Freeman hits bomb as Dodgers win World Series opener

LOS ANGELES: Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman hit a walk-off grand slam on Friday to end a back and forth first game in the Major League Baseball (MLB) World Series against New York.

Some fantastic pitching from Jack Flaherty and Gerrit Cole kept each other’s teams contained, as the Dodgers and Yankees were through four innings without a run scored. Will Smith would finally get the breakthrough for the Dodgers with a sacrifice fly to right field, allowing Kike Hernandez, who made his way to third the play prior with a one out triple, to reach home.

The Yankees answered in a big way in the top of the sixth, as Giancarlo Stanton hit an absolute bomb to left field to bring in himself and Juan Soto who had made his way to first base earlier. With the score 2-1 for New York, things looked to be getting worse for Los Angeles, as a single, a walk, and another single loaded the bases. However, Yankees’ outfielder Alex Verdugo wasn’t able to capitalise.

Despite a double from NLCS MVP Tommy Edman to lead off the bottom of the sixth, followed by taking third base on a grounder from Ohtani, no run would score for the Dodgers in the inning. They would end the seventh inning in similar fashion, leaving a runner stranded on third.

Ohtani would bring life back into the Los Angeles crowd after hitting a double off the centre field wall. The two-time MVP would take third on a throwing error by Soto, before Mookie Betts hit a sacrifice fly to centre field, allowing Ohtani to score. The game was now tied at 2-2 heading into the ninth.

And it would remain tied until the tenth. Yankees’ third baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. would hit a one out single to right field, before stealing second and third soon after. Anthony Volpe would then hit a grounder to shortstop on which Chisolm would score.

With the Yankees up by one heading in to the bottom of the tenth, it was do or die for Los Angeles. Thankfully for the Dodgers, Freddie Freeman was there to save the day. After intentionally walking Mookie Betts, the Yankees loaded the bases, with Chris Taylor (running for Gavin Lux) on third, and Edman on second.

Freeman would make them pay dearly, hitting a rocket to right field on the very first pitch he saw, for a walk-off grand slam. Fans erupted in cheers and screams, waving their blue towels with fervour.

The Los Angeles Dodgers lead the World Series 1-0 against the New York Yankees after a thrilling first game.