Oct 25, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) celebrates after hitting a grand slam home run in the tenth inning against the New York Yankees during game one of the 2024 MLB World Series at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Baseball had to wait 43 years for the Yankees and Dodgers to meet in the World Series and the reintroduction into one of the most historic rivalries on this stage did not disappoint.
Freddie Freeman, on one good leg just like Kirk Gibson in Game 1 of the 1988 Fall Classic, smashed a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the 10th to lift the Dodgers to a 6-3 victory over the Yankees in Game 1 of the 2024 World Series on Friday night from Dodger Stadium.
Nursing a one-run lead and after New York reliever Jake Cousins put two men on in the, Nestor Cortes — the southpaw starter who had not pitched in 37 days due to injury — got the imposing Shohei Ohtani to pop out for the second out of the inning, but after intentionally walking Mookie Betts, he served up a first-pitch 93 mph fastball low and inside that Freeman golfed over the right-field fence.
It was the first-ever walk-off grand slam in World Series history and the 18th walk-off home run ever in a World Series game. This is the first walk-off round-tripper surrendered by the Yankees since Game 4 of the 2003 Fall Classic against Alex Gonzalez and the Florida Marlins in the 12th inning.
Anthony Volpe’s fielder’s choice in the top of the 10th inning, which was stopped by a diving Tommy Edman with the Dodgers’ infield in, scored Jazz Chisholm from third after he led off with a single and stole two bases to get within 90 feet of what would have been the game-winning run.
Had Chisholm not taken the two bags practically given to him by Dodgers closer Blake Treinen, his high leg kick, and his inability to hold runners, the Los Angeles infield would have been at normal depth and…
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