Freddie Freeman gets the hero’s ice shower after his 10th-inning, walk-off grand slam lifted the Dodgers to a 6-3 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday at Dodger Stadium.
By MIKEY HIRANO CULROSS
Rafu Sports Editor
Precious few know the experience of rounding the bases after hitting a game-winning home run in the playoffs or the World Series.
Rick Monday knows.
“You don’t feel the ground beneath you,” said Monday, whose ninth-inning homer against Montreal propelled the Dodgers into the 1981 World Series against the New York Yankees. “It’s like running on a cloud.”
The list of players who know the feeling grew by one on Friday, as Freddie Freeman rocketed a 10th-inning grand slam to give L.A. a 6-3 victory in Game 1 of the 2024 World Series … against the Yankees.
It’s the first time in major league history that a World Series game has been won on a walk-off grand slam, and it came in the first meeting of these two legendary clubs in the Fall Classic since Monday’s Dodgers toppled New York for the championship 43 years ago.
Trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the 10th, the Dodgers had the man they wanted at the plate. Having already delivered a double and a scored a run in his first World Series appearance, Shohei Ohtani came to the plate with two runners on base and one out.
The Japanese star took a mighty swing, but only managed to loft a slicing foul ball toward the seats down the third-base line. Yankees outfielder Alex Verdugo made a sprawling, tumbling catch that recorded an out but also sent him into the stands. Having left the field of play with the ball, both runners were allowed to advance to second and third.
With the Dodgers down to their last out, Mookie Betts, whose earlier sacrifice fly to center had tied the game at 2-2, was intentionally walked to get to Freeman. It was a sensible calculation for the Yankees; they had lefty Nestor Cortes on the mound to counter the left-hand-hitting Freeman, who for the last month has been hobbled by a nagging ankle sprain.
Freeman wasted no time launching himself into Dodgers postseason lore. He jumped on the first pitch from Cortes, a low line-drive shot that cut through the cool, light October mist into a sea of delirious Dodger faithful in the right-field pavilion.
It bore more than just a passing resemblance to Kirk Gibson’s “miracle” home run in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series. On the Friday broadcast, announcer Joe Davis borrowed the immortal line from Vin Scully on that occasion: “She is … gone!” Davis added, “Gibby, meet Freddie.”
“It’s arguably one of the … greatest baseball moments I’ve ever witnessed, and I’ve witnessed some great ones,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts following the breathtaking win. “As the inning started, you’re just trying to think about getting Shohei to the plate. Once they decided to walk Mookie, I just felt good with Freddie at the plate. And just that swing, you knew it was gone.”
Freeman did his best to describe the surreal experience after the game.
“Those are the kind of things, when you’re five years old with your two older brothers and you’re playing Wiffle ball in the backyard,” he said. “Those are the scenarios you dream about – two outs, bases loaded in a World Series game. For it to actually happen and get a home run and walk it off to give us a 1-0 lead, that’s as good as it gets right there.”
Shortly after rounding the bases, Freeman ran to the seats where his father, Fred, was seated, trying his best to give a hug through the protective netting behind home plate.
“It was kind of spur of the moment. I saw him hugging a lot of people back there,” Freeman explained, appearing to hold in emotions at one point. “So all the batting practice, all the relentless hours we spent together on a baseball field, we still do it in the off-seasons together. He still throws me batting practice.
“I just wanted to share that with him because he’s been there. He’s been through a lot in his life too, and just to have a moment like that, I just wanted to be a part of that with him in that moment. That’s mostly his moment because if he didn’t throw me batting practice, if he didn’t love the game of baseball, I wouldn’t be here playing this game. So that’s Fred Freeman’s moment right there.”
After languishing for six losing seasons with the Angels, Ohtani has openly shown his excitement at having the opportunity to play in the postseason. His first game in the World Series was certainly one for the ages.
“We managed to get the best way to win a game fall in the opener, thanks to a great home run,” Ohtani said. “Both starters began the game wonderfully and it was a good win for us, pitchers included. We hope to keep this momentum and play a good game again tomorrow.”
Tommy Edman, fresh off his MVP performance in the National League Championship Series, had two hits, including a double, and scored a run. He was still in shock well after the win on Friday.
“That was incredible,” Edman said, shaking his head. “I still can’t believe it.”
Starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who like Ohtani signed a record-breaking contract with the Dodgers during the off-season, takes the ball in Game 2 on Saturday. His seven innings of two-hit ball in a 2-1 win over the Yanks in June was arguably his best outing of the regular season. First pitch is set for just after 5 p.m. at Dodger Stadium.