The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the New York Yankees 7-6 in Game 5 on Wednesday to win the World Series four games to one.
The Dodgers were trailing 5-0 before they scored five runs in the fifth inning — all of which came in the wake of three fielding miscues by the Yankees. New York retook the lead in the sixth inning, but two sacrifice flies by Los Angeles in the top of the eighth put the visitors ahead for good.
“We just took advantage of every mistake that they made that inning,†Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández said of the fifth. “We put some good at-bats together. We put the ball in play. A lot of people say ‘when you put the ball in play, things might happen.’ It happened to us in that inning, and we scored five runs.â€Â
First baseman Freddie Freeman won World Series MVP, hitting four homers and driving in 12 runs across the five games. Freeman homered once each in the first four games of the series.
“Every spring training this is our goal,†Freeman said after the win. “For it to come true with this group of guys, I couldn’t ask for a better year. Holy cow.â€Â
The Dodgers have won two World Series in the last five years, having also won during the pandemic-shortened season in 2020. Los Angeles’ last title after a full season was in 1988.
The Dodgers were dominant both in the batter’s box and on the mound during their postseason run.
Los Angeles beat the New York Mets in six games in the National League championship series, outscoring the Mets by a combined 37-7 in the four wins.
Against the Yankees, the Dodgers’ pitching staff continued to stifle a high-powered lineup, as Los Angeles held New York — which finished third in MLB with 815 runs in the regular season — to only seven runs combined in the first three games of the series.
Several players on this year’s Dodgers team were also on the World Series team in 2020, including Mookie Betts, Max Muncy, Kiké Hernández and Walker Buehler. Freeman won a title with the Atlanta Braves in 2021.
It’s the third championship for manager Dave Roberts, who led Los Angeles in 2020 and also won once as a player in 2004 with the Boston Red Sox.
“This team has zero quit in it,†Dodgers reliever Blake Treinen said postgame. “If we don’t have the outcome that we want, there are always guys out there picking each other up and challenging ourselves to be better. That’s why we won tonight.â€
Meanwhile, it’s the first World Series win for Los Angeles superstar Shohei Ohtani, the presumptive NL MVP, who signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers before the season. Ohtani had not appeared in the playoffs before this year. He deferred $680 million of his salary in part to help the franchise spend more around him.
The Yankees won 94 games during the regular season, best in the American League. Center fielder Aaron Judge, who hit 58 home runs and drove in 144 runs during the regular season, is expected to win AL MVP. But he struggled in the postseason, hitting only .184 with three homers in 14 games.
New York has not won a World Series since 2009.
The Dodgers win the World Series!
Walker Buehler struck out Alex Verdugo for the final out and the Dodgers have won the World Series!
What a comeback for Los Angeles in Game 5, which trailed 5-0 before a five-run fifth inning.
It’s the Dodgers’ second championship in the last five seasons.
Apparently five is their lucky number.
Dodgers leave two on; Yankees down to their final three outs
Walker Buehler is in to pitch the bottom of the ninth. Can he close this out for Los Angeles?
Yankees strand two in the bottom of the eighth
Aaron Judge hit a one-out double and Jazz Chisholm walked right after, but the Yankees couldn’t bring either of them home.
Giancarlo Stanton flew out to right before Anthony Rizzo struck out swinging to end the inning. That’s a double whammy for New York, which not only didn’t score but will need the bottom of the order to get the rally started next inning.
The Dodgers lead 7-6 as we go to the top of the ninth.
Yanks trailing as we go to the bottom of the eighth
The Dodgers are up 7-6 after two sac flies in the top of the eighth, but the Yankees will have a great opportunity to tie or take the lead as Juan Soto, Aaron Judge and Jazz Chisholm are due up next.
Dodgers take their first lead of the night
After Shohei Ohtani got to first via catcher’s interference, Mookie Betts came up with the bases loaded and hit a sac fly to center.
The Dodgers now lead 7-6 — their first lead of Game 5.
Dodgers tie it up at 6
It’s a 6-6 game after a Gavin Lux sac fly to center.
The Dodgers hit two singles and drew a walk to load the bases and chase Tommy Kahnle.
After Luke Weaver came in, Lux drove home Kiké Hernández and moved Tommy Edman to third.
1-2-3 seventh for Blake Treinen
The bottom of the seventh was a rare uneventful inning for the Yankees, who were retired in order by Blake Treinen and his funky sweeper.
Kiké Hernández, who started the Dodgers’ fifth-inning rally with a single, is due up first in the top of the eighth.
Dodgers strand two in the seventh
Teoscar Hernández walked after Freddie Freeman did the same, but Clay Holmes struck out Max Muncy on seven pitches to end the top of the seventh.
The Yanks take a 6-5 lead to the bottom of the inning.
