Freddie Freeman’s walk-off grand slam sends Dodgers past Yankees in World Series opener
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman, center, is mobbed by teammates after hitting a walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning to give them a 6-3 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman hits a walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning to give them a 6-3 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman watches the flight of his walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning of their 6-3 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman tosses his bat after hitting a walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning of their 6-3 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman celebrates as he drops his bat and begins to run the bases after hitting a walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning of their 6-3 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dodgers players celebrate as they wait to greet teammate Freddie Freeman, not pictured, at home plate after he hit a walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning to give them a 6-3 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dodgers players celebrate as they wait to greet teammate Freddie Freeman, not pictured, at home plate after he hit a walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning to give them a 6-3 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman, bottom, gestures as he rounds second base after hitting a walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning to give them a 6-3 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. Teammates wait at home plate to mob him. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman (5) celebrates after hitting a walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning to give them a 6-3 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman (5) is mobbed by teammates after hitting a walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning to give them a 6-3 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman, center, is mobbed by teammates after hitting a walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning to give them a 6-3 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman is hugged by Manager Dave Roberts, center, after hitting a walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning to give them a 6-3 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman, right, celebrates with his teammates after hitting a walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning to give them a 6-3 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dodgers starting pitcher Jack Flaherty throws to the plate during the first inning of Game 1 of the World Series against the New York Yankees on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
New York Yankees star Aaron Judge walks back to the dugout after striking out during the first inning of Game 1 of the World Series against the Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The New York Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton hits a ground ball to Dodgers shortstop Tommy Edmond (not pictured), who commits an error, during the first inning of Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy catches a line drive hit by the New York Yankees’ Gleyber Torres, not pictured, during the first inning of Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole throws to the plate during the second inning of Game 1 of the World Series against the Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman begins to run as he hits a triple during the first inning of Game 1 of the World Series against the New York Yankees on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman, left, slides into third base after hitting a triple during the first inning of Game 1 of the World Series against the New York Yankees on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dodgers second baseman Gavin Lux fields a bouncing ball and throws out the New York Yankees’ Austin Wells (not pictured) during the second inning of Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dodgers second baseman Gavin Lux fields a bouncing ball and throws out the New York Yankees’ Austin Wells (not pictured) during the second inning of Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dodgers starting pitcher Jack Flaherty throws to the plate during the third inning of Game 1 of the World Series against the New York Yankees on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dodgers starting pitcher Jack Flaherty, left, strikes out New York Yankees star Aaron Judge during the third inning of Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dodgers catcher Will Smith tags out New York Yankees star Aaron Judge after Judge struck out on a dropped third strike during the third inning of Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
New York Yankees star Aaron Judge walks toward center field after striking out during the third inning of Game 1 of the World Series against the Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dodgers shortstop Tommy Edman forces out the New York Yankees’ Gleyber Torres at second base as he throws to first to complete a double play on Juan Soto (not pictured) during the third inning of Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani strikes out swinging during the third inning of Game 1 of the World Series against the New York Yankees on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani walks back toward the dugout after striking out swinging during the third inning of Game 1 of the World Series against the New York Yankees on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman breaks his bat on a ground out during the fourth inning of Game 1 of the World Series against the New York Yankees on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman breaks his bat on a ground out during the fourth inning of Game 1 of the World Series against the New York Yankees on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman breaks his bat on a ground out during the fourth inning of Game 1 of the World Series against the New York Yankees on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The New York Yankees’ Alex Verdugo hits a single during the fifth inning of Game 1 of the World Series against the Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy throws out the New York Yankees’ Gleyber Torres (not pictured) during the fifth inning of Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Kike Hernandez hits a triple during the fifth inning of Game 1 of the World Series against the New York Yankees on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Kike Hernandez runs the bases after hitting a triple during the fifth inning of Game 1 of the World Series against the New York Yankees on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Kike Hernandez runs the bases after hitting a triple during the fifth inning of Game 1 of the World Series against the New York Yankees on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Kiki Hernandez #8 of the Los Angeles Dodgers scores past catcher Austin Wells of the New York Yankees on a sac fly ball by teammate Will Smith(not pictured) in the fifth inning during game 1 of a World Series baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Kike Hernandez scores past New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells on a sacrifice fly by Will Smith, not pictured, during the fifth inning of Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Kike Hernandez scores past New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells on a sacrifice fly by Will Smith, not pictured, during the fifth inning of Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Kike Hernandez celebrates after scoring on a sacrifice fly by Will Smith, not pictured, as New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole walks behind him during the fifth inning of Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Kike Hernandez celebrates after scoring on a sacrifice fly by Will Smith, not pictured, as New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole walks behind him during the fifth inning of Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Kike Hernandez, right, celebrates with teammate Gavin Lux after scoring on a sacrifice fly by Will Smith, not pictured, during the fifth inning of Game 1 of the World Series against the New York Yankees on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The New York Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton, right, hits a towering two-run home run off of Dodgers starting pitcher Jack Flaherty, left, during the sixth inning of Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The New York Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton watches the flight of his go-ahead two-run home run during the sixth inning of Game 1 of the World Series against the Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The New York Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton, right, hits a towering two-run home run off of Dodgers starting pitcher Jack Flaherty, left, during the sixth inning of Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The New York Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton, back left, hits a towering two-run home run off of Dodgers starting pitcher Jack Flaherty, front, during the sixth inning of Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The New York Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton celebrates as he begins to run the bases after hitting a go-ahead two-run home run during the sixth inning of Game 1 of the World Series against the Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The New York Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton celebrates as he begins to run the bases after hitting a go-ahead two-run home run during the sixth inning of Game 1 of the World Series against the Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dodgers starting pitcher Jack Flaherty rubs up a new ball after giving up a go-ahead two-run home run to the New York Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton (not pictured) during the sixth inning of Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The New York Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton, right, high-fives a teammate after hitting a go-ahead two-run home run during the sixth inning of Game 1 of the World Series against the Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The New York Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton, right, celebrates with teammate Juan Soto after hitting a go-ahead two-run home run during the sixth inning of Game 1 of the World Series against the Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The New York Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton, right, celebrates with teammate Anthony Rizzo after hitting a go-ahead two-run home run during the sixth inning of Game 1 of the World Series against the Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The New York Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton celebrates in the dugout after hitting a go-ahead two-run home run during the sixth inning of Game 1 of the World Series against the Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman hits a walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning to give them a 6-3 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman, center, is mobbed by teammates after hitting a walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning to give them a 6-3 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
LOS ANGELES — It wasn’t Kirk Gibson in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series. Freddie Freeman is much more ambulatory.
But it had the same shock value.
Hobbled by a sprained ankle throughout this postseason, Freeman put an exclamation mark on a Game 1 that packed enough drama to fill an entire seven-game series. His grand slam with two outs in the 10th inning lifted the Dodgers to a 6-3 come-from-behind victory over the New York Yankees on Friday night.
The Yankees were on the verge of taking the early advantage in the best-of-seven series after left fielder Alex Verdugo made a spectacular catch of Shohei Ohtani’s foul fly for the second out of the 10th inning. After the Yankees intentionally walked Mookie Betts, Freeman jumped on the first pitch he saw from left-hander Nestor Cortes and lined it into the seats.
“When you’re five years old with your two older brothers and you’re playing wiffle ball in the backyard, those are the scenarios you dream about – two outs, bases loaded in a World Series game,” Freeman said, describing the feeling as he rounded the bases as “floating.”
“For it to actually happen and get a home run and walk it off to give us a 1-0 lead (in the series) – that’s as good as it gets right there.”
Hobbled raised his bat high before beginning his trot as the sellout crowd of 52,394 roared.
