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LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers took Game 1 of the World Series 6-3 on Friday after a walk-off grand slam by Freddie Freeman in the bottom of the 10th — the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history.
The Yankees took a 3-2 lead in the top of the 10th after Anthony Volpe grounded into a fielder’s choice that scored Jazz Chisholm. But in the bottom of the inning, Gavin Lux walked, Tommy Edman hit an infield single and Mookie Betts was intentionally walked, setting the stage for Freeman’s heroics.
Nestor Cortes, who hadn’t pitched since Sept. 18 due to an elbow injury, gave up the slam and took the loss for New York.
“It might be the greatest baseball moment I’ve ever witnessed,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said postgame. “Just that swing, you knew it was gone. Pure elation. You don’t see teams celebrate after a game with a walk-off like that, but it was certainly warranted.”
Freeman was playing through an ankle injury that forced him to miss multiple games this postseason. He said that game-winning moment made the hours of treatment and rehab worth it.
"This trophy is what makes you go through the grind every day," Freeman said after the game. "When you step in Spring Training in February, your eyes are on that. You do everything you can, that's what's worth it for me. I got here at 10:30 in the morning, got treatment and made it just in time for the hitter's meeting. I'll start it all over tomorrow because winning a World Series is everything."
Betts added: "A win is a win but knowing what Freddie has gone through is super special. I'm glad it was him that did it."
Yankees manager Aaron Boone defended the decision to bring in Cortes in that crucial spot.
"I just liked the matchup," Boone said postgame. "The reality is he’s been throwing the ball real well the last few weeks as he’s gotten ready for this. I knew with one out there it would be tough to double up Shohei (Ohtani) if Tim Hill gets him on the ground. With Mookie behind him, I felt content with Nester in that spot."
The game started as a pitcher’s duel, as the high-powered lineups were held to one combined run through five innings — a Will Smith sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fifth that gave Los Angeles a 1-0 lead.
Jack Flaherty pitched 5 1/3 innings for the Dodgers, striking out six and allowing two runs. Gerrit Cole pitched into the sixth inning but was removed before recording an out. He finished with four strikeouts, allowing only one run.
After Smith’s sac fly, Giancarlo Stanton gave the Yankees the lead in the next half inning, smacking a towering two-run home run to left field.
Another sacrifice fly by Betts in the bottom of the eighth tied the game at 2-2, which held until the 10th and final inning.
In the top of the ninth, Gleyber Torres appeared to hit a go-ahead home run but the umpires ruled it was fan interference after a fan reached over the stands and snagged the ball.
It was a tense game, and the two biggest stars were bottled up. Sluggers Ohtani and Aaron Judge combined to hit only 2 for 10 — though Ohtani hit a double in the eighth that set up Betts’s game-tying sacrifice.
Game 2 is Saturday night in Los Angeles at 8:08 p.m. ET. The Yankees will turn to left-hander Carlos Rodón while the Dodgers will start rookie right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
"(Winning Game 1) is super important," Betts said postgame. "But at the end of the day, as much as I love enjoying this moment, we gotta turn the page and get ready for tomorrow. They are going to come out ready to go but we will too."
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Freddie Freeman channels Kirk Gibson with walk-off slam
Freddie Freeman’s walk-off grand slam to win Game 1 on Friday was Kirk Gibson-esque.
A gimpy Gibson hit perhaps the most famous walk-off in World Series history in Game 1 of the 1988 Fall Classic, 36 years and 10 days before Freeman’s heroics on Friday. Gibson took Oakland Athletics closer Dennis Eckersley deep on Oct. 15, 1988 to give Los Angeles a 1-0 lead in a series it would eventually win.
Gibson was a surprise pinch hitter that night after he had injured both his legs during the NLCS.
Freeman’s home run wasn’t quite as dramatic, but he entered Friday’s Game 1 hobbled himself. Freeman hadn’t played since Game 4 of the NLCS because of a heel injury, and he had to labor through a triple earlier in the game.
He looked a little more fluid rounding the bases than Gibson did, but Freeman’s walk-off was certainly a worthy successor.
Fans going wild in the stands
Fans are going absolutely bonkers here at Dodgers Stadium as Freddie Freeman launched a Grand Slam to give the Los Angeles Dodgers a 1-0 lead in the 2024 World Series.
Every fan is on their feet screaming and waving blue towels.
Freddie Freeman walks us off with a grand slam
Wow!
The Dodgers loaded the bases in the bottom of the 10th, and Freddie Freeman absolutely smoked the first pitch he saw from Nestor Cortes into the right-field bleachers for a walk-off grand slam.
Los Angeles leads the World Series 1-0.
Yankees take the lead in the top of the 10th
Jazz Chisholm hit a one-out single, stole second and then stole third.
Anthony Volpe eventually brought him home with a grounder to second.
Austin Wells struck out looking to end the inning, but the Yankees have a 3-2 leaded headed into the bottom of the 10th.
The bottom of the order is coming up for the Dodgers.
We’re headed to extras
The Dodgers can’t get anyone on base in the bottom of the ninth, and it’s time for extra innings.
Giancarlo Stanton, Jazz Chisolm and Anthony Rizzo are due up for the Yankees to start the 10th.
It’s the third straight World Series Game 1 to go to extras.
Dodgers get out of the top of the ninth with no damage
After the Gleyber Torres fan-enhanced double and a Juan Soto walk, Aaron Judge popped out to end the top of the ninth.
Teoscar Hernández, Max Muncy and Kiké Hernández are set to bat for the Dodgers.
Gleyber Torres on second after fan interference
Wow.
Gleyber Torres briefly appeared to hit a go-ahead home run, but he’s on second after umpires called it fan interference. A Dodgers fan reached over the wall in left-center and caught the ball before it could hit the wall.
Juan Soto was intentionally walked and now Aaron Judge is up with the go-ahead run on second.
We’re all tied up headed to the ninth
Freddie Freeman flew out to end the eighth, and it’s a 2-2 game headed to the ninth inning.
Austin Wells, Alex Verdugo and Gleyber Torres are due up for the Yankees. Can they get on base for Juan Soto and Aaron Judge?
Mookie Betts ties the game
Mookie Betts smoked a fly ball to center, and though it was caught, it was enough to score Shohei Ohtani.
It’s now a 2-2 game in the bottom of the eighth.