Scott pilgrim vs the world game
Top of the fourth: Mookie Betts led off with a walk. Aaron Judge made a jumping catch into the left-center field wall to rob Freddie Freeman of a potential extra-base hit comic play casino legit. Teoscar Hernández grounded out to first and Max Muncy lined out to Judge in center field.
“I just liked the matchup,” Boone said postgame. “The reality is he’s been throwing the ball real well the last few weeks as he’s gotten ready for this. I knew with one out there it would be tough to double up Shohei (Ohtani) if Tim Hill gets him on the ground. With Mookie behind him, I felt content with Nester in that spot.”
In the top of the fifth inning, New York’s sketchy defense forced Gerrit Cole, who cruised through four innings, to get six outs, and when you give a team as good as the Dodgers three — three! — extra outs, you’re going to pay. Judge dropped a routine fly ball in center, Anthony Volpe’s throw to third base was poor, and Cole didn’t bother to cover first base. Three outs not made.
Game 1 world series
“The adrenaline rush was amazing,” he said. “I was 88-90 in my live, and I was 92 here. I got more of that. I know I’m going to get another opportunity. And I’m going to take the ball when my name is called.”
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman is mobbed by teammates at home plate after his walk-off grand slam home run during the 10th inning in Game 1 of the baseball World Series against the New York Yankees, Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Dodgers won the NLCS on Sunday and that gave Freeman four days to get off his feet and let the ankle heal. It certainly looked like it helped. Freeman tripled in his first at-bat of Game 1 — it was a double that Alex Verdugo misplayed into a triple — and then clubbed a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the tenth. To the action footage:
“The adrenaline rush was amazing,” he said. “I was 88-90 in my live, and I was 92 here. I got more of that. I know I’m going to get another opportunity. And I’m going to take the ball when my name is called.”
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman is mobbed by teammates at home plate after his walk-off grand slam home run during the 10th inning in Game 1 of the baseball World Series against the New York Yankees, Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Game 2 world series
Meanwhile, right-handers Ryan Thompson and Kevin Ginkel will fill in the other gaps before handing the ball to closer Paul Sewald, whose blown save in Game 1 was his first in seven chances this postseason. Ginkel (28 pitches) and Nelson (24) had heavy workloads in Game 1, but with Sunday’s off-day looming, expect Lovullo to remain aggressive with his relievers.
The presumptive American League MVP went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts Saturday. He’s 1-for-9 with six strikeouts in the World Series, and 6-for-40 (.150) with 19 strikeouts in the postseason. The Yankees have advanced this far without Judge supplying anything close to the production he provided during the regular season. The Yankees don’t necessarily need that version of Judge to resurface to win the World Series. But they will not beat the Dodgers four times in five games if Judge isn’t substantially better. Giancarlo Stanton belted a huge home run in Game 1. Juan Soto delivered the Yankees’ first two hits, including a home run, in Game 2. Judge, the third member of the Yankees’ slugging trio, needs to contribute in New York. — Jorge Castillo
Back in 1988, the Dodgers rode that famous Kirk Gibson walk-off in Game 1 to a convincing 6-0 victory in Game 2, en route to a five-game Series win – still their most recent in a full season. Will history repeat itself, or will the Yankees respond?