“I cannot believe what just happened,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “That’s what makes the Fall Classic a classic, right, because the stars come out and superstars make big plays, get big hits, in the biggest of moments. … I’m speechless right now.”
After the home run, Freeman ran over to his father.
“I was just screaming in his face. I’m sorry, dad,” Freeman said, laughing. “He’s been there since I was a little boy, throwing batting practice to me every day. So this is a moment, it’s my dad’s moment.”
The Yankees will try to even the series on Saturday in Game 2. Yoshinobu Yamamoto is scheduled to start for the Dodgers against Yankees left-hander Carlos Rodón with first pitch scheduled for 5:08 p.m.
“We can’t sit here and mope,” Yankees slugger Aaron Judge said. “Learn from it, where we can improve, and try to win the next one.”
Just when we all thought dominant starting pitching in the postseason had gone the way of dodo birds, eight-track tapes and affordable housing – up popped a pitchers’ duel between Gerrit Cole and Jack Flaherty.
Cole gave up a two-out triple to Freeman in the first inning. Alex Verdugo misplayed the carom off the wall in foul territory, allowing the gimpy-legged (but rested) Freeman to get all the way to third.
Cole retired Teoscar Hernandez to strand Freeman – and 10 more Dodgers in a row after that. Kiké Hernandez broke the string when he lined his own triple into the right-field corner in the fifth inning. This time, Will Smith lined a sacrifice fly to right field, Hernandez tagging and just beating the throw home with a head-first slide for the first run of this World Series.
Flaherty was coming off a troublesome start in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series when he gave up eight runs and lasted just three innings. Feeling “under the weather” that night, according to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, Flaherty admitted the game “sped up” on him. But his fastball slowed down – an average of 91.2 mph in Game 5 against the Mets, 2 mph slower than his season average. And he got Mets batters to swing and miss just twice before calling it a night.
In his first three scoreless innings against the Yankees on Friday, his fastball averaged 94.2 mph and he got nine swings-and-misses.
Nonetheless, the Yankees had runners on in four of the first five innings against Flaherty. He danced away from danger. Until he couldn’t.
Juan Soto led off the sixth inning with a single. Flaherty struck out presumptive American League MVP Judge for the third time in the game.
That brought up Giancarlo Stanton, who looked bad as he swung and missed at two low breaking balls. After Flaherty misfired with a high fastball, he went to the well one more time. Stanton golfed that one high into the air 412 feet down the left field line and over the Dodgers’ bullpen for a two-run home run.
It was Stanton’s 17th career postseason home run, sixth this postseason (he was the ALCS MVP) including one in each of the past four games.
Shohei Ohtani’s face is all over the promotional material for the World Series. He left his mark on Game 1 – and the right-field wall – with a double that missed going over by just a couple feet in the eighth inning. The Yankees misplayed the relay throw, allowing Ohtani to go to third base. He trotted home from there when Mookie Betts flew out to center field, tying the score.
Dodgers-Yankees World Series matches power-and-patience powerhouses
With two outs in the ninth, Gleyber Torres hit a long fly ball to the wall in left that a fan reached over and snatched. Ruled fan interference, Torres was stopped at second base. Roberts put his head in the lion’s mouth – intentionally walking Soto to bring up Judge – and pulled it out when Blake Treinen got Judge to pop out.
Treinen struck out Stanton to start the 10th inning but gave up a single to Jazz Chisholm who stole second against Treinen’s slow-developing motion. The Dodgers intentionally walked Anthony Rizzo and Chisholm stole third.
With the infield in, Anthony Volpe hit a grounder up the middle that Edman dove and smothered. But he could only shovel the ball to Lux at second base for a force out as the deciding run scored.
A walk and a single put the tying and winning runs on base for Ohtani with one out in the 10th. But Verdugo made his running catch, tumbling into the stands. That allowed the runners to move up and prompted the Yankees to walk Betts.
Freeman jumped on a first-pitch fastball and the stadium exploded.
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