The New York Yankees' oft-criticized slugger is making team history like he hasn't in 12 years

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

With the win, the Yankees are one win away from the ALCS, where they would face the Detroit Tigers or Cleveland Guardians.

The game was tied 2-2 until Giancarlo Stanton hit a mammoth home run in the top of the eighth inning to give the Yankees the lead. The often criticized star won 3:5.

According to MLB.com's Bryan Hoch, his blast also made team history that hasn't been seen in the last 12 years.

Giancarlo Stanton's HR is the Yankees' first green HR in the 8th inning or later (postseason) since Raul Ibanez in Game 3 of the 2012 ALDS.

Stanton, a former MVP Award winner, is in the 15th year of his career with the Florida Marlins and Yankees. He is a lifetime .257 hitter with 429 home runs. He hit .233 with 27 home runs that season. He has struggled with injury issues in recent years and has been a solid postseason contributor in his career. He is a .266 hitter in the playoffs with 12 home runs and 27 RBI.

Ibanez was a lifetime .272 hitter who hit 305 home runs in his career. In 2009, he hit a career high of 34 home runs and drove in over 100 runs in four different seasons.

He made the All-Star team in Philly in 2009 and helped them advance to the World Series that season, where they lost to the Yankees.

He played for the Mariners, Royals, Phillies, Yankees and Angels.

Game 4 of the ALDS is Thursday night.

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