The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman, center, is mobbed by teammates after hitting a walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning to give them a 6-3 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman hits a walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning to give them a 6-3 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman watches the flight of his walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning of their 6-3 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman tosses his bat after hitting a walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning of their 6-3 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman celebrates as he drops his bat and begins to run the bases after hitting a walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning of their 6-3 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dodgers players celebrate as they wait to greet teammate Freddie Freeman, not pictured, at home plate after he hit a walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning to give them a 6-3 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dodgers players celebrate as they wait to greet teammate Freddie Freeman, not pictured, at home plate after he hit a walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning to give them a 6-3 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman, bottom, gestures as he rounds second base after hitting a walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning to give them a 6-3 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. Teammates wait at home plate to mob him. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman (5) celebrates after hitting a walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning to give them a 6-3 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman (5) is mobbed by teammates after hitting a walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning to give them a 6-3 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman, center, is mobbed by teammates after hitting a walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning to give them a 6-3 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman is hugged by Manager Dave Roberts, center, after hitting a walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning to give them a 6-3 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman, right, celebrates with his teammates after hitting a walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning to give them a 6-3 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dodgers starting pitcher Jack Flaherty throws to the plate during the first inning of Game 1 of the World Series against the New York Yankees on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
New York Yankees star Aaron Judge walks back to the dugout after striking out during the first inning of Game 1 of the World Series against the Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The New York Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton hits a ground ball to Dodgers shortstop Tommy Edmond (not pictured), who commits an error, during the first inning of Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy catches a line drive hit by the New York Yankees’ Gleyber Torres, not pictured, during the first inning of Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole throws to the plate during the second inning of Game 1 of the World Series against the Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman begins to run as he hits a triple during the first inning of Game 1 of the World Series against the New York Yankees on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman, left, slides into third base after hitting a triple during the first inning of Game 1 of the World Series against the New York Yankees on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dodgers second baseman Gavin Lux fields a bouncing ball and throws out the New York Yankees’ Austin Wells (not pictured) during the second inning of Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dodgers second baseman Gavin Lux fields a bouncing ball and throws out the New York Yankees’ Austin Wells (not pictured) during the second inning of Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dodgers starting pitcher Jack Flaherty throws to the plate during the third inning of Game 1 of the World Series against the New York Yankees on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dodgers starting pitcher Jack Flaherty, left, strikes out New York Yankees star Aaron Judge during the third inning of Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dodgers catcher Will Smith tags out New York Yankees star Aaron Judge after Judge struck out on a dropped third strike during the third inning of Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
New York Yankees star Aaron Judge walks toward center field after striking out during the third inning of Game 1 of the World Series against the Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dodgers shortstop Tommy Edman forces out the New York Yankees’ Gleyber Torres at second base as he throws to first to complete a double play on Juan Soto (not pictured) during the third inning of Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani strikes out swinging during the third inning of Game 1 of the World Series against the New York Yankees on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani walks back toward the dugout after striking out swinging during the third inning of Game 1 of the World Series against the New York Yankees on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman breaks his bat on a ground out during the fourth inning of Game 1 of the World Series against the New York Yankees on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman breaks his bat on a ground out during the fourth inning of Game 1 of the World Series against the New York Yankees on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman breaks his bat on a ground out during the fourth inning of Game 1 of the World Series against the New York Yankees on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The New York Yankees’ Alex Verdugo hits a single during the fifth inning of Game 1 of the World Series against the Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy throws out the New York Yankees’ Gleyber Torres (not pictured) during the fifth inning of Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Kike Hernandez hits a triple during the fifth inning of Game 1 of the World Series against the New York Yankees on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Kike Hernandez runs the bases after hitting a triple during the fifth inning of Game 1 of the World Series against the New York Yankees on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Kike Hernandez runs the bases after hitting a triple during the fifth inning of Game 1 of the World Series against the New York Yankees on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Kiki Hernandez #8 of the Los Angeles Dodgers scores past catcher Austin Wells of the New York Yankees on a sac fly ball by teammate Will Smith(not pictured) in the fifth inning during game 