October 26th 2024.
On a thrilling Friday night, Freddie Freeman of the Los Angeles Dodgers made history by hitting the first game-ending grand slam in World Series history. With two outs in the 10th inning, Freeman, who had been struggling with a sprained ankle, stepped up to the plate and crushed a pitch from Nestor Cortes of the New York Yankees. As he rounded the bases, Freeman raised his bat high in the air, soaking in the cheers from the crowd of over 52,000 fans.
The moment was reminiscent of another iconic World Series homer, when Kirk Gibson, also dealing with injuries, hit a game-winning home run for the Dodgers in 1988. Freeman himself had been sidelined for three games during the National League playoffs due to his ankle injury, but he showed no signs of rust as he legged out a triple earlier in the game.
After the game, Freeman shared his thoughts on his ankle, saying that he had been feeling pretty good and that the high-fives from his teammates after the home run made him realize just how strong his ankle was. He also took a moment to celebrate with his father, who had been there for him since he was a young boy, throwing batting practice every day. For Freeman, this was not just his moment, but also his dad's.
The World Series between the Dodgers and Yankees had been highly anticipated, featuring two of the most storied and successful franchises in baseball. And Game 1 certainly lived up to the hype, going into extra innings for the third straight year. In the top of the 10th, the Yankees took a 3-2 lead when Jazz Chisholm Jr. stole two bases and then scored on a fielder's choice.
But the Dodgers refused to give up. In the bottom of the 10th, Gavin Lux and Tommy Edman both reached base, setting the stage for star slugger Shohei Ohtani. The Yankees brought in left-handed pitcher Nestor Cortes, who had not pitched since September due to an elbow injury. Ohtani hit a foul ball that was caught by left fielder Alex Verdugo, but his momentum carried him over the low retaining wall, advancing both runners one base.
In the end, it was Freeman who sealed the victory for the Dodgers with his game-ending grand slam. And as the Dodgers celebrated their win, they knew that they had set the tone for what was sure to be an epic World Series.
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