NEW YORK – The Los Angeles Dodgers claimed their eighth World Series title in franchise history Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium and, like their 98-win season and their 11 wins in 16 postseason games, it came in a fashion both wholly predictable and thoroughly stunning.
In a five-run hole in Game 5 and facing New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole, the Dodgers staged a startling fifth-inning rally to tie the score, pushed across two more runs to take the lead for good in the eighth and then closed their eyes and hoped for the best from a bullpen stretched to its limit.
The result? A 7-6 Game 5 victory, a 4-1 conquest of the Yankees and the club’s first World Series title since 2020 and first in a full season since 1988.
‘It seems like we hit every speed bump possible over the course of this year,’ World Series MVP Freddie Freeman said. ‘And to overcome what we did as a group of guys, it’s special. This is what we start out to do every single spring training is to win a championship. I think it’s the hardest thing to do in sports.’
That title was launched by a ninth-inning, Game 1 home run from Kirk Gibson that turned a win into a loss. This championship, too, had a Game 1 walk-off hero Freeman, whose 10th-inning grand slam launched what looked to be a dominance of the Yankees as L.A. won the first three games.
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But the Yankees struck back in Game 4 and seized a 5-0 lead in Game 5 before a pair of rallies – the first keyed by three Yankee misplays – did them in.
Both were started by innocent singles from Kiké Hernandez. The decisive blows lacked Gibson/Freemanesque drama – eighth-inning sacrifice flies from Gavin Lux and Mookie Betts to turn a 6-5 deficit into a 7-6 lead.
‘I’m heartbroken, and I’m heartbroken for those guys that poured so much into this,’ Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. ‘The ending is cruel. It always is.’
And the final bit of heroics came from a bullpen that picked up for starter Jack Flaherty and turned in 23 outs of nearly perfect relief, with a home run and sacrifice fly from Giancarlo Stanton the lone blemishes across the final 7 ⅔ innings.
Blake Treinen, who got the last out of the sixth, pitched a clean seventh and then stranded a pair of runners in the eighth when he struck out Anthony Rizzo on his 42nd pitch.
And then, it was right-hander Walker Buehler’s turn. The Game 3 winner was summoned on a day’s rest and set down the bottom of the Yankees’ order to close it out – the eighth pitcher to work on this night the Dodgers became champions once again.
‘Certainly a lot of emotions from the way it started to certainly the way it finished,’ Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. ‘I’m just so grateful to be in this chair, and what our guys did, the resilience, the fight that they had.’
– Gabe Lacques
World Series 2024 MVP: Freddie Freeman, obviously
NEW YORK — Freddie Freeman clutched the World Series MVP trophy and hoisting it high into the air after the Los Angeles Dodgers’ championship Wednesday night, let his emotions seep out, knowing just what this meant to him.
Freeman carried the Dodgers to a five-game conquest, hitting a home run in each of the first four games, driving in a World Series franchise-record 12 runs.
‘This is everything,’ Freeman said.
Few people outside his own family have the slightest of the frustrations, angst and fear that he endured throughout the season, only to culminate in baseball’s ultimate prize.
– Bob Nightengale
LA Dodgers parade 2024
The Dodgers announced after the game that the team’s long-awaited championship parade will take place on Friday in Los Angeles.
Here’s how Wednesday’s game unfolded at Yankee Stadium:
To the ninth: Dodgers 7, Yankees 6
With runners on first and second and one out, Dodgers right-hander Blake Treinen got Giancarlo Stanton fly out and struck out Anthony Rizzo to end the threat and send the game to the ninth with Los Angeles up 7-6.
Dodgers take eighth-inning lead with two sac flys
NEW YORK – After a wild three nights at Yankee Stadium, the Los Angeles Dodgers suddenly find themselves six outs from a World Series championship.
After overcoming a five-run deficit thanks to a disastrous inning from the New York Yankees, the Dodgers took the lead for the first time in Game 5 by pushing across two runs in the top of the eighth against a pair of Yankee relievers.
The tying and go-ahead blows were sacrifice flies by Gavin Lux and Mookie Betts. The startling moment was a catcher’s interference call on a Shohei Ohtani swing.
And of course, it was all started by Kiké Hernandez, whose leadoff single off Tommy Kahnle started the two-run rally – just as his single in the fifth sparked a five-run inning that erased a 5-0 deficit.
NY regains lead on sacrifice fly: Yankees 6, Dodgers 5
NEW YORK – Giancarlo Stanton restored order in Game 5 of the World Series, putting the New York Yankees back on top with a sacrifice fly.
Then again, in this crazy game, what the hell is order, anyway?