1 of a World Series baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Kike Hernandez scores past New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells on a sacrifice fly by Will Smith, not pictured, during the fifth inning of Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Kike Hernandez scores past New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells on a sacrifice fly by Will Smith, not pictured, during the fifth inning of Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Kike Hernandez celebrates after scoring on a sacrifice fly by Will Smith, not pictured, as New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole walks behind him during the fifth inning of Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Kike Hernandez celebrates after scoring on a sacrifice fly by Will Smith, not pictured, as New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole walks behind him during the fifth inning of Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Kike Hernandez, right, celebrates with teammate Gavin Lux after scoring on a sacrifice fly by Will Smith, not pictured, during the fifth inning of Game 1 of the World Series against the New York Yankees on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The New York Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton, right, hits a towering two-run home run off of Dodgers starting pitcher Jack Flaherty, left, during the sixth inning of Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The New York Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton watches the flight of his go-ahead two-run home run during the sixth inning of Game 1 of the World Series against the Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The New York Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton, right, hits a towering two-run home run off of Dodgers starting pitcher Jack Flaherty, left, during the sixth inning of Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The New York Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton, back left, hits a towering two-run home run off of Dodgers starting pitcher Jack Flaherty, front, during the sixth inning of Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The New York Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton celebrates as he begins to run the bases after hitting a go-ahead two-run home run during the sixth inning of Game 1 of the World Series against the Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The New York Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton celebrates as he begins to run the bases after hitting a go-ahead two-run home run during the sixth inning of Game 1 of the World Series against the Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dodgers starting pitcher Jack Flaherty rubs up a new ball after giving up a go-ahead two-run home run to the New York Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton (not pictured) during the sixth inning of Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The New York Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton, right, high-fives a teammate after hitting a go-ahead two-run home run during the sixth inning of Game 1 of the World Series against the Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The New York Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton, right, celebrates with teammate Juan Soto after hitting a go-ahead two-run home run during the sixth inning of Game 1 of the World Series against the Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The New York Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton, right, celebrates with teammate Anthony Rizzo after hitting a go-ahead two-run home run during the sixth inning of Game 1 of the World Series against the Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The New York Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton celebrates in the dugout after hitting a go-ahead two-run home run during the sixth inning of Game 1 of the World Series against the Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman hits a walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning to give them a 6-3 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman, center, is mobbed by teammates after hitting a walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning to give them a 6-3 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
LOS ANGELES — For 36 years, the Dodgers have been waiting for their next Kirk Gibson moment. They might have just gotten it.
Hobbled by a sprained ankle throughout this postseason, Freeman put an exclamation mark on a Game 1 that packed enough drama to fill an entire seven-game series. His walkoff grand slam with two outs in the 10th inning lifted the Dodgers to a 6-3 come-from-behind victory over the New York Yankees on Friday night.
It was the first walkoff grand slam in World Series history. Only two players have hit a walkoff home run while trailing with two outs in a World Series game — Gibson in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series and Freeman in Game 1 of the 2024 World Series.
“I played the whole game, though,” Freeman said of the comparisons.
Gibson’s iconic homer came in a pinch-hit appearances, his only at-bat of that Series.
“I’m probably one of, like, two people in here that was alive when that happened,” 37-year-old reliever Daniel Hudson said.
“It was almost the same situation obviously. Bottom of the ninth, Game 1 of the World Series, a lefty comes up and absolutely nukes one. The comparisons between the two are just really freaking cool. Just to be a part of it was awesome.”
The Yankees were on the verge of taking the early advantage in the best-of-seven series after left fielder Alex Verdugo made a spectacular catch of Shohei Ohtani’s foul fly for the second out of the 10th inning. After the Yankees intentionally walked Mookie Betts to load the bases, Freeman jumped on the first pitch he saw from left-hander Nestor Cortes and lined it into the right field seats.
“When you’re five years old with your two older brothers and you’re playing wiffle ball in the backyard, those are the scenarios you dream about – two outs, bases loaded in a World Series game,” Freeman said, describing the feeling as he rounded the bases as “floating.”
“For it to actually happen and get a home run and walk it off to give us a 1-0 lead (in the series) – that’s as good as it gets right there.”
Freeman raised his bat high as the sellout crowd of 52,394 exploded, making the ground rumble and the stands rock.
“I cannot believe what just happened,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “That’s what makes the Fall Classic a classic, right, because the stars come out and superstars make big plays, get big hits, in the biggest of moments. … I’m speechless right now.”
It was the most dramatic ending to a World Series game at Dodger Stadium since Max Muncy’s walkoff home run in the 18th inning of Game 3 in 2018, the longest game in World Series history.
“When I hit mine you kind of black out in that moment. So I don’t remember a lot from that moment,” Muncy said. “This one I was able to see a lot more what went on – the reactions, you feel the ground shaking, the fans, the teammates.
