Freddie Freeman hit the primary game-ending grand slam in World Collection historical past with two outs within the tenth inning to offer the Los Angeles Dodgers a 6-3 victory over the New York Yankees in a dramatic opener Friday evening.
Hobbled by a badly sprained ankle, Freeman, who holds Canadian citizenship and represents the nation in worldwide competitors, homered on the primary pitch he noticed — an inside fastball from Nestor Cortes — and raised his bat excessive earlier than starting his trot because the sellout crowd of 52,394 roared.
It was paying homage to Kirk Gibson’s game-ending homer that lifted Los Angeles over the Oakland Athletics in Recreation 1 of the 1988 World Collection at Dodger Stadium — probably the most well-known swings in baseball lore.
Gibson, sidelined by leg accidents, got here off the bench and related in opposition to Corridor of Fame nearer Dennis Eckersley.
Freeman, who missed three video games through the Nationwide League playoffs due to the damage to his proper ankle, did not have an extra-base hit this postseason till legging out a triple earlier on Friday.
“Truly felt fairly good,” Freeman mentioned. “The final six days we handled it very well. I have been feeling fairly good. Proper after I ran out to offer high-fives to my teammates, I felt fairly good, as a result of that was the primary time I ran all week. So, ankle’s good.”
After the house run, Freeman ran over to his father.
“I used to be simply screaming in his face. I am sorry, dad,” Freeman mentioned, laughing. “He is been there since I used to be a bit boy, throwing batting apply to me each day. So this can be a second, it is my dad’s second.”
Within the prime of the tenth, Anthony Volpe grounded right into a fielder’s option to shortstop, scoring Jazz Chisholm Jr. from third after he stole two bases, to offer the Yankees a 3-2 lead.
The speedy Chisholm singled off Blake Treinen after which stole second. Following an intentional stroll to Anthony Rizzo, Chisholm swiped third base uncontested as Treinen was sluggish to the plate with Max Muncy enjoying deep at third.
Tommy Edman made a diving cease to his left on Volpe’s grounder, however could not get it out of his glove at first. He tossed to second to get Rizzo out as Chisholm got here flying dwelling with the go-ahead run.
Dodgers rally in extras
However the Dodgers weren’t achieved but.
Gavin Lux walked in opposition to Jake Cousins with one out within the backside of the tenth and went to second on Edman’s infield single to second. Defensive substitute Oswaldo Cabrera knocked down the ball along with his glove but it surely leaked into the outfield.
That introduced up star slugger Shohei Ohtani, a left-handed hitter. Yankees supervisor Aaron Boone went to his bullpen once more for Cortes, a lefty starter who hadn’t pitched since Sept. 18 due to an elbow damage.
After lacking the AL playoffs, Cortes was added to the World Collection roster Friday.
Left fielder Alex Verdugo made a working catch in foul territory to retire Ohtani. Verdugo’s momentum despatched him tumbling over the low retaining wall, advancing each runners one base as a result of by rule it turned a lifeless ball when Verdugo wound up within the stands.
