Freddie Freeman hit the first game-ending grand slam in World Series history with two outs in the 10th inning to give the Los Angeles Dodgers a 6-3 victory over the New York Yankees in a drama-filled opener on Friday.
“Might be the greatest baseball moment I’ve ever witnessed, and I’ve witnessed some great ones,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
Hobbled by a badly sprained right ankle, Freeman homered on the first pitch he saw — a 92mph (148kph) inside fastball from Nestor Cortes — and raised his bat high before beginning his trot as the sellout crowd of 52,394 roared.
Photo: EPA-EFE
“I cannot believe what just happened,” 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 reminiscent of Kirk Gibson’s stunning homer that lifted Los Angeles over the Oakland Athletics in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series at Dodger Stadium — one of the most famous swings in baseball lore.
Gibson, sidelined by leg injuries, came off the bench and connected against Hall of Fame closer Dennis Eckersley. “I played the whole game, though,” Freeman said with a smile.
Photo: EPA-EFE
Freeman, an eight-time All-Star who missed three games during the National League playoffs because of his bum ankle, did not have an extra-base hit this postseason until legging out a triple in the first inning on Friday.
“Actually felt pretty good,” said Freeman, who donated his game spikes to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
“The last six days we treated it really well. I’ve been feeling pretty good. Right when I ran out to give high-fives to my teammates, I felt pretty good, because that was the first time I ran all week. So, ankle’s good,” he added.
After the home run, Freeman ran over to his father.
“I was just screaming in his face. I’m sorry, dad,” Freeman said, laughing.
“He’s been there since I was a little boy, throwing batting practice to me every day. So this is a moment, it’s my dad’s moment,” he said.
Giancarlo Stanton launched a two-run homer for New York in this much-hyped, star-studded matchup between two of baseball’s most storied and successful franchises — the third straight World Series opener to go extra innings.
“You can’t sit here and mope. You can’t sit here and complain. You can’t shoulda, coulda, woulda,” Yankees slugger Aaron Judge said.
“It’s time to go to work. We lost this game. Learn from it. See where we can improve and go out there and win the next one,” he said.
In the top of the 10th, Anthony Volpe grounded into a fielder’s choice to shortstop, scoring Jazz Chisholm Jr from third after he stole two bases, to give New York a 3-2 lead.
Tommy Edman made a diving stop to his left on Volpe’s grounder, but could not get it out of his glove initially. He tossed to second to get Rizzo out as Chisholm came flying home with the go-ahead run.
But the Dodgers were not done.
Gavin Lux walked against losing pitcher Jake Cousins with one out in the bottom of the 10th and went to second on Edman’s infield single to second. Defensive replacement Oswaldo Cabrera knocked down the ball with his glove but it leaked into the outfield.
That brought up star slugger Shohei Ohtani, a left-handed hitter. Yankees manager Aaron Boone went to his bullpen again for Cortes, a lefty starter who had not pitched since Sept. 18 because of an elbow injury.
Left fielder Alex Verdugo made a running catch in foul territory to retire Ohtani on Cortes’ first pitch.
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