Yankees slugger changed his routine before becoming ‘killer’ in ALDS Game 3 vs. Royals

Game 3 hero Giancarlo Stanton, who entered Wednesday night’s Yankees-Royals game with one hit in eight at bats and one RBI through two ALDS games, figured it’d be a good idea to take early batting practice on game day at Kauffman Stadium.

It seems as if it paid off.

The 34-year-old Yankee designated hitter blasted a home run off Kris Bubic with one out in the eighth inning, busting a 2-2 tie and propelling the Yankees to a 3-2 victory over the Royals on Wednesday night.

His three hits (single, double, homer) in five at bats with two RBIs, and a stolen base (his first in four seasons) for good measure, were instrumental in New York taking a 2-to-1 lead in the best-of-five series.

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

The early batting practice served a purpose.

“I wanted to see the backdrop, how the ball flew a little different way, to spread the field out, get some work in when it’s a little quiet,” Stanton said. “Get the work in and see what I can do.”

Was he trying to bust the 2-2 tie with one swing?

“You can’t go up trying to hit a home run,” he said, adding, “(but) bat through the zone on time, it was a good shot.”

He had three of New York’s four hits. According to ESPN it was the Yankees’ fewest in a postseason win since 19 years ago to the day on Oct. 9, 2005, in the ALDS against the Angels (four hits).

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said the 6-foot-6, 245-pound Stanton “is a killer. It’s remarkable. I just admire how well he’s able to focus in these big moments and just go to a different place. The at bat on the home run was phenomenal. I think he went up there to do that off a really tough reliever in Bubic, who gets righties and lefties out. He got the one he was looking for and didn’t miss it. Obviously it was a huge night for him.”

Boone noted that Stanton “is so good locking in in these big games. He’s done it throughout his career with us. He’s really able to focus pitch to pitch.

“I thought that at-bat off Bubic was phenomenal. I think he went up there to do damage, to do just that. He laid off all the right pitches and put a great swing on it.”

Stanton, who has been with the Yankees seven seasons, says the Yankees are intent on wrapping up the series in KC on Thursday and hoping to avoid a Game 5 in New York.

“We need to wrap it up tomorrow. No wiggle room. We’ve got to get it done,” Stanton said.