Aaron Boone reveals he almost ruined Yankees' Game 3 with Giancarlo Stanton decision

On Wednesday night the New York Yankees narrowly escaped with a 3-2 win over the Kansas City Royals in Game 3 of the ALDS. They took a 2-1 series lead and now have Gerrit Cole on the mound for a potential clinch in Game 4.

But, as Yankees fans know, the team was one bounce away from this one being a loss. The missed call on Gleyber Torres' blooper down the line. The 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position. Four hits total. Oh yeah, and maybe the biggest difference of them all ...

What if Giancarlo Stanton didn't go 3-for-5 with an RBI double and the game-winning home run? No, seriously, we are asking, because the rest of the lineup went 1-for-25 with a single. Yes, there were nine walks mixed in there, but the Yankees only scored one run off of those. Volpe scored the other when he got on base with a single before Juan Soto drove him in with a sacrifice fly.

Objectively, that is bad. Stanton was a one-man show on Wednesday and once again tipped the scales all by himself in a high-pressure playoff game. This one isn't getting as much attention as it should, but perhaps it will when all is said and done.

And to think it all could've been different! Before Game 4 on Thursday, manager Aaron Boone revealed Stanton's heroics were nearly cut short in Game 3 as the skipper mulled over an in-game decision.

Aaron Boone reveals he almost ruined Yankees' Game 3 with Giancarlo Stanton decision

The sixth inning?! No. Just absolutely no. With the way the rest of the lineup was performing? Did anyone really think taking out the offense's best bat in the off chance somebody would deliver in the clutch was the correct move? The Yankees are 3-for-25 with RISP in this series. Unless it's the eighth inning or later, Stanton shouldn't be coming out of the game. Complain all you want about his strikeouts. There is nobody better suited for the postseason on this roster.

Had Dominguez pinch-ran for Stanton, he would've been stranded on second, as Jazz Chisholm struck out, Anthony Volpe walked, and Oswaldo Cabrera lined out to end the inning. And we would have been deprived of this epic moment in the eighth inning.

In perhaps the funniest twist of the evening, Stanton actually stole second base in the sixth inning when he caught the Royals sleeping. A stolen base. For Giancarlo Stanton. Who hasn't stolen a base since 2020.

We appreciate the aggression, Boonie, but with the way the rest of the team is struggling and how Stanton's unlocked the clutch mode everyone's been waiting for, it's best to hold off on any such pinch-running situations unless it's absolutely dire.