What a game! Dodgers players all showed up for this win. Flaherty was great, Ohtani looked dangerous, and Freddie Freeman! Giancarlo Stanton showed up big for the Yankees, while Chisholm Jr. was just unstoppable on the bases. If you missed the action you may want to find a way to watch a replay of this game somehow. This is setting up to be an incredibly close and insanely entertaining series.
Summary
Game 1 of the World Series was setting up to be a slug fest with all the stars that dawn the lineup card. Though in this game it was Jack Flaherty and Gerrit Cole that were locked in a pitching duel. The Yankees got on base early in the first inning with Juan Soto being walked and Stanton reached on a fielders choice. They would be left stranded though. Freddie Freeman would hit a triple in the top off the first, but would also be left stranded. Through the first four innings, Cole and Flaherty had only given up four hits total. The fifth is when it really started to open up.
To start the bottom of the fifth, Max Muncy was just trying to get on base, as he even tried a bunt at this at bat. It did not work and he struck out swinging. Next up was Enrique Hernandez, and he was able to hit a line drive to right field and end up on third. Two hits for the Dodgers, two triples at this point. Hernandez was able to cross home after Will Smith sacrifice flied to right. That was all for LA in the fifth.
Top of the sixth for the Yankees with Soto, Judge, and Stanton due up. Soto singled on a hit to center, that would bring Judge up. Unfortunately for New York, Judge struck out swinging, continuing his post season struggles. Luckily though their hottest hitter was on deck in Stanton. And he continued his stellar post season play with a two run home run to put the Yankees up by one.
That may have been where Jack Flaherty’s night ended, but the Dodgers 6th inning was not over yet. Chisholm Jr. would single and then steal second. Dodgers would elect to walk Anthony Volpe bringing up Austin Wells. He would single, advancing the runners and loading the bases. The threat would fizzle out as Alex Verdugo struck out swinging.
Fast forward to the bottom of the 8th, the Dodgers need a run to stay in the game. When they needed him most, Shohei Ohtani showed up. He hit a double to right field, but after a bobble of the ball at second and a lack of coverage in the infield, Ohtani was able to take third. Mookie Betts would sacrifice fly and Ohtani would tie the game.
It would be tied after nine innings so we would head to the tenth. In the top of the 10th, Chisholm Jr. would single, but he would not stay there long. He would not only steal second, but he would take third as well. He would be driven in by Anthony Volpe and the Yankees would take the lead to the bottom of the tenth.
With one out, Gavin Lux would walk. Tommy Edman would single to bring up Shohei Ohtani to try at least tie the game. Ohtani would fly out after a spectacular catch by Alex Verdugo. Runners would advance to second and third. Yankees would intentionally walk Mookie Betts and load the bases to face Freddie Freeman. Freeman would launch the ball out of the park and end the game with a walk off grand slam to take Game 1 for the Dodgers.
Big Takeaways
Flaherty Showed Well
Jack Flaherty has struggled this postseason so far. Carrying an ERA over 7 into the World Series, does not make you confident he would perform. Flaherty came out and showed well. Only giving up five hits and two runs in 5.1 innings. Before the sixth, the Yankees were only able to get three hits and no runs. Good outing for Flaherty.
Judge Struggles Continue While Stanton Stay Hot
Aaron Judge has had a below average in postseason and that continued in the World Series. With 36 at bats, .167 batting average, 2 home runs, and 6 RBIs. It just is not the Judge we are used to watching. Stanton on the other hand would stay hot with a 2 run home run. Giancarlo Stanton has been the most consistent Yankee and arguably one of the best offensive players of this post season.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. Is A Menace On The Bases
Jazz Chisholm Jr. is an absolute handful on the bases. He had three stolen bases in this game and was the reason that the Yankees had the lead in the tenth.
Freddie Freeman
There is not much to say other than Freddie Freeman. He has been injured all postseason long and he stepped up big. He went 2 for 5 at the plate, but the walk off grand slam in the tenth will end up being the story of this game.
Series Outlook
Game 1 goes to the Dodgers. Purely based on this game, this is going to be a long series. The obvious questions would when is Judge going to show up in the series as he was silent in this game. Is Ohtani going to take over a game or this series as he showed glimpses of being able to do just that in Game 1. The final one is how is the Dodgers pitching going to do for the rest of the series. Flaherty played well, but they will need at the very least good outings from Yamamoto and Buehler to grab the reins of this series.
Game 2 goes tomorrow in LA, start time is again 5:08pm PST. This is must watch baseball.
Stayed tuned here at Area 51 for all the World Series coverage you need!
