.

Stanton, who has faced his share of criticism throughout his career, had an impressive night at the plate, going 3-for-5. His home run marked a significant achievement for the team, being the first Yankees go-ahead homer in the eighth inning or later during the postseason since Raul Ibanez's iconic shot in Game 3 of the 2012 ALDS, as noted by MLB.com's Bryan Hoch.

A former MVP, Stanton is in his 15th season, having played for the Florida Marlins and the Yankees. Over his career, he boasts a .257 batting average and 429 home runs. This season, he posted a .233 average with 27 home runs. Despite battling injuries in recent years, Stanton has proven to be a reliable postseason performer, with a career playoff batting average of .266, including 12 home runs and 27 RBIs.

In contrast, Raul Ibanez, who hit the memorable homer in 2012, had a lifetime batting average of .272 with 305 home runs and made the All-Star team in 2009 while playing for the Phillies. He also contributed significantly to the team's 2009 World Series run.

The Yankees will aim to close out the series in Game 4 on Thursday night.

Giancarlo Stanton's Historic Home Run Propels Yankees to 2-1 ALDS Lead: A Milestone Not Seen in 12 Years