The Dodgers won Game 1 of the 120th World Series, 6-3, coming back in the 10th inning as Freddie Freeman hit a walk-off grand slam. It was the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history and the first walk-off home run since Adolis García hit a walk-off solo shot in Game 1 last year.
It was just the second walk-off home run in the World Series that came on the first pitch of the at-bat with Freeman joining Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle, who ended Game 3 of the 1964 Fall Classic with one swing.
Entering the night, Freeman had seven career grand slams, including two this season as he homered in the third inning on May 20th and a go-ahead slam in the eighth inning on July 19th. It was his sixth career walk-off home run, joining September 25, 2020 against Boston (2-run HR in 11th inning); May 18, 2019 against Milwaukee (solo HR in 10th inning); June 1, 2016 (solo HR in 11th inning); June 17, 2013 (2-run HR in 9th inning); and September 25, 2012 (2-run HR in 9th inning).
Walk It Off
Overall, it was the 62nd walk-off win in World Series history. It was the fifth time ever that the Dodgers won a World Series game in walk-off fashion, joining 2018 Game 3 (Max Muncy solo homer in 18th inning); 1988 Game 1 (Kirk Gibson two-run homer in 9th inning); 1956 Game 6 (Jackie Robinson single in 10th inning); and 1947 Game 4 (Cookie Lavagetto two-run double in 9th inning). It was the eighth time in World Series history that the Yankees lost in walk-off fashion and the first time since Game 4 of the 2003 World Series when Alex Gonzalez clubbed a solo homer in the bottom of the 12th inning.
Freeman’s grand slam was the Dodgers’ second grand slam of this Postseason after Teoscar Hernández hit a grand slam in Game 3 of the NLDS against San Diego. The Dodgers are one of 10 clubs (14th occurrence) with multiple grand slams in a single Postseason joining the 2024 Mets; the 2023 Rangers; the 2021 Red Sox; the 2020 Yankees; the 2016 Cubs; the 2013 Red Sox; the 2011 Diamondbacks; the 1998 Braves; the 1992 Braves; the 1987 Twins; the 1977 Dodgers; the 1970 Orioles and the 1956 Yankees. Other Dodgers to hit a grand slam in the Postseason include: Max Muncy (NLCS G3, 2020); Kiké Hernández (NLCS G5, 2017); James Loney (NLDS G1, 2008); Dusty Baker (NLCS G2, 1977); and Ron Cey (NLCS G1, 1977).
Free Baseball
Tonight marked the 63rd game in World Series history that went to extra-innings. Including last year’s 11-inning Game 1 between the Rangers and Diamondbacks and the 10-inning Game 1 between the Phillies and Astros in 2022, Game 1 of the World Series has gone to extra-innings in three consecutive years. It was the fifth time the Dodgers and Yankees went to extra innings in the World Series, following Game 4 in 1978 (NYY, 4-3 in 10 innings); 1977 Game 1 (NYY, 4-2 in 12 innings); 1956 Game 6 (BRO, 1-0 in 10 innings); and 1952 Game 5 (BRO, 6-5 in 11 innings). Overall, it was the ninth time (4-5) that a Dodgers’ World Series game went to extra-innings and the 20th (11-8-1) time a Yankees’ World Series game went past regulation.
Raw Power
Giancarlo Stanton put the Yankees ahead with a two-run blast in the sixth inning, marking his fourth straight Postseason game with a home run. Along with his home runs in Games 3,4 and 5 of the ALCS, he has hit a home run in at least four consecutive Postseason games for the second time in his career, after he homered in a Yankees’ franchise-record five straight games in the 2020 Postseason. Stanton is the first player in Postseason history to homer in four consecutive games on two different occasions. Other players with a homer in at least four consecutive Postseason games include: Adolis García (5-game streak, 2023); George Springer (5-game streak, 2017); Daniel Murphy (6-game streak, 2015); Evan Longoria (4-game streak, 2008); Carlos Beltrán (5-game streak, 2004); Juan Gonzalez (4-game streak, 1996); and Jeffrey Leonard (4-game streak, 1987).
The longball marked Stanton’s 17th career Postseason home run, which are tied with Bryce Harper; Hall of Famer David Ortiz; and Hall of Famer Jim Thome for the 14th-most all-time. With his next Postseason home run, Stanton will tie Nelson Cruz, Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson, and Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle for 10th-most all-time. The homer, which left Stanton’s bat at 116.6 MPH, is the hardest-hit batted ball in the World Series under Statcast (2015).
Comeback Kids
Shohei Ohtani hit a one-out double in the eighth inning, advancing to third on a fielding error as the throw into second base skipped away from Gleyber Torres, before coming around to score on a sacrifice fly by Mookie Betts. The Dodgers rallied back from another one-run deficit in the 10th inning as Freddie Freeman hit a walk-off grand slam.
