Game 1 of the World Series lived up to the hype of the Los Angeles Dodgers-New York Yankees Fall Classic, and Freddie Freeman was the hero.
The Dodgers first baseman hit a walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning to close out a dramatic game. The Yankees led 3-2 in the top of the 10th, but Freeman hit a 423-foot monster home run to give his team a 6-3 win and a 1-0 World Series lead.
It was the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history.
Freddie Freeman was the hero for the Dodgers in the World Series opener against the New York Yankees on Friday night. His walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning gave the Dodgers a 6-3 victory. (Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB Photo via Getty Images)
Freeman hobbled all season after spraining his ankle in the final week of the regular season. He didn't post an extra-base hit in the NLDS or NLCS, and he sat out some games to rest the ankle, then hit a grand slam and a triple on Friday.
The play was reminiscent of Kirk Gibson's walk-off homer in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series against the Oakland A's. In both cases, the injured first baseman hit a game-winning homer. Gibson's still reverberates through Dodgers history, and it will, if the Dodgers can get it done in the next few games.
There was plenty of drama even before the Grand Slam. The Dodgers scored the first run, but the Yankees responded with Giancarlo Stanton's titanic homer. Gerrit Cole and Jack Flaherty both had good starts as starting pitchers, but Flaherty came to the line for the loss.
Shohei Ohtani led the game-tying rally in the eighth inning, smashing a double, reaching third on an error and scoring on a Mookie Betts sacrifice fly. The Yankees nearly took the lead in the ninth, but a fly ball by Gleyber Torres was caught by a fan and turned into a double.
In the top of the 10th inning, Jazz Chisholm Jr. led off the Yankees with short-ball. He singled off top Dodgers reliever Blake Treinen, stole second and third, then scored on an RBI fielder's choice from Anthony Volpe. It may have been a huge win for the Yankees, but it ended up being history for the Dodgers.
The series continues with Game 2 on Saturday with Los Angeles' Yoshinobu Yamamoto and New York's Carlos Rodon slated to start.
Here's how it all went down on Yahoo Sports:
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Kirk Gibson's 1988 WS G1 walk-off home run vs. Joe Davis' Freddie Freeman's walk-off grand slam by Vin Sculley:
High fly ball to right field, he's gone!
He's gone! Gibby, meet Freddy! Game One of the World Series!
Vegas likes the Dodgers' chances of winning the World Series. A good start by Gerrit Cole will be lost, no matter how it ends.
However, Game 2 is scheduled for Saturday at 5:08 pm PT, with Carlos Rodon and Yoshinobu Yamamoto starting.
So there was a Jeffrey Mayer and a Kirk Gibson in this game. What more could you ask for from a Yankees-Dodgers World Series?
Freddie Freeman sprained his ankle in the Dodgers' final series of the regular season. He apparently stuck around in the NLDS and NLCS, losing games and not recording an extra-base hit.
And then he comes back and hits a triple and a grand slam. baseball
Freddie Freeman won it. He cranked the first pitch from Cortes into the right-field stands and the Dodgers took Game 1 6-3 in a classic.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto against Carlos Rodon in Game 2 on Saturday.
Dodgers 6, Yankees 3
Walk-off extra-inning grand slam
Wow, Ohtani swung at the first pitch and sent it into foul territory, where Alex Verdugo ran it in for the second out in an acrobatic play. The Yankees chose to walk Mookie Betts and left-hander Nestor Cortes to face Freddie Freeman, another player returning from injury. It's some drama.
Tommy Edman put another runner on with a base hit.
And now: Shohei Ohtani. Two on. One out. 10th below. He will face Nestor Cortes, a starting pitcher who has been out for a month with an elbow injury.
This is why everyone was hyping the 2024 World Series.
Gavin Lux draws a walk against Jake Cousins, which is big. That means, barring a double play, the Dodgers will have Shohei Ohtani at the plate.
Yankees 3, Dodgers 2
Anthony Volpe hit a grounder that Tommy Edman stopped, but without the play at home. Jazz Chisholm now has the extra innings difference.
Chisholm took third without a throw from Will Smith. It will now be the infield for the Dodgers.
Jazz Chisholm singled, then stole second. The Yankees could advance to scoring position with one out. Anthony Volpe came up after the Dodgers fell behind 3-0 to Anthony Rizzo and chose to walk him intentionally.
We haven't gone extra innings in a World Series opener since…
Blake Treinen stayed and got Giancarlo Stanton on a three-pitch strikeout. This is going to be a very big outing for the Dodgers for the rest of the series.
Luke Weaver pitched a 1-2-3 9th inning
Enrique Hernandez flied out to left field for the final out of the ninth inning. It looked like the pop-up might drop for a hit, but a charging Alex Verdugo made a diving catch to end the frame.
We're going into the tenth inning!
Max Muncy pops out to 2nd base
Luke Weaver shuts down Max Muncy's timing with his changeup. Muncie got a pitch right up the middle but didn't get much with Weaver getting something off.
