Freeman slam gives Dodgers World Series Game 1 win vs. Yankees: Recap

LOS ANGELES — Back in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series at Chavez Ravine, Kirk Gibson hit one of the most dramatic homers in baseball history.

And on this Friday night in Los Angeles, Freddie Freeman hit a walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning to nearly the identical spot as Gibson, winning Game 1 of the 2024 World Series.

Los Angeles Dodgers 6, New York Yankees 3.

The sellout crowd of 52,394 went insane as Freeman rounded the bases, crossing home plate then greeting his father in the stands.

“I just screamed in his face,” Freeman said. “It was my Dad’s moment too.”

The Dodgers were down to their last out after Shohei Ohtani flied out to left, with outfielder Alex Verdugo falling into the stands after making a spectacular catch, enabling the runners to move up a base to second and third.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone went to the mound, and instructed left-hander Nestor Cortes to intentionally walk Mookie Betts, bringing up Freeman.

Freeman swung at Cortes’ 92-mph fastball and sent it 423 feet into the night, landing in the right field bleachers for a grand slam.

Bedlam.

The Dodgers still aren’t quite sure how they pulled this off, surviving yet another home run by Giancarlo Stanton, a fan interference call and being shut down by New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole.

But, by the end of the night, there they were, dancing across the infield, mobbing Freeman.

They took full advantage of Yankee blunders to pull off the victory.

There was Yankees right fielder Juan Soto misplaying a line drive by Enrique Hernandez in the fifth inning, turning a double into a triple. The Yankees paid the price when Will Smith, whose wife gave birth to a daughter on Tuesday, hit a sacrifice fly for a 1-0 lead.

In the eighth, Yankees were clinging to that 2-1 lead when Shohei Ohtani hit a double off the right-center-field wall. The Yankees could have survived it, but when Soto threw the ball into the infield, it caromed off second baseman Gleyber Torres’ glove, trickling into the middle of the infield. No one was there to pick it up, and Ohtani alertly scampered to third base.

Once again, the Dodgers capitalized when Betts hit a sacrifice fly to center field, pumping his fist as the ball landed in center fielder Aaron Judge’s glove, tying the game at 2-apiece.

For the Yankees, it looked like Giancarlo Stanton would be the hero.

Stanton, who grew up in Southern California going to Dodgers games and hoped to one day for the club, looked to have broken his hometown team’s heart with a massive two-run homer in the sixth inning.

The Yankees were trailing 1-0 when Stanton stepped to the plate with Juan Soto on first base.

Dodgers starter Jack Flaherty, who had been cruising, immediately got ahead of Stanton with two quick strikes, with Stanton swinging and missing at a slider and a curveball. Flaherty came back with a fastball that Stanton didn’t chase.

Now, with a 1-and-2 count, Flaherty threw another 79-mph curvebal.

This time, Stanton didn’t miss.

He swung, connected at 116.6-mph, and sent it 412 feet deep into left.

The only question was whether it would stay fair, with the crowd holding its breath.

It was fair, landing in the Dodgers bullpen.

And there were those family and friends from Sherman Oaks, Calif., cheering, particularly his former classmates from Notre Dame High School.

“It means everything to be here,” Stanton said. “This is the most incredible time I’ve had, and it’s a special time to be here, for sure. It’s everything you dream for in a matchup and everything you would want.”

And, oh, did it ever bring back beautiful memories.

“My favorite moments here were probably the little things,” Stanton said. “Going to batting practice, hearing the sound of the bat in the empty stadium. Going in the outfield to play catch is where I learned my big-league depth perception. And arguing with the scalpers, trying to get a ticket and buy peanuts.”

No wonder he looked so comfortable playing in his first World Series game. He’s hit 11 career home runs with 28 RBI at Dodger Stadium, including an 2015 epic shot that cleared the stadium.

But it was Freeman, who impersonated the mighty Kirk Gibson, who stole the night.

