Freddie Freeman’s World Series Game 1 Grand Slam Shocked Baseball Fans on Social Media
Game 1 of the 2024 World Series between the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers more than lived up to the hype, with the Dodgers winning an extra-innings thriller on the back of a 10th-inning Freddie Freeman walk-off grand slam.
Freeman stepped to the plate with two outs and the Dodgers trailing 3-2, facing off with Yankees lefty Nestor Cortes. Cortes was pitching in his first game in more than a month, having been activated off the injured list earlier Friday. He was initially brought in to face Shohei Ohtani, who he retired immediately after a dramatic catch from Alex Verdugo. The Yankees then opted to walk Mookie Betts to face Freeman, and Aaron Boone’s decision-making was questioned by many.
Nestor Cortes throwing two fastballs in the low 90s down the middle to Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman: pic.twitter.com/zEPJ0211yp
— Matt Mamba (@MattMamba24) October 26, 2024
Bringing in the gimmick pitcher Nestor Cortes to pitch for the first time in a month against Ohtani and then intentionally walking to face Freeman
Certainly some bold choices from ol’ Boone in the Yanks dugout that got exactly what it deserved
— Darby Robinson (@darby_robinson) October 26, 2024
I think it’s absolutely insane that Boone elected to take out his closer knowing that if it got to Ohtani his ace in the hole was … Nestor Cortes out of the bullpen without having pitched in a real game for 6 weeks
— Nick Regina (@NickRegina_5) October 26, 2024
New York had fallen behind 1-0 early, but Giancarlo Stanton continued his historic October when he hit a two-run moonshot in the top of the sixth inning to give the Yankees a 2-0 lead. Stanton’s postseason is the strongest of any Yankee since Alex Rodriguez and his heroics in 2009, the last time the Yankees won a World Series.
GIANCARLO STANTON
DOES IT AGAIN
FOUR STRAIGHT GAMESARE YOU KIDDING?! pic.twitter.com/sSVXe5QMW3
— MLB (@MLB) October 26, 2024
Most go-ahead HR in 6th inning or later in a single postseason in MLB history:
2024 Giancarlo Stanton – 3
2022 Yordan Alvarez – 3
2002 Troy Glaus – 3 https://t.co/pgGJSTsBXD— Katie Sharp (@SharpStats17) October 26, 2024
The Yankees bullpen has been virtually unhittable this postseason, and provided quality relief after Gerrit Cole was pulled in the seventh inning. Changeup specialist Tommy Kahnle came in, and managed to retire the Dodgers.
The @Yankees escape another jam 😳 #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/pUEja8xK7j
— MLB (@MLB) October 26, 2024
The Dodgers would tie the game on a sacrifice fly after a misplay by Gleyber Torres on a Shohei Ohtani double. Torres would step to the plate in the ninth inning and hit what appeared to be a go-ahead home run. However, fan interference was called on the play, and he was pushed back to second base. He would fail to score. Many cited this as payback for a famous miscall dating back to 1996.
28 years later it happened all over again!
1996. ALCS. Game 1. Yankees – Orioles.
Jeffrey Maier interferes with Derek Jeter’s near home run.2024. World Series. Game 1. Yankees – Dodgers.
This dude interferes with Gleyber Torres’ near home run. pic.twitter.com/uWytFKWqek— Isaac Schade (@isaacschade) October 26, 2024
Dude was being more Steve Bartman and not Jeffrey Maier
GLEYBER TORRES IS NOT ON YOUR TEAM WHAT ARE YOU DOING.#Dodgers #Yankees #WorldSeries https://t.co/NIFpJfpeUx
— J Roca (@JRoc23) October 26, 2024
The game would head to extras, where shortstop Anthony Volpe would give the Yankees the lead on a fielder’s choice after Jazz Chisholm Jr. stole two bases.
Anthony Volpe COMES THROUGH 🤯 #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/gy7ldokGh2
— MLB (@MLB) October 26, 2024
Last extra inning #worldseries RBI for #yankees:
Anthony Volpe 2024
Alfonso Soriano 2001
Derek Jeter 2001
Jose Vizcaino 2000
Chad Curtis 1999— Marc Weber (@MarcWeberSports) October 26, 2024
But the Yankees would ultimately make the perilous decision to face Freeman, who had been coming off of injury himself the past week. His homer echoed Dodgers great Kirk Gibson’s game-winner in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series, a series. the Dodgers would eventually win as underdogs. Joe Davis’ call on the Fox broadcast even echoed the great Vin Scully’s when Gibson walked it off.
Vin Scully’s call of Kirk Gibson’s 1988 WS G1 walk-off home run vs Joe Davis’s call of Freddie Freeman’s walk-off grand slam:
HIGH FLY BALL INTO RIGHT FIELD, SHE IS GONE!
SHE IS GONE! GIBBY, MEET FREDDIE! GAME ONE OF THE WORLD SERIES!
This is what baseball is all about. pic.twitter.com/x2Lu6RuaS1
— MLB Metrics (@MLBMetrics) October 26, 2024
Two of the greatest moments in Dodgers history.
Kirk Gibson, meet Freddie Freeman. pic.twitter.com/4iGMGIjeWG
— Noah Camras (@noahcamras) October 26, 2024
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Game 2 of the series is set for Saturday night at 8 ET. The Yankees will send Carlos Rodón to the hill to face Dodgers star Yoshinobo Yamamoto.