A matchup of historical titans and, most importantly, the teams with the two best records in baseball in 2024, the World Series began with an absolutely legendary game.
Close throughout, it went to extras, and then Freddie Freeman won it with a grand slam down to their last out. I can’t type.
6-3.
HOLY SHIT GUYS
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Coming off a horrific Game 5 start against the Mets, Jack Flaherty has been … uneven so far in the playoffs. But maybe he really was just under the weather last time out, as he came back with increased velocity to start today.
In the 1st, he basically pitched around Juan Soto in a four-pitch walk, and then NLCS MVP Tommy Edman made an error at short on a Giancarlo Stanton grounder to put a pair on. However, he got Jazz Chisholm to groundout to end the threat.
Jack Flaherty strikes out Aaron Judge swinging in his first World Series AB!
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 26, 2024
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/qJ9xE2596K
In the 2nd, an Anthony Rizzo lead-off single that unluckily deflected off Flaherty’s foot was moved to second after two outs, but Alex Verdugo grounded out to keep things scoreless. Flaherty then had a single erased by a double play and faced the minimum in the 3rd, and got his first clean inning in an eight-pitch 4th.
Jack Flaherty gets Juan Soto to ground into a double play and erase the lead off single here in the 3rd
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 26, 2024
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/PV9gT8WZm9
After two strikeouts in the 5th, he gave up a single but got a 14-pitch scoreless inning.
We see you, Max! pic.twitter.com/7hSrgGovB5
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 26, 2024
Jack is cruising. #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/ktWuY7YW7B
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 26, 2024
It was still tied at that point, though, as his opposition was doing work.
On paper, the best pitcher in this series is Gerrit Cole, but the Dodgers got off to something of a promising start against him. Both Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts hit long flyballs to the warning track for outs, then Freddie Freeman tripled after Alex Verdugo had a nightmare in left, but Teoscar Hernandez lined out to end the chance.
On one hand, two warning track flyballs, a triple, and a lineout are good signs. On the other hand, a scoreless 10-pitch inning.
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) October 26, 2024
Gerrit Cole notches a pair of strikeouts in a 1-2-3 second inning 💪 pic.twitter.com/2TmmozVCZC
— MLB (@MLB) October 26, 2024
He followed that with a 13-pitch clean frame in the 2nd, and despite another deep flyout via Gavin Lux, got another clean 13-pitch one in the 3rd. The Dodgers also didn’t make things difficult for him in a clean 4th either, which took just 15 more pitches.
Things didn’t start well in the 5th either with a strikeout, but Enrique Hernandez came up and smacked a ball past Soto down the line in right for another triple. Will Smith then cashed in the chance with a sacrifice fly to right that scored Enrique just in front of Soto’s throw. 1-0 Dodgers.
Kiké stays hot in October 🔥
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 26, 2024
The @Dodgers second triple of the night!
Watch the #WorldSeries📷 in 4K on FOX & the FOX Sports App: https://t.co/ATi1Zc0LHu pic.twitter.com/4FvyqdLOl7
Kiké showing off the wheels! #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/6jl1tRscKX
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 26, 2024
Now with a slim lead, Dave Roberts made the choice to let Flaherty get the heart of the order again to start the 6th.
Wonder if Dave let's Flaherty face their heart a third time. Probably shouldn't on paper, but could chance it and hope to save one pen look with Flaherty still looking solid.
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) October 26, 2024
While Soto did his Soto thing and singled on a great pitch, Flaherty got Judge to whiff and had Giancarlo Stanton down 1-2, which is when he missed location on a curve and it cost him two runs on a towering homer to left that made it 2-1 Yankees.
GIANCARLO STANTON SENDS ONE DEEP INTO THE NIGHT 💥 pic.twitter.com/8MOKg9T4fD
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 26, 2024
That knocked him out of the game (5.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 6 K, 90 Pitches) for Anthony Banda, who gave up a Jazz Chisholm Jr. single and steal, struck out Anthony Rizzo, intentionally walked Anthony Volpe, and loaded the bases when Austin Wells reached on an infield single that saw Edman save a run. That paid off when Banda struck out and escaped with the game still 2-1.
The Dodgers tried to rally back in the 6th against Cole, as Edman led off with a double down the line in right. After Ohtani could only advanced him to third on a bouncer up the middle, Mookie scorched a ball to third with the infield in for an out, and Freddie Freeman flew out to the warning track to end the threat.