Gerrit Cole’s night is done
After walking Freddie Freeman with two outs in the seventh, Gerrit Cole’s night is done.
What a performance by him. He threw 108 pitches and struck out six. Cole allowed five runs, but none of them was earned as they all came during an error-filled fifth.
Yanks back up 6-5 headed into the seventh
A Giancarlo Stanton sacrifice fly gave the Yankees the lead again.
Juan Soto and Aaron Judge started the seventh with back-to-back walks off Brusdar Graterol before Jazz Chisholm grounded into a fielder's choice, moving Soto to third.
Stanton drove him home with a deep fly to centerfield.
The top of the Dodgers’ order is due up next.
Yankee Stadium goes crazy as they take the lead
Cole rebounds with a 1-2-3
After throwing 38 pitches in the fifth and surrendering five runs, Gerrit Cole made quick work of the bottom of the Dodgers' lineup. It appears his night is done and the Yankees will go to the bullpen with the top of the Dodgers lineup coming up in the seventh.
The Yankees have Juan Soto and Aaron Judge going in the bottom of the sixth to try and retake the lead.
Yankees threaten but don't score
After a disastrous top of the fifth, the Yankees managed a two-out rally that had the bases loaded but didn't lead to any runs.
It started with a single from the suddenly hot Anthony Volpe before Austin Wells got hit by a pitch and Alex Verdugo walked.
Gleyber Torres then sent one to right field but Mookie Betts caught it easily and Dodgers pitcher Alex Vesia worked out of trouble.
We're still tied at five.
Yankee Stadium deflated after top of 5
Reporting from Yankee Stadium
Energy at Yankees stadium definitely deflated a bit after the top of the fifth inning. But hope is still alive with a couple of guys here just saying, “we got a game†as we all wait for the Yankees to take their next at bat.
Game 5 is tied at five halfway through five
What an inning from the Dodgers, who took advantage of three big fielding miscues by the Yankees to tie the game.
Los Angeles is now very much alive.
Can New York answer in the bottom of the fifth?
Yankees fans perplexed as team allows tying run
It’s a tie game!
What a turn of events in the top of the fifth.
A bunch of fielding blunders by the Yankees — a drop in centerfield, a drop at third base, and Gerrit Cole failing to cover first base on a grounder — opened the door for the Dodgers.
Mookie Betts hit an RBI single, Freddie Freeman hit a two-run single with the bases loaded, and then Teoscar Hernández hit a two-run double to tie the game at 5.
Wow.
Dodgers get their first hit off Gerrit Cole
It took over four innings, but the Dodgers finally got their first hit off Gerrit Cole in Game 5. Kiké Hernández singled to lead off the fifth.
Cole still hasn’t given up any runs as of now, and struck out three in the first four innings.
Dodgers finally pitch a scoreless inning
For the first inning all night, the Yankees didn’t score. New York stranded two in the bottom of the fourth.
Kiké Hernández will bat first for the Dodgers in the fifth.
Aaron Judge robs Freddie Freeman
Aaron Judge tracked down Freddie Freeman's fly ball to left center and made a jumping catch while colliding with the wall. He tossed the ball quickly to Alex Verdugo and got back up with incident.
While Yankees fans enjoyed the effort, they also held their breaths remembering last year when Judge ran through the right field fence at Dodger Stadium. That herculean effort injured his right foot and derailed the team's season.
Leadoff walk goes nowhere for Los Angeles
Mookie Betts walked to start the fourth, but Gerrit Cole retired the next three Dodgers. Aaron Judge made a nice catch on a Freddie Freeman fly ball for the first out of the inning:
Yankees still lead 5-0.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts on team down 5 runs
"We gotta keep grinding, taking good at-bats and scratch our way back into this game," he said on the Fox broadcast.
He was then asked about his approach to the bullpen down 5-0.
"We keep clawing back. We still got innings," he told Ken Rosenthal. "I'm going to do everything I can to manage for this one but also if there is another game."
Yankees up 5-0 headed into the fourth
Three straight outs after the Giancarlo Stanton homer, but the Yankees lead 5-0 as we go to the fourth inning.
Mookie Betts will lead things off for the Dodgers.
Giancarlo Stanton goes yard!
Giancarlo Stanton leads off the bottom of the third with a solo shot off Ryan Brasier, it’s now a 5-0 New York lead.
Gerrit Cole gets Shohei Ohtani to fly out
Dodgers get a baserunner but nothing else
Gavin Lux walked to give Los Angeles its first baserunner of the night, but Shohei Ohtani flew out one at bat later to end the inning.
The Dodgers’ bats are very quiet tonight, as Gerrit Cole is dealing. The Yankees lead 4-0 heading into the bottom of the third.
