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.”