Per Elias, it is the first time since 2011 and fourth time ever that a club rallied back to tie or take the lead multiple times in the eighth inning-orlater in a World Series game. Previously the Cardinals rallied back in Game 6 of the 2011 World Series against Texas behind clutch hits from David Freese; the Mets rallied back in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series, famously known for Bill Buckner’s error at first base; and the Red Sox rallied back in Game 2 of the 1912 World Series, with the game ending in a tie.
Running Wild
Jazz Chisholm Jr. scored the go-ahead run in the 10th inning, knocking a one-out single before stealing second and third base and coming around to score on a groundout by Anthony Volpe. It was the 17th time in World Series history that a player stole multiple bases in an inning and the first time since Mookie Betts swiped two bags in the fifth inning of Game 1 in the 2020 World Series.
Chisholm also stole second base in the sixth inning and his three stolen bases are tied for the most in a World Series game, joining Rajai Davis (2016 G5); B.J. Upton (2008 G3); Hall of Famer Lou Brock (2x – 1968 G3 and 1967 G7); Willie Davis (1965 G5); and Hall of Famer Honus Wagner (1909 G3). Along with Volpe’s stolen base of second later in the frame, the Yankees tied the World Series record with three stolen bases in the inning, marking the first time it happened since the fifth inning of Game 1 in the 2020 World Series.
Pitching Duel
Jack Flaherty and Gerrit Cole went toe-to-toe, keeping the game scoreless through the first four innings. It was the first time that Game 1 of the World Series was scoreless through four innings since Game 1 in 2000, when the Yankees did not score until the bottom of the sixth inning to take a 2-0 lead over the Mets.
Flaherty, who struck out six batters across 5.1 innings, generated 19 swing and misses. His 19 swing and misses were his second-most in a Postseason start after he got 23 swing and misses in Game 2 of the 2019 NLDS.
Cole allowed just one run on four hits with no walks and four strikeouts across 6.0 innings of work. After throwing 7.0 innings in Game 4 of the ALDS against Cleveland, Cole is one of four pitchers to throw at least 6.0 innings in multiple starts this Postseason, joining Yu Darvish (2 starts), Luis Severino (2 starts) and Tarik Skubal (3 starts). Cole has tossed at least 6.0 innings and allowed one-or-fewer runs in nine of his first 21 career Postseason games. He is just the third pitcher in Postseason history with at least nine games of at least 6.0 innings and one-or-fewer runs in his first 21 career Postseason appearances, joining Curt Schilling (10 games) and Hall of Famer John Smoltz (9 games).
Three Baggers
Freddie Freeman legged out a triple in the first inning, marking the first hit of the Fall Classic. It is the first triple by a first baseman in the World Series since Yandy Díaz in Game 5 of the 2020 World Series. Other Dodger first baseman with a triple in a World Series game include: David Freese (G5, 2018); Cody Bellinger (G5, 2017); Steve Garvey (G6, 1977); Wes Parker (G7, 1965); Hall of Famer Gil Hodges (G5, 1959); Ed Jonetchy (G5, 1920 WS); and Jake Daubert (G3, 1916 WS).
Kiké Hernández added a triple in the fifth inning, marking the seventh time in Dodgers’ Postseason history that they registered two triples in a game, joining Game 1 of the 2017 NLDS; Game 3 of the 2013 NLCS; Game 1 of the 1978 NLCS; Game 2 of the 1963 World Series; Game 3 of the 1916 World Series; and Game 1 of the 1916 World Series. It is the first time that a club had multiple triples in a World Series game since the Yankees had two triples in Game 4 of the 2000 World Series. Overall, it was the 42nd time in World Series history in which a club hit multiple triples.
26 Candles
Juan Soto celebrated his 26th birthday in style, going 1-for-3 with two walks and a run scored. He is the first player to tally a hit in the World Series on his birthday since Eric Hosmer in Game 3 in 2014. Soto is just the second player with at least one hit and at least one walk in a World Series game on his birthday, joining Keith Hernandez, who had two singles and two walks in Game 7 of the 1982 World Series. Soto, who also celebrated his 21st birthday in Game 3 of the 2019 World Series, is just the fourth player to play multiple World Series game on his birthday joining Rafael Belliard (October 24 in 1991, 1992 and 1995); Frankie Crosetti (October 4 in 1936 and 1939); and Maury Wills (October 2 in 1959 and 1963).
Get On Base
All nine batters in the Yankees’ starting lineup reached base safely tonight, with eight batters tallying a hit. It is the first time that each batter of the Yankees’ starting lineup reached base in a World Series game since Game 2 of the 2003 World Series. Game 2 of the 2003 World Series also marked the last time that at least eight batters in New York’s starting lineup had a base hit.