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Here’s how Friday’s game unfolded:

With the Dodgers down to their final out in the 10th inning, Freddie Freeman crushed a walk-off grand slam off Nestor Cortes, giving the Dodgers a 6-3 victory in an absolutely wild Game 1.

LOS ANGELES — Jazz Chisholm scores for the Yankees in the top of the 10th to retake the lead against the Dodgers.

Chisholm had initially single and stealing both second and third before Anthony Volpe’s RBI groundout brought him home. Anthony Rizzo, who was intentionally walked, was out at second while the run scored.

Blake Treinen struck out Austin Wells to send the game to the bottom of the inning.

– James H. Williams

LOS ANGELES — With a runner on second and two outs, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts chose to intentionally walk Juan Soto to bring Aaron Judge to the plate. Blake Treinen came into the game to replace Michael Kopech, and got Judge to popped out to the infield.

Gleyber Torres hit a double with two outs, which initially appeared to be a go-ahead home run, but umpires ruled that a fan reached over the left-center field fence to grab the ball.

Treinen has allowed just one run over his last 23 innings.

– James H. Williams

We’ve got a 2-2 ballgame heading into the ninth inning after Mookie Betts’ sacrifice fly scored Shohei Ohtani in the bottom of the eighth.

Ohtani had reached third with one out, doubling off the wall and then took an extra base when the ball skipped away in the infield.

The Yankees had called on closer Luke Weaver for a five-out save after Ohtani reached base. The right-hander retired the only two batters he faced – but will be charged with the blown save.

Gerrit Cole came out of the game after giving up a leadoff single in the seventh and was replaced by Clay Holmes, who promptly hit Max Muncy. Enrique Hernandez then dropped down a sacrifice bunt to get the runners to second and third. Holmes got Will Smith to pop up for the second out and gave way to Tommy Kahnle, who solicited an inning-ending ground ball from Gavin Lux.

Anthony Banda managed to get the Dodgers out of the sixth inning after replacing Jack Flaherty.

Banda threw 15 pitches in the inning, including the last one that struck out Alex Verdugo while the Yankees had the bases loaded and threatened to pull away.

The Yankees lead the Dodgers 2-1 heading the bottom of the sixth inning.

LOS ANGELES — The Yankees answered the call in the top of the sixth inning.

Giancarlo Stanton hit a two-run home run to give the Yankees the 2-1 lead against the Dodgers.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts quickly emerged from the dugout to remove pitcher Jack Flaherty from the game. Flaherty allowed five hits, two earned runs while striking out six in 5⅓ innings.

It’s the fourth consecutive game with a homer for Stanton, who was named ALCS MVP.

The Dodgers took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning on Will Smith’s sacrifice fly to right. Enrique Hernandez slid past catcher Austin Wells, ruled safe by umpire Carlos Torres.

Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole has allowed two hits and one earned run while striking out four in five innings pitched.

LOS ANGELES — Jack Flaherty has allowed just three hits and a walk while striking out five through the first five innings of Game 1.

He struck out Anthony Volpe and Austin Wells to record the first two outs in the top of the fifth inning.

Flaherty is coming off a National League Championship Series that saw him experience extreme highs and lows. He allowed just two hits and two walks while striking out six in his last outing at home in Game 1 against the New York Mets.

In his last road game, he allowed eight hits and eight earned runs in three innings pitched against the Mets in Game 5, walking four without recording a strikeout.

Traded to the Dodgers at the deadline, Flaherty is no stranger to Southern California, returning to the venue where he led Harvard Westlake to a 2013 CIF-SS Championship at Dodger Stadium.

– James H. Williams

The Dodgers announced their seventh sellout of the postseason with 52,394 in attendance tonight for Game 1 against the Yankees.

Actor Bryan Cranston and musicians Billie Eilish and Finneas were among the celebrities in the crowd. Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh and his father Jack Harbaugh were also seen on the Fox broadcast.

LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani had the Dodger Stadium crowd excited in the bottom of the first, connecting on Gerrit Cole’s first pitch but it was caught in center field by Aaron Judge. Mookie Betts also had a fly out deep in left field that briefly brought the crowd to their feet thinking it was a home run.

