October 25 (UPI) — In Game 1 of the 2024 World Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees in extra innings on Friday in Los Angeles thanks to Freddie Freeman’s historic walk-off grand slam hit off a first-pitch fastball.
After tearing the 423-foot homer to right field in the 10th inning of the 6-3 victory, Freeman raised his bat in his right hand and saluted the crowded Dodger Stadium. It was the first walk-off grand slam in the history of the World Series.
During the Fox show, Freeman stated, “I was five years old in the backyard right there.” “That right there is a dream come true.
However, there is only one [victory].” We have three more.”
For most of the game, Dodgers starter Jack Flaherty and Yankees ace Gerrit Cole were in a pitchers’ battle.
The Yankees responded with a two-run sixth inning after the Dodgers seized a 1-0 lead in the fifth. Extra innings were played after the Dodgers knotted the game in the eighth.
The Dodgers loaded the bases for Freeman’s courageous home run after the Yankees scored another game-winning run in the top of the tenth.
Cole gave up just four hits and one run in the opening six innings, confusing the Dodgers’ batters. Over 5 1/3 innings, Flaherty gave up two runs and five hits.
The game’s opening run was set up by a triple by Dodgers center fielder Enrique Hernandez in the bottom of the fifth inning. Three pitches later, on a sacrifice fly from Will Smith, the catcher, he came in to score.
However, the Dodgers’ lead was short-lived.
Juan Soto, an outfielder for the Yankees, singled to start the sixth. Stanton then squeaked the two-run drive inside the foul pole for a 2-1 Yankees lead after belting a knuckle-curve 412 feet to left field at 89 mph.
Later in the inning, the Yankees crowded the bases but failed to score any more runs. The Dodgers didn’t tie the game until the following inning, despite posing another threat in the seventh. For that score, designated hitter Shohei Ohtani was plated by right fielder Mookie Betts via an RBI sacrifice fly.
In the second at-bat of the tenth inning, Jazz Chisholm Jr., the third baseman for the Yankees, singled to right field. Before Dodgers relief pitcher Blake Treinen walked first baseman Anthony Rizzo, he stole second.
Then, 90 feet from home, Chisholm stole third to bring the game-tying run. Shortstop Anthony Volpe grounded into a force out, and he came around the score the run.
Smith led off the bottom of the inning with a flyout. Jake Cousins, a relief pitcher for the Yankees, then walked Gavin Lux. Tommy Edman, the shortstop, singled next. In the following exchange, Ohtani flew out. Then, in order to reach Freeman, Yankees reliever Nestor Cortes walked Betts.
The Dodgers took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series as the veteran first baseman’s first-pitch homer to right field set off a stadium-wide conflagration.
Freeman scored a run and went 2 for 4 with four RBIs. For the Dodgers, Edman also recorded two hits. Chisholm and second baseman Gleyber Torres both had two hits during the defeat.
Game 2 between the Yankees and Dodgers is scheduled for Saturday at Dodger Stadium at 8:08 p.m. EDT. New York will host Game 3 on Monday.