Gerrit Cole's sons recreate famous photo
Yankees ace Gerrit Cole grew up as a Yankees fan. He was in the stands during the 2001 World Series and was photographed with a sign reading, "Yankee Fan Today, Tomorrow, Forever."
Now his young sons, Caden and Everett, were photographed during this series holding a sign with the same message.
Yanks leave bases loaded after adding one more run
A fourth run chased Jack Flaherty, but after loading the bases against Anthony Banda, the Yankees couldn’t add to their lead.
Los Angeles trails 4-0 as we head to the top of the third.
Jack Flaherty pulled after only four outs
Jack Flaherty’s night is done for the Dodgers after he gave up another run in the bottom of the second. Anthony Volpe doubled, moved to the third on a fielder's choice and came home on an Alex Verdugo single.
Flaherty gave up four hits, struck one and walked one. All four runs are earned and he is responsible for the runner on first.
The Yanks lead 4-0, and will now face the Los Angeles bullpen for the rest of the game.
Three up, three down for the Dodgers in the second
Nothing going for the Dodgers in the top of the second except two strikeouts and a fly out.
Yankees will take their 3-0 lead into the bottom of the inning.
Yankees fans go wild after back-to-back home runs
As you can imagine, Yankees fans were ecstatic in the first inning with the back-to-back homers.
Yanks up 3-0 after one inning
Two home runs for the Yankees in the bottom of the first, and they take a 3-0 lead into the top of the second.
Back-to-back homers for New York!
Jazz Chisholm takes Jack Flaherty deep only four pitches after Aaron Judge.
It’s now 3-0 New York.
Aaron Judge goes yard!
Finally! After a Juan Soto walk, Aaron Judge launched a two-run homer to right field, his first home run of the World Series. The Yanks lead 2-0.
1-2-3 first for Gerrit Cole
Two fly outs and a groundout for the Dodgers in the top of the first.
Yanks will now come up to bat for the first time against Jack Flaherty.
Game 5 is underway...
...And Shohei Ohtani flies out on a first-pitch fastball from Gerrit Cole.
Repeat of Game 1 pitchers
Both teams are bringing back their starters from the opening game of the series, with Gerrit Cole for the Yankees and Jack Flaherty for the Dodgers.
Both men pitched well and it was a low-scoring game until Freddie Freeman's walk-off grand slam.
Cole pitched six innings and only gave up four hits, one run and no walks while striking out four. Flaherty pitched 5.1 innings, five hits, two runs a walk and six strikeouts.
Dodgers still heavily favored to win the series
The loss in Game 4 dropped the Dodgers’ odds (-800) to win the World Series by 60% and the Yankees’ odds (+550) to win it all improved by 45%.
Anthony Rizzo lays out a path for the Yankees
First baseman Anthony Rizzo, who was on the 2016 Chicago Cubs which came back from 3-1 to win the World Series, said winning the first game after going down 3-0 was the hardest one.
What’s the record for home runs in a single World Series? Where Freddie Freeman ranks
The Los Angeles Dodgers star extended his historic World Series home run streak to six games last night, hitting a two-run shot off New York Yankees starter Luis Gil in the first inning of Game 4.
The eight-time All-Star, who homered in the final two games of the Atlanta Braves’ 2021 World Series win over the Houston Astros, is the first player to go yard in six consecutive games in the Fall Classic overall.
Freeman is now one home run away from tying the record for the most homers by a player in a single World Series. There have been three players who recorded five homers in a single World Series, with Reggie Jackson first doing so in the Yankees’ 1977 World Series triumph over the Dodgers.
Chase Utley matched Jackson’s mark in the Philadelphia Phillies‘ 2009 World Series loss to the Yankees before George Springer had a five-homer showing in the Astros’ 2017 World Series win against the Dodgers.
Freeman’s four homers against New York are tied for fourth with several players, including Barry Bonds and Babe Ruth.
Fan who interfered with Betts was college friends with the Gronk
The first fan to interfere with Mookie Betts last night has been identified as 38-year-old Connecticut resident Austin Capobianco.
He said the Yankees’ decision to prevent him from coming tonight didn’t surprise him.
“The banning to tonight’s game was kind of expected, but the fact my little brother and his friends can’t use our season tickets tonight has really pissed me off,†he said in a text message to NBC News. “It’s not like they can go to the next game.â€
Capobianco is a longtime, diehard Yankees fan, according to the man’s college pal Rob Gronkowski, the former Arizona Wildcats, New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end.