Battling an ankle injury throughout the postseason, Freddie Freeman hit a triple with two outs – but Cole got Teoscar Hernandez to line out to end the inning.

Dodgers and Yankees remain scoreless at the end of the first inning.

– James H. Williams

LOS ANGELES — Dodgers pitcher Jack Flaherty threw 18 pitches in the first inning, walking Juan Soto and striking out Aaron Judge.

Giancarlo Stanton reached base on an error by Tommy Edman, which moved Soto to second.

Flaherty worked around the error by getting Jazz Chisholm to ground out to end the inning.

– James H. Williams

LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers honored Fernando Valenzuela before Game 1 of the 2024 World Series against the Yankees with a moment of silence.

Valenzuela, who spent the first 11 years of his 17-year MLB career with the Dodgers, died at age 63 on Tuesday.

He won the World Series, Rookie of the Year and the National League Cy Young Award in 1981.

He returned to the Dodgers as a Spanish-language broadcaster in 2003 and stepped away from his duties during the final weeks of the 2024 regular season to “focus on his health.”

Blue ribbons were also placed on Valenzuela’s two Silver Slugger Awards (1981 and 1983) located in a trophy case near the clubhouse at Dodger Stadium.

If the World Series extends to Game 6, it will be played in Los Angeles on Nov. 1, Valenzuela’s birthday.

– James H. Williams

Dodgers catcher Will Smith and his wife, Cara, welcomed a new addition to the family on Oct. 22.

Smith’s newborn daughter, Layton Elizabeth, was born just two days after the Dodgers won the National League Championship Series in Los Angeles. Cara and their first daughter were in attendance for the game.

Smith has spent his entire six-year MLB career with the Dodgers, including the 2020 World Series championship season.

– James H. Williams

Yankees: Gerrit Cole (8-5, 3.41 ERA) – The 2023 AL Cy Young winner missed the early part of the season due to injury. He’s made three starts in the 2024 posteason, posting a 3.31 ERA.
Dodgers: Jack Flaherty (13-7, 3.17 ERA) – Acquired from the Tigers at the trade deadline, the right-hander has a 7.04 ERA in three postseason starts this year. He pitched seven shutout innings in Game 1 of the NLCS against the Mets but was routed in his Game 5 start, giving up eight runs in three innings with no strikeouts.

Yankees lineup

Gleyber Torres (R) 2B
Juan Soto (L) RF
Aaron Judge (R) CF
Giancarlo Stanton (R) DH
Jazz Chisholm Jr. (L) 3B
Anthony Rizzo (L) 1B
Anthony Volpe (R) SS
Austin Wells (L) C
Alex Verdugo (L) LF

Dodgers lineup

Shohei Ohtani (L) DH
Mookie Betts (R) RF
Freddie Freeman (L) 1B
Teoscar Hernández (R) LF
Max Muncy (L) 3B
Enrique Hernández (R) CF
Will Smith (R) C
Gavin Lux (L) 2B
Tommy Edman (S) SS

2024 World Series predictions

Read USA TODAY Sports MLB experts’ full predictions here

Bob Nightengale: Dodgers in 7
Gabe Lacques: Dodgers in 6
Steve Gardner: Dodgers in 7
Jesse Yomtov: Yankees in 7
Scott Boeck: Dodgers in 6

World Series umpires – Game 1

Home plate: Carlos Torres
First base: Mark Carlson (crew chief)
Second base: Doug Eddings
Third base: Mark Ripperger
Left field: Chad Fairchild
Right field: Todd Tichenor
Reserve: Andy Fletcher

Full umpire lineups for Games 1-4 here

Fox World Series announcers

Fox is broadcasting the 2024 World Series – with play-by-play announcer Joe Davis and analyst John Smoltz. Ken Rosenthal and Tom Verducci are reporting from the dugouts.

Fox’s pre- and postgame shows feature Kevin Burkhardt, Alex Rodriguez, David Ortiz and Derek Jeter.

Who is throwing first pitch?