Gerrit Cole works around a leadoff double with the help of Jazz Chisholm Jr. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/hnxCva9UI4
— MLB (@MLB) October 26, 2024
Next up for the Dodgers pen was Brusdar Graterol started the 7th against the top of the order, getting two outs and then giving up a single, but ending it with a strikeout.
Welcome back, Brusdar! #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/odROLuhmYw
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 26, 2024
#WorldSeries intensity 😤 pic.twitter.com/EqRyouzLlx
— MLB (@MLB) October 26, 2024
Cole then started the 7th himself, giving up a single to Teoscar Hernandez after an eight-pitch battle. That brought in Clay Holmes, who immediately got behind 2-0 and then hit Max Muncy on the foot to put a pair on. For whatever reason, Dave called for a bunt with Enrique, which he did successfully.
Plays for a run and more importantly trades Enrique for Will, which is terrible.
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) October 26, 2024
The problem? It setup the struggling Will Smith, who popped out on the first pitch, a ball out of the zone inside.
After Tommy Kahnle entered for Gavin Lux, he grounded out weakly to second.
The @Yankees escape another jam 😳 #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/pUEja8xK7j
— MLB (@MLB) October 26, 2024
After Alex Vesia got a clean 8th with a couple of strikeouts for the Dodgers, Kahnle continued in the 8th for the Yankees, getting an out to start, then Ohtani rifled a ball off the wall in right for a double. The throw in bounced away from Gleyber Torres and got a way to allow Ohtani to get to third with one out.
Shohei Ohtani hits one off the wall for his first World Series hit 💪 pic.twitter.com/gpIjAnVa9x
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 26, 2024
Mookie then got down in the count 0-2, but battled and hit a liner to center for a sac fly to tie the game at 2-2.
Mookie Betts drives in Shohei Ohtani and this game is TIED 🍿
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 26, 2024
Watch the #WorldSeries in 4K on FOX & the FOX Sports App: https://t.co/ATi1Zc0LHu pic.twitter.com/85ieMLo76R
Tasked with giving them a walk-off chance was Michael Kopech, who got two outs but then gave up a near-double and fan interference double to Gleyber Torres. That made things tough, as he issued an intentional walk to Soto and then Treinen entered for Judge, who he got to pop out on the infield. Phew.
A fan reached over the fence on this hit by Gleyber Torres resulting in a fan interference call pic.twitter.com/67dm8hrhqm
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 26, 2024
Aaron Judge pops up to end the inning!
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 26, 2024
The decision to intentionally walk Juan Soto pays off for the Dodgers! pic.twitter.com/1pwgLEfAJK
Weaver continued in the 9th, getting a clean inning on 13 pitches with the Dodgers missing some hittable pitches.
Bonus baseball in the World Series.
Things started with Treinen continuing in the 10th, who started with a strikeout, but then gave up a single to Chisholm that Mookie did great to cut-off in right. Jazz then stole second and after getting behind Rizzo, they put him on intentionally.
Jazz used his wheels to manufacture that Yankees run #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/utYvg3kGaR
— MLB (@MLB) October 26, 2024
Unfortunately, Jazz then stole third without a throw to corner the runners, and then Volpe got a sinker (for whatever reason) and grounded it up the middle that Edman dove to stop for an out but Jazz scored to make it 3-2 Yankees.
Tommy Edman makes the diving stop but can't the ball out of his glove! The Yankees take the lead!
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 26, 2024
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/oylSi0Rveg
For the Yankees it was Jake Cousins for the save, starting with an out but then walking Gavin Lux and giving up an Edman single that deflected off Oswaldo Cabrera‘s glove for a single.
Tommy Edman gets a hit and things are getting interesting in this one 🍿 pic.twitter.com/PZi0uaqpXb
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 26, 2024
That brought up Ohtani, and Nestor Cortes was brought in by Aaron Boone to face him.
Ohtani flied out to Alex Verdugo, who made a great play and then fell out of the field of play to make it second and third but with two outs.
WOW!!!
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 26, 2024
ALEX VERDUGO MAKES THE CATCH AND FLIPS OVER THE WALL 🤯 pic.twitter.com/RD0gfw9jzf
Mookie was next up, and he was intentionally walked to load the bases for Freeman.
Safe to say he took that personally.
