Walk Off Grand Slam Wins Game One of the World Series for the Dodgers

By Carson Kass

Last night the Dodgers stunned the Yankees in LA as first baseman Freddie Freeman launched a grand slam to right, the first walk off grand slam in World Series history. The series has been a tale of two teams from different places. Both teams are frequent championship favorites, but back at the top for the first time in years.

This game started as a pitchers duel as Yankee’s ace Gerrit Cole went five innings scoreless till Dodgers center fielder Enrique Hernandez mashed one to right that turned into a triple. Catcher Will Smith would bring him in on a sac-fly just a few pitches later.

New York’s offense responded quickly with a majestic two-run bomb in the sixth. The California product has been impossible to stop, his second game in a row with a two run go-ahead blast. 

With the game on the line down 2-1, Los Angeles got life on a (triple/double with error) from Shohei Ohtani. Receiving a 700 million dollar contract in the off season, the Dodgers signing of the two-way superstar was a clear sign of what this team wanted this year. It’s a clear win or bust for the City of Angels. 

Ohtani was driven in by Mookie Betts, another superstar from this loaded Dodgers team. Bettts came over from Boston in 2020, and was a key contributor to the shortened season World Series win for LA. They are searching for their first full-season championship 

Betts’s tying hit extended the game into extras. The Yankees pounced early. Third baseman Jazz Chisholm belted a single into right that placed him on first. He stole second and third and was driven in by shortstop Anthony Volpe.

In the bottom of the tenth, with two aboard, Shohei Ohtani popped out to left. An excellent play by New York left fielder Alex Vedugo kept the game 3-2 for the Yankees. Up came Mookie Betts who was intentionally walked in favor of a more favored matchup.

A hobbled Freddie Freeman came to the plate, but a hurt ankle couldn’t stop him. On the first pitch he saw, the 35 year old smashed a walk-off slam into the seats, securing game one in LA for the Dodgers. He dedicated his hit to his father after the game.

“My approach is because of him. I am who I am because of him. It was kind of spur of the moment,” Freeman said.

Game 2 is tonight at 8:08 pm at Dodger Stadium. New York hopes to rally a win before they bring the series back to Yankee Stadium for game three.