After blowing a five-run lead by giving up five unearned runs in the fifth, the Yankees regained the edge on the Los Angeles Dodgers thanks to reliever Brusdar Graterol, who started the sixth by walking Juan Soto and Aaron Judge, setting up Stanton’s high, relatively deep sacrifice fly one out later, making it a 6-5 game.
While a bigger inning was averted by the Dodgers, they played all their key relief chips just to get through the sixth. Closer Blake Treinen relieved Graterol and got the inning’s final out. He’s also on three days’ rest and may just finish the game – or get as close as he can – if it stays close.
Walker Buehler, the Game 3 starter and winner, jogged down to the bullpen – just in case.
LA makes NY pay after fielding errors: Yankees 5, Dodgers 5
NEW YORK – The New York Yankees gave the Los Angeles Dodgers three extra outs in the fifth inning of World Series Game 5. And that may turn out to be a fatal mistake.
With ace Gerrit Cole working on a no-hitter and sitting on a five-run lead, the Yankees made three egregious misplays, beginning with a muffed fly ball by center fielder Aaron Judge, and culminating in Cole’s failure to cover first base on a grounder to Anthony Rizzo. And the always dangerous Dodgers struck for five runs to tie the game 5-5 heading into the bottom of the fifth.
The big blows ostensibly were struck by Freddie Freeman, who hit a two-run single, and Teoscar Hernandez, who tied the game with a two-run double. Yet those came with an air of inevitability after the Yankees flung the door wide open.
First, Judge, who simply muffed a routine fly from Max Muncy for an error after Kiké Hernandez’s leadoff single. Then, an awkward grounder off Will Smith’s bat into the hole, where Anthony Volpe felt his only play was to third. He bounced the throw for an error.
Cole nearly steadied himself and escaped the bases-loaded jam, striking out Gavin Lux and Shohei Ohtani. Then Mookie Betts topped a grounder down the first base line. It spun and hopped and sliced and hooked and Rizzo stayed down instead of charging it.
Cole did not get off the mound to cover the bag. Betts was safe, it was 5-1 – and moments later, 5-5, all the runs unearned.
Stanton sets Yankees single postseason HR record: Yankees 5, Dodgers 0
NEW YORK – It’s bombs away in the Bronx.
The New York Yankees are sending their home yard out in style in Game 5 of the World Series, as Giancarlo Stanton crushed their third home run of the night to give them a 5-0 lead after three innings.
And it was a blast for the record books: Stanton’s seventh home run marks the most in a single Yankees postseason, although the team’s most decorated legends did not play in the three-round era.
Nonetheless, Stanton’s 105-mph, 385-foot shot off reliever Ryan Brasier created more cushion on a night starter Gerrit Cole is cruising and manager Aaron Boone would love to stay away from his top relievers.
NY chases starter after 35 pitches: Yankees 4, Dodgers 0
NEW YORK – Jack Flaherty shut out the New York Yankees for five innings of World Series Game 1. In Game 5, they chased him after just 35 pitches and four runs.
And now this World Series may be experiencing a reversal of fortune similar to Flaherty’s.
The Yankees seized a 4-0 lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers after two innings of Game 5, chasing Flaherty after he recorded just four outs. Game 4 hero Anthony Volpe laced a leadoff double in the second and came home on Alex Verdugo’s RBI single hit just over the outstretched glove of second baseman Gavin Lux.
That was enough for Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who went to lefty Anthony Banda to finish the second. The teams have an off day Thursday, so Roberts can once again empty his bullpen after saving his top relievers in a Game 4 loss.
But a 3-0 Series lead is now in danger of becoming 3-2 – much to the Bronx’s delight.
Bronx Bombers go back-to-back: Yankees 3, Dodgers 0
NEW YORK – Aaron Judge sent one deep into the Bronx night, and went a long way toward booking a return flight to Los Angeles.
Judge, the embattled slugger whose flaccid postseason dominated the early portion of this World Series, pushed the New York Yankees closer to life by crushing a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning. Jazz Chisholm made it back-to-back shots off Los Angeles Dodgers starter Jack Flaherty and the Yankees took a 3-0 lead in Game 5 of the World Series.
Judge, who came in batting .152 this postseason and just 2 for 15 with seven strikeouts this World Series, drove a first-pitch fastball from Flaherty 403 feet into the right field seats, sending Yankee Stadium into a bobbing sea of bedlam.
Chisholm then hit that eurostep after crossing home, yanking a Flaherty fastball out to right field. Flaherty started the mess by walking Juan Soto on five pitches.
Yankees starter Gerrit Cole? He enjoyed a seven-pitch first inning. Advantage: Yankees. At least in Game 5.
How many teams have rallied from 3-0 World Series deficit?
The New York Yankees face a monumental task in their bid to overcome a 3-0 deficit in this year’s World Series. However, they’ve already defied recent history by taking the first step.
In defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers 11-4 on Tuesday night, the Yankees live to fight another day, with Game 5 on tap Wednesday night in the Bronx.
There have been 25 teams in World Series history who have trailed 3-0. The Yankees are one of just four to have even forced a Game 5. Of those four teams, none has ever made it to a Game 6.
– Steve Gardner
Yankees lineup today: World Series Game 5
Gleyber Torres (R) 2B
Juan Soto (L) RF
Aaron Judge (R) CF
Jazz Chisholm Jr. (L) 3B
Giancarlo Stanton (R) DH
Anthony Rizzo (L) 1B
Anthony Volpe (R) SS
Austin Wells (L) C
Alex Verdugo (L) LF
Dodgers lineup today
Shohei Ohtani (L) DH
Mookie Betts (R) RF
Freddie Freeman (L) 1B
Teoscar Hernández (R) LF
Max Muncy (L) 3B
Enrique Hernández (R) CF
Tommy Edman (S) SS
Will Smith (R) C
Gavin Lux (L) 2B
Yankee fans banned after fan interference on Mookie Betts
The two New York Yankees fans who were ejected from Game 4 on Tuesday night for interfering with Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts won’t be back in their seats down the right field line for tonight’s game.
Despite his initial claim made to ESPN, season-ticket holder Austin Capobianco and his friend John Peter will not be allowed back in the ballpark for Game 5 on Wednesday, the Yankees announced.
‘The Yankees and Major League Baseball maintain a zero-tolerance policy toward the type of behavior displayed last night,’ the Yankees said in a statement. ‘These fans will not be permitted to attend tonight’s game in any capacity.”
– Steve Gardner
Yankees, inspired by Red Sox ’04 comeback, want to make history
NEW YORK − The electronic board in the New York Yankees clubhouse Tuesday night revealed their strategy in this World Series for everyone to see.
“Win Tomorrow Fly Thursday.’
The Yankees plan to be on that flight to Los Angeles after trouncing the Dodgers, 11-4, and staying alive in the World Series, with their players reiterating the mantra made famous by Kevin Millar of the Boston Red Sox in 2004.
“Don’t Let Us Win Tonight.’
It was the year the Red Sox became the first and only baseball team in postseason history to be down 3 games to 0 and come back and win the series against the Yankees in the ALCS, leading to their first World Series title since 1918.
The documentary of that historic comeback was just released on Netflix.
“I’d like to make another one,’ Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo grinned.
− Bob Nightengale
What’s the record for most home runs in a World Series?
Freddie Freeman has hit four home runs in the World Series − one in each of the first four games. Can tie the record (5) in Game 5? If so, he would joins:
Reggie Jackson (Yankees, 1977)
Chase Utley (Phillies, 2009)
George Springer (Astros, 2017)
Ironically, Jackson’s five home runs came for the Yankees, who defeated the Dodgers in six games. In 2009, the Yankees defeated the Phillies in six games despite Utley’s five home runs. Finally, in 2017, Springer achieved this feat in seven games.
Dodgers punt, preserve best relievers for Game 5
NEW YORK – The champagne was on ice. The Commissioner’s Trophy was lurking, somewhere, in the bowels of Yankee Stadium. And Game 4 of the World Series – and a sweep of the New York Yankees – was there for the taking.
Yet for the Los Angeles Dodgers, trusting the process that guided them to a National League pennant and built a 3-0 lead over New York in this Fall Classic remained paramount.
So, when reliever Daniel Hudson, nursing a one-run lead in the third inning, lost his command and sprayed the ball all over the strike zone, manager Dave Roberts let him ride it out – even as it resulted in a go-ahead grand slam from Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe.
When the Dodgers clawed back to within one run in the fifth inning, the Dodgers’ high-leverage relievers remained holstered – and long man Landon Knack gave up a home run an inning later to Austin Wells.
And then, trailing by just two runs heading into the bottom of the eighth, the last man on the pitching roster, right-hander Brent Honeywell, was tasked with keeping it close – and instead ended up wearing it all, giving up five runs to put the game out of reach.
Game 4 of the World Series was a different animal. With the Dodgers holding a 3-0 Series lead, there’d be no closer Blake Treinen, no fire-balling set-up man Michael Kopech, no Ryan Brasier or deathly lefties Alex Vesia or Anthony Banda – not unless the Dodgers held a lead and could nail down the championship.
“We’ve got all the faith in the world in Doc,” says catcher Will Smith, who hit a solo home run and guided the Dodgers’ four pitchers through this night. “This whole postseason, he’s been doing that, so sticking with him, he’s been doing great.
“We’re just trying to manage this whole series, keep everything fresh and ready to go. Be back tomorrow, everybody will be healthy.”
– Gabe Lacques
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