“He is all in for his teams, he is all in for the Yankees. I remember him talking about the Yankees all the time, how he loves them so much,†Gronkowski told FanDuel TV’s “Up & Adams†show.Â
“He’s a fun dude. It is unacceptable, definitely, in the world of sports,†Gronkowski said of the catch interference. “But when you’re that big of a fan, that’s what fans do.â€Â
Yankees redistribute ejected fans’ tickets to cancer patient and family
Following the Game 5 ban of two fans who ripped the ball out of Mookie Betts’ hands in Game 4, the New York Yankees announced they are redistributing those tickets.
The tickets will instead go to a pediatric cancer patient and his family, the Yankees said ahead of the game.
The two banned fans had tickets for Game 5 but had their money refunded.
Babyface will perform the national anthem
Major League Baseball has announced 13-time Grammy Award winning singer and producer Babyface will be performing the national anthem for Game 5 of the World Series.
Secondary ticket demand surges after Yankees win
With the Yankees extending the series, it seems fans are eager to see if they can force a Game 6.
Ticket sales jumped 51% on StubHub for tonight's contest in The Bronx after the Game 4 victory, the company said. The tickets start at $570 for standing room only and the average ticket costs $1,500.
Lineups for the teams
The Yankees, after scoring 11 runs last night, unsurprisingly go with the same batting lineup as the night before.
Hideki Matsui returns to the Bronx
Yankees greats Derek Jeter and Paul O’Neill threw out the first pitches for World Series Games 3 and 4 at Yankee Stadium this week. Tonight, the Yankees will turn to another pinstripe great to lift the team before the game.
Hideki Matsui, the 2009 World Series MVP, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch before Game 5.
Anthony Volpe grew up idolizing Derek Jeter
After his heroics in Game 4, Anthony Volpe sat down with Derek Jeter who told him there are kids who want to be just like Volpe when they grow up. The moment was special for the current Yankees shortstop who idolized Jeter as a kid.
Yankees need to find steady momentum during Game 5
John Smoltz unpacks the mental toughness it took for the New York Yankees to force a Game 5 in the World Series, and why the narrative on Aaron Judge needing a big-time performance is difficult.
World Series Game 3 averages 13.64 million, beats ‘Monday Night Football’
The World Series beat “Monday Night Football†in the battle for television viewers.
The Los Angeles Dodgers’ 4-2 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 3 of the Fall Classic averaged 13.64 million viewers on Fox, Fox Deportes and streaming according to early numbers by Nielsen. That beat the 13.4 million that tuned in for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 26-18 win over the New York Giants on ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes, ESPN2 and streaming.
The audience for Yankees-Dodgers peaked at 14.25 million from 9-9:15 p.m. EDT. It was the most-watched Game 3 since 2018, when the Dodgers’ 18-inning victory over the Red Sox averaged 13.3 million.
It is Fox’s most-viewed prime-time telecast on a Monday since Game 5 of the 2013 Series between Boston and St. Louis (14.45 million).
Yankee fans who interfered with Mookie Betts catch banned from Game 5
Two New York Yankees fans were banned from tonight's game in the Bronx after they crossed into the field of play and interfered with Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts in last night's game.
The pair jarred the ball loose, but umpires immediately ruled Yankees batter Gleyber Torres out and the front-row fans were kicked out.
“Last night two fans were ejected from Yankee Stadium for egregious and unacceptable physical contact with Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts,†the Yankees said in a statement Wednesday. “The safety and security of players, fans and Stadium staff is the foundational element of every event held at Yankee Stadium, and it cannot be compromised.â€
Shohei Ohtani stokes national pride in Japan with World Series debut
Reporting from OSHU CITY, Japan
In Oshu, the small rural town where Shohei Ohtani grew up, baseball is as much a part of the landscape as the farmers’ fields and low-rise hills surrounding it. The area has long been known for its beef and ironwork. Now it’s famous for Ohtani.
Local officials have organized watch parties at community centers in the area where people are given inflatable sticks saying “Shohei Ohtani — The Pride of Oshu City†to wave when cheering for the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar as his team takes on the New York Yankees in Ohtani’s first World Series.
As they watched Game 4, which aired at 9 a.m. Wednesday morning in Japan, Yasuo Sakamoto, 74, and his wife Keiko, 70, wore the Dodgers jerseys and hats they got when they visited Los Angeles this summer to see Ohtani play.
“Even at my age, I’m really awed by him,†Yasuo Sakamoto said of Ohtani. “In Japan when there’s news about Ohtani, it’s bright news. If they win, it’s going to be even brighter.â€
Betts has crazy moment with Yankees fans in Game 4
Dan Patrick explains why he didn’t understand the need for two New York fans to become involved with Mookie Betts in the field of play during Game 4 of the World Series against the Dodgers.
Legendary radio sports commentator John Sterling surprised fans with a return to the microphone just in time to celebrate the Yankees’ Game 4 win of the World Series. NBC’s Jesse Kirsch reports for "TODAY."