The Fall Classic got off to an unforgettable start on Friday night in the Bronx, as the Los Angeles Dodgers stunned the New York Yankees 6-3 in Game 1 of the World Series on a walk-off grand slam by first baseman Freddie Freeman in the bottom of the 10th inning.
With the score knotted at 2-2 after nine innings of tense, back-and-forth baseball between the storied rivals, the game headed to extras under the bright lights of a sold-out Yankee Stadium. The Yankees managed to scratch across a run in the top of the 10th to take a 3-2 lead, but the Dodgers refused to go quietly in the bottom half.
Freeman’s Moment of Postseason Magic
After two quick outs to start the inning, the Dodgers managed to load the bases on a pair of singles and a hit by pitch, bringing Freeman to the plate with a chance to play hero. And the slugging first baseman delivered in spectacular fashion, launching a towering drive to right field that just cleared the short porch for a game-winning grand slam.
The Dodgers poured out of the dugout to mob Freeman at home plate as the stunned Yankee Stadium crowd looked on in disbelief. For a player who had never reached the World Series in a distinguished 13-year career spent mostly with the Atlanta Braves, it was a moment of pure postseason magic.
“This is what you dream about as a kid, having a chance to win a World Series game in that spot,” an elated Freeman said after the game. “It’s an unbelievable feeling. One I’ll never forget.”
– Freddie Freeman, Dodgers first baseman
Early Pitchers’ Duel
The late-inning fireworks were in stark contrast to the game’s beginning, which featured a tense pitchers’ duel between Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw and Yankees star Gerrit Cole.
Both starters traded zeroes over the first four frames before the Dodgers finally broke through against Cole in the 5th on a Justin Turner solo homer. The Yankees answered right back in the bottom half on Aaron Judge’s RBI single to knot the score at 1-1.
Yankees Take the Lead
New York took its first lead an inning later when Giancarlo Stanton connected for a majestic solo blast off Kershaw that nearly reached the left field bleachers. But the Dodgers rallied to tie on a Trea Turner sacrifice fly in the 7th, setting the stage for the extra-inning drama.
After the Yankees reclaimed the lead in the top of the 10th on a Gleyber Torres RBI single, it seemed they may have grabbed the early series momentum. But Freeman and the never-say-die Dodgers had other ideas.
A World Series Classic
It was an opening game that had a little bit of everything – pitching, clutch hits, late-inning rallies, a raucous crowd, and ultimately, a storybook ending courtesy of Freeman’s bat. The kind of back-and-forth affair that makes the World Series the marquee event it is.
“That’s one of the best World Series games I’ve ever been a part of,” marveled Dodgers manager Dave Roberts afterwards. “To have it end like that, on a walk-off slam in extra innings, in Yankee Stadium…it’s the stuff of baseball lore. An instant classic.”
– Dave Roberts, Dodgers manager
For the Dodgers, it’s a crucial early series victory as they seek the franchise’s 8th World Series crown but first since 2020. Beating the Yankees in their own ballpark to kick things off is the kind of confidence booster that could propel them moving forward.
The Yankees, meanwhile, find themselves in a hole but certainly aren’t panicking after one game. This is a team that led baseball with 117 regular season wins for a reason – they’re talented, deep, and reside in a city that never sleeps on its team. Expect them to come out sharp and hungry in Game 2.
Looking Ahead to Game 2
Both teams will look to ride the momentum – or turn the page – in Game 2 on Saturday evening. Another pair of aces will take the hill, as the Dodgers send lefty Julio Urías to the mound against Yankees right-hander Nestor Cortes. A pair of stingy, innovative hurlers who finished 2nd and 3rd, respectively, in the MLB ERA race this season.
After the unforgettable scenes that transpired in Game 1, the baseball world waits with bated breath to see what the encore has in store. One thing is for certain: if Friday night was any indication, the rest of this World Series should make for must-watch October theater.
The Fall Classic is only one game old. But thanks to Freddie Freeman’s magical swing, it already has an indelible moment. The kind of highlight that gets replayed for generations. The kind of story that makes baseball America’s enduring pastime, even as the days grow shorter and the shadows lengthen on another season.
