Dodgers 7, Yankees 6 – 2024 World Series Game 5: THE LOS ANGELES DODGERS ARE YOUR 2024 WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS

Chad Moriyama 10/30/2024 Game Recaps Leave A Comment

The season was once again on the line for the Yankees with the Dodgers on the verge of clinching the World Series, and we were given a rematch of Game 1’s pitchers’ duel (a modern one at least) in Game 5.

Unfortunately for the Dodgers, this game was anything but a duel early, as the Yankees absolutely jumped on Jack Flaherty and looked like a completely different team while Gerrit Cole cruised to the midway point of the game. But then disaster struck, as their defense had a meltdown of comical, timeless proportions that got the Dodgers back to a tie game. Despite going down again late, the Dodgers battled back and took the lead as the Yankees pen finally showed wear and tear.

From there, without any pitchers left after Blake Treinen‘s own heroics, it was Walker Buehler closing out the 7-6 lead on one day’s rest after throwing a gem of a start, and he did so with authority to clinch the title.

Los Angeles Dodgers: 2024 World Series Champions

Feels amazing.

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I never doubted them today!

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Anyway, let’s rewind back to the start.

Jack Flaherty bounced back from his illness by making just one two-run mistake in 5.1 innings for the Dodgers in Game 1 of the World Series, but things started out basically as poor as possible tonight. He issued a one-out walk to Juan Soto and then gave up back-to-back homers to Aaron Judge and Jazz Chisholm Jr. to put the Yankees up 3-0.

Things didn’t start much better in the 2nd, as Anthony Volpe led off with a double, and after an Austin Wells groundout advanced him to third, Alex Verdugo singled over a drawn-in infield to make it 4-0.

A questionable decision to even let him do that by Dave Roberts since it was Anthony Banda that was warm anyway.

Especially since that was when Banda entered in the 2nd, and while he started with a strikeout, he then uncorked a wild pitch and walked both Soto and Judge to load the bases. Thankfully, he was able to get Jazz to groundout to end the threat.

Ryan Brasier was up next for the Dodgers in the 3rd, and he started by giving up a solo homer to Giancarlo Stanton to push the lead to 5-0, though he didn’t allow anything else.

The 4th was given to Michael Kopech, who gave up a walk and a single to put a pair on with one out, but eventually navigated around it against the heart of the order … all this seemed potentially pointless at the time but proved to be key.

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The Dodgers offense eventually proved … gracious and opportunistic.

Gerrit Cole was impressive last time out against the Dodgers, and it was a bit of a surprise (maybe a mistake) when he was removed after six innings of one-run ball in Game 1 of this series. Today, he started by getting two innings on 19 pitches, finally issuing his first baserunner via a two-out walk in the 3rd. He also issued a lead-off walk in the 4th, but got the next three batters for a 13-pitch inning.

So Cole was cruising and things looked bleak. All I really wanted was for the offense and pen to keep things competitive so the Yankees had to burn their leverage arms, but thanks to the defense of the Yankees, they got something better: a tie game.

After an Enrique Hernandez single to start, Tommy Edman lined a ball to center right at Judge, but he dropped it while looking at the runner to put a pair on. Will Smith followed by grounding into the six-hole, but Volpe threw into the dirt while trying to get the lead runner at third and the bases were loaded after Jazz couldn’t scoop it.

Still, things didn’t look great, as Gavin Lux and Shohei Ohtani struck out immediately afterward, but Mookie Betts reached on an infield “single” with a squibber to first that Cole didn’t bother covering the bag on and Anthony Rizzo didn’t bother charging to score their first run. Then Freddie Freeman followed with a great at-bat for a single up the middle to drive in two more, and Teoscar Hernandez immediately tied it up with a double to deep center over Judge’s head.

A Max Muncy walk followed to put two on again, but Enrique grounded out to end the rally.

5-5!

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Now in a tie game, it was Alex Vesia for the Dodgers in the 5th, and he labored after getting two outs. A single, hit batter, and walk loaded them up, but he thankfully got Gleyber Torres to flyout.

Brusdar Graterol was next, and he struggled but it certainly wasn’t all his fault. After a 3-2 walk to Soto, he also issued a 3-2 walk to Judge that should’ve been a strikeout. That changed the game after a groundout left the runners cornered and Stanton hit a sac fly to make it 6-5 Yankees.

Another walk followed to Rizzo, at which point Treinen entered to get a groundout, ending the 6th. Of course, he started the 7th as well, at least getting a clean inning with a pair of strikeouts.

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Cole continued in the 6th with an 11-pitch inning, and he surprisingly also came out for the 7th, responding with two quick outs against the top of the order. However, he walked Freeman to lead Aaron Boone to turn to Clay Holmes. Holmes was erratic, issuing a four-pitch walk to Teoscar to put a pair on, but Muncy continued to struggle by striking out on a 3-2 pitch to end that potential rally.

Perhaps due to Holmes not looking sharp, it was Tommy Kahnle in the 8th. Enrique and Edman started with back-to-back singles, and Smith walked on four pitches to load the bases.

That led to Luke Weaver entering yet again for the Yankees, and the Dodgers tied the game with a Gavin Lux sacrifice fly. Then Ohtani got a catcher’s interference to reload the bases, which was followed by a Mookie sac fly to make it 7-6 Dodgers.

Importantly though, they didn’t add on after that, with Freddie striking out.

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Despite the lead, the Dodgers were running short on pitchers, which led to Treinen also starting the 8th against the heart of the order. He started with a groundout, but then Judge banged a double to left and he issued a walk to Jazz.

Dave then came out to visit Treinen, but choose to leave him in with Buehler and Daniel Hudson warming. Treinen responded in a big way, getting Stanton to flyout on the first pitch and throwing a devastating sweeper to strikeout Rizzo after getting behind 3-0.

FUCK YEAH

Weaver continued in the 9th with the Dodgers looking to add insurance, and he gave up a single to Teoscar to start. After Muncy lined out, Weaver brain farted and disengaged three times to send pinch-runner Chris Taylor to second. He then walked Enrique, which led to Mark Leiter Jr. to enter. He responded by striking out Edman and getting Smith to groundout, which left the lead at one.

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That gave the game to Walker Buehler in the 9th, who got a groundout and a pair of huge strikeouts to secure the title.

BIG FUCKING NUTS BABY

Incredibly stuff.

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I’M WRITING MORE SHIT LATER

LET’S GOOOOO

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