“I was actually standing on the top step (of the dugout), talking to Doc and I was holding my bat and saying, ‘There’s actually no way I can get up this inning. I don’t know why I have my bat.’ I was going to go on deck because you have to help the guy if there’s a passed ball or something. So I was just standing there thinking, ‘Why am I holding my bat?’ As soon as he hit it, I just launched my bat.”
The Yankees will try to even the series on Saturday in Game 2. Yoshinobu Yamamoto is scheduled to start for the Dodgers against Yankees left-hander Carlos Rodón with first pitch scheduled for 5:08 p.m.
“We can’t sit here and mope,” Yankees slugger Aaron Judge said. “Learn from it, where we can improve, and try to win the next one.”
Just when we all thought dominant starting pitching in the postseason had gone the way of dodo birds, eight-track tapes and affordable housing – up popped a pitchers’ duel between Gerrit Cole and Jack Flaherty.
Cole gave up a two-out triple to Freeman in the first inning. Alex Verdugo misplayed the carom off the wall in foul territory, allowing the gimpy-legged (but rested) Freeman to get all the way to third.
“This last week has been really good for me,” Freeman said. “The first time I ran was when I ran out to give high fives to my teammates when we got introduced (before the game).”
Cole retired Teoscar Hernandez to strand Freeman – and 10 more Dodgers in a row after that. Kiké Hernandez broke the string when he lined his own triple into the right-field corner in the fifth inning. This time, Will Smith lined a sacrifice fly to right field, Hernandez tagging and just beating the throw home with a head-first slide for the first run of this World Series.
Flaherty was coming off a troublesome start in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series when he gave up eight runs and lasted just three innings. His fastball velocity was back up and he held the Yankees scoreless through five innings.
Juan Soto led off the sixth inning with a single. Flaherty struck out presumptive American League MVP Judge for the third time in the game.
That brought up Giancarlo Stanton, who looked bad as he swung and missed at two low breaking balls. After Flaherty misfired with a high fastball, he went to the well one more time. Stanton golfed that one high into the air 412 feet down the left field line and over the Dodgers’ bullpen for a two-run home run.
It was Stanton’s 17th career postseason home run, sixth this postseason (he was the ALCS MVP) including one in each of the past four games. It held up as the difference in the game until the eighth inning.
Shohei Ohtani lined a double off the right field wall that missed going over by just a couple feet in the eighth inning. The Yankees misplayed the relay throw, a critical mistake that allowed Ohtani to go to third base. He trotted home from there when Mookie Betts flew out to center field, tying the score.
More drama awaited at the left field wall.
With two outs in the ninth, Gleyber Torres hit a long fly ball to the wall in left that a fan reached over and snatched. Ruled fan interference, Torres was stopped at second base. Roberts put his head in the lion’s mouth – intentionally walking Soto to bring up Judge – and pulled it out when Blake Treinen got Judge to pop out.
Treinen struck out Stanton to start the 10th inning but gave up a single to Jazz Chisholm who stole second against Treinen’s slow-developing motion. The Dodgers intentionally walked Anthony Rizzo and Chisholm stole third.
With the infield in, Anthony Volpe hit a grounder up the middle that Edman dove and smothered. But he could only shovel the ball to Lux at second base for a force out as the deciding run scored.
A walk and a single put the tying and winning runs on base for Ohtani with one out in the 10th. But Verdugo made his running catch, tumbling into the stands. That allowed the runners to move up and prompted the Yankees to walk Betts.
“Just taking the left-on-left matchup there. No, I didn’t deliberate long,” said Yankees manager Aaron Boone who brought in Nestor Cortes to face Ohtani. Cortes was a starter all season until a flexor strain sent him to the Injured List in September. He was not on the Yankees’ playoff roster until the World Series.
“The reality is he’s been throwing the ball really 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 if (another lefty reliever) Tim Hill gets him on the ground and then Mookie behind him is a tough matchup there. So I felt convicted with Nestor in that spot.”
Freeman jumped on a first-pitch fastball and lined it at 109.2 mph off the bat. The rest was history.
“One of the most, if not the most incredible game I’ve ever been a part of,” said Chris Taylor, on base for Freeman’s slam as a pinch-runner. “You couldn’t have written a better ending. Freddie’s been through a lot, this whole season but this whole postseason as well, battling through injury. For him to be the guy to come up in that big spot, it was perfect.”
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