Stanton lifts Yanks to 1 win from ALCS: 'This is what I came here for'

KANSAS CITY -- Giancarlo Stanton has said he lives for the moments that only the postseason can provide, savoring its brighter spotlight and an opportunity to chase the championship that he hungers to deliver. The Yankees' slugger sure did a lot of living in Game 3 of the American League Division Series.

Stanton launched a go-ahead home run in the eighth inning, part of a do-it-all three-hit performance that also included a run-scoring double and his first stolen base in more than four years, powering the Yankees’ 3-2 victory over the Royals on Wednesday evening at Kauffman Stadium.

“This is what I came here for,” Stanton said. “We need to wrap it up [Thursday]. No wiggle room. We’ve got to get it done.”

The Yankees now lead the series two games to one, a victory away from advancing to their second American League Championship Series in three years. As Stanton noted, they intend to take care of that before departing Kansas City on Thursday.

“He’s a killer. It’s remarkable,” said manager Aaron Boone. “I just admire how well he’s able to focus in these big moments and just go to a different place mentally. The at-bat on the home run was phenomenal. I think he went up there to do just that.”

Long before he connected for a Statcast-calculated 417-foot drive off left-hander Kris Bubic -- the first postseason go-ahead homer in the eighth inning or later by a Yankee since Raul Ibanez in Game 3 of the 2012 ALDS -- Stanton was on the field early on Wednesday, taking extra batting practice off a high-velocity machine.

Stanton said that the objective was to familiarize himself with Kauffman Stadium’s backdrop and how the ball might fly in game situations. The additional reps paid quick dividends for Stanton, who had been 1-for-8 in the ALDS coming into Wednesday’s action.

“You can’t put all that work in and have zero results,” Stanton said. “I’m just glad I was working on the right things and was able to do something tonight.”

Said Yankees captain Aaron Judge: “That’s just Big G. That’s what he does in general, every season he plays. I don’t think postseason or [regular] season is any different. He just comes up with big hits when we need him.”

Stanton scorched a run-scoring double in the fourth inning that opened the scoring, then added a sixth-inning single that preceded his first stolen base since Aug. 3, 2020.

Taking advantage as right-hander John Schreiber neglected to hold him on, Stanton said his teammates’ reaction to the steal was “probably better than the homer.” Schreiber said he probably should have tried a slide step, even though the plodding Stanton hardly seemed a threat to run.

“It was an opportunity that I could take, and I did,” Stanton said.

Stanton has been running at reduced speed to guard against the lower-half injuries that have disrupted his recent seasons. While his speed wasn’t on Kansas City’s radar, his power sure was.

October has been a dependable month for the 34-year-old Stanton: his 12 homers in his first 30 postseason games are the third-most in Major League history, behind Carlos Beltrán (14) and Nelson Cruz (13). Stanton’s .633 postseason slugging percentage ranks fourth in franchise history (min. 75 plate appearances).

“When it’s the playoffs, he takes it to another level,” said right-hander Clarke Schmidt, who allowed two runs over 4 2/3 innings in his first career postseason start. “I think there’s something to be said about players that can do that. He’s done it throughout his whole career.”

Added outfielder Alex Verdugo: “He’s been there, done it, has some of the most success in the big leagues out of active players. For me, he’s potentially a future Hall of Famer. He’s great in every aspect; he’s an awesome pro who goes about his business the right way.”

Kyle Isbel and Michael Massey had run-scoring hits to chase Schmidt in the fifth, including a Massey triple that sailed past Juan Soto’s diving attempt in right field.

The Yankees' bullpen, which has been nails throughout all three games of this ALDS, continued to shine as they held the damage there. Clay Holmes and Tommy Kahnle each recorded four outs ahead of Luke Weaver, who notched a five-out save to make Stanton’s homer hold up.

“The postseason brings out the best in everybody,” Soto said. “[Stanton is] really enjoying every moment, every second. He knows how to handle his emotions in the playoffs. He’s just going through it like he always does.”