LOS ANGELES — Orel Hershiser and Steve Yeager will throw out the first pitch before Game 1 of the 2024 World Series between the Dodgers and the Yankees.

Hershiser spent the first 12 years (1983-1994) of his career with the Dodgers and won the World Series MVP in 1988 before playing for Cleveland, the New York Mets and the San Francisco Giants. He returned to the Dodgers in 2000, pitching in six games.

Yeager spent the first 14 years of his MLB career with the Dodgers from 1972 to 1985. Yeager was one of the Dodgers’ three co-MVPs of the World Series against the Yankees in 1981. He played for the Seattle Mariners in 1986.

– James H. Williams

Dodgers World Series roster: LA loses key pitcher to injury

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen will be missing a crucial piece from its arsenal in the World Series.

The team’s roster announced Friday did not include reliever Evan Phillips, whose outing in the clinching Game 6 of the National League Championship Series was cut short over injury concerns.

While Phillips was replaced on the roster by fellow right-hander Brusdar Graterol, who was out one month with a shoulder injury, the loss of Phillips deletes a crucial piece of the Dodgers’ postseason bullpen alignment.

– Gabe Lacques

Juan Soto contract talk comes after World Series

LOS ANGELES – The vast riches beyond his wildest dreams await just weeks from now. His impact in just one season with the most storied franchise in baseball has placed him back on the game’s biggest stage.

Yet Juan Soto knows, deep down, that for as fantastic his 2024 season as a New York Yankee mercenary has been, as rich his bank account will be once he hits free agency, that the meaning of it all – the definition of success – is riding on the outcome of this World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

“Not yet. Not yet. I have one more step to go – and that’s winning the World Series,” Soto said Thursday at Dodger Stadium, on the eve of the Yankees’ first World Series appearance since 2009.

– Gabe Lacques

Dodgers jersey patch honors Fernando Valenzuela

LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers added a No. 34 patch to their uniforms for the World Series and Valenzuela will be remembered prior to Game 1 and throughout Dodger Stadium.

The stadium’s entrance has served as a memorial for the late pitcher with candles, flowers, pictures and – of course – the Mexican flag.

“It’s just one person that we’re gonna keep talking about and keep on having his legacy live on,” said Yankees outfielder Alex Verdugo, a former Dodger who played for Valenzuela on the Mexican national team.

He won’t be physically present when the Dodgers and Yankees play ball on Friday night, but there is belief Valenzuela will still keep an eye over his team.

“He’s a legend,” Yankees ace Gerrit Cole said. “It’s just sad he won’t be here for this series, but he’s probably got a great seat upstairs.”

– Jordan Mendoza

Simulated World Series: Freeman’s clutch blast leads Dodgers over Yankees in Game 1

How will this year’s World Series play out? Using the Dynasty League Baseball online simulation, USA TODAY Sports’ Steve Gardner and DLB designer Mike Cieslinski will pre-play each game to provide some insight into the key matchups and strategy fans can expect to see in the Fall Classic.

The game featured a total of six home runs, three of them in the first inning, as the Yankees got out to an early lead on Giancarlo Stanton’s two-run blast off Dodgers starter Jack Flaherty.

But in the bottom of the frame, L.A. struck back with six runs before Yankees starter Gerrit Cole had even recorded an out. Mookie Betts plated a pair with a homer to left and Will Smith capped the scoring with a grand slam to left off a bewildered Cole to put the Dodgers up 6-2.

However, the Yankees kept the pressure on and managed to chip away at the lead. Aaron Judge went deep in the sixth to plate three runs and bring the Yankees to within one. Then with the bases loaded in the top of the eighth, Judge singled in two to put New York ahead 9-8.

The Dodgers staged their own rally in the bottom of the eighth against Yanks reliever Jake Cousins. Shohei Ohtani doubled to right with one out, stole third and came home to tie the game on Betts’ RBI single.

After Betts stole second, Freeman unloaded with a monster 447-foot blast to right field to put the Dodgers on top to stay.

– Steve Gardner