FREDDIE FREEMAN WALK-OFF GRAND SLAM. #WORLDSERIES pic.twitter.com/5MIY5CaX6a
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 26, 2024
FREDDIE WALK-OFF GRAND SLAM ON REPEAT. #WORLDSERIES pic.twitter.com/73WwgKVLtk
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 26, 2024
High fly ball into right field, she is… GONE! pic.twitter.com/JpEwbQJW5T
— MLB (@MLB) October 26, 2024
A view of Freddie's walk-off grand slam from the dugout. #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/BrCHtR70yH
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 26, 2024
Absolute CINEMA#WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/NKk09fnCwi
— MLB (@MLB) October 26, 2024
Walk-off splash! #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/UUfBfSeX7c
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 26, 2024
Scenes around Dodger Stadium on Freddie's walk off grand slam! 🔥#WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/T5ISEaoBvH
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 26, 2024
UNREAL. 🤯
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 26, 2024
Freddie Freeman is the ONLY player in World Series history with a walk off grand slam! pic.twitter.com/48KYSboMuE
FREDDIE SENDS DODGER STADIUM INTO A FRENZY! 🔊🔊🔊
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) October 26, 2024
NTT #BallparkCam | #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/XiFLot34g7
What a damn game.
What are words, really? Born too early to explore the galaxy, born too late to explore the planet, born just in time to witness Freddie Freeman hit a grand slam to end one of the greatest fucking World Series games ever. https://t.co/XQJEATzNrw https://t.co/oC5RPX27qW pic.twitter.com/Huwpcg4GYm
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) October 26, 2024
Freddie and his dad. 🥹 pic.twitter.com/cRBtmOf8HH
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 26, 2024
"[My dad] has been there since I was a little boy, throwing batting practice to me every day. This isn't my moment, it's his moment." 🙏@FreddieFreeman5 joins @Ken_Rosenthal after his walk-off grand slam in Game 1 for the @Dodgers! pic.twitter.com/7KH8fNfIFK
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 26, 2024
WALK-OFF GRAND SLAM!! #WorldSeries #LetsGoDodgers pic.twitter.com/Zkp9rDnja1
— Dieter Ruehle (@DieterRuehle) October 26, 2024
POV: Watching Freddie Freeman’s grand slam behind home plate 🤩 pic.twitter.com/fLmGM1cNm0
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 26, 2024
"SHE IS GONE!"
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 26, 2024
Freddie Freeman and Kirk Gibson walk if off in Game 1 of the #WorldSeries 36 years apart. pic.twitter.com/NmaYJAZ7Xh
From elsewhere around the … world.
The Freddie walk off grand slam had @CosmLosAngeles going WILD! pic.twitter.com/dFsXYdNZZE
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 26, 2024
Dodgers fans are one of a kind, I’ve never seen a place erupt like this! This was CRAZY to be a part of.@CosmLosAngeles— sorry, I’ll replace the furniture. I got too excited! 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/4jjG54xIQO
— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) October 26, 2024
Fans in LA for Suns-Lakers reacted to Freddie Freeman's walk-off grand slam to win Game 1 of the #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/QfA3pnuMab
— ESPN (@espn) October 26, 2024
Reactions in Tokyo to Freddie's walk-off is so cool to see 🇯🇵#WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/uqCFlMs6Pj
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 26, 2024
WHAT A NIGHT FOR SPORTS FANS IN LOS ANGELES 🔥@MLBONFOX x @Dodgers x @uscfb pic.twitter.com/UF13OfbHxm
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 26, 2024
——
Fernando Valenzuela was honored. Great moment.
Thank god they did this last year, man. pic.twitter.com/3KnjzEhw6e
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) October 25, 2024
A moment of silence at Dodger Stadium to honor the late Fernando Valenzuela 💙🙏 pic.twitter.com/7AftMAUCam
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 25, 2024
This was amusing.
lol pic.twitter.com/fbw6KVWNsM
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) October 26, 2024
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The World Series is (obviously) now 1-0 Dodgers.
Game 2 will be in the same place between the same teams at the same time of 2:08 PM HT/5:08 PM PT/8:08 PM ET on FOX. It’ll be Yoshinobu Yamamoto looking to replicate his regular season start against the same opposition (without the injury after) against Carlos Rodon.
Freddie Freeman
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) October 26, 2024
Board: https://t.co/Bzal606aiS
Caricature: https://t.co/11o64lrGcx
Name: https://t.co/FG43ECfIvT
Skull: https://t.co/oWjAa9Bwwo pic.twitter.com/Zv6yPzQS18