Freddie Freeman was limping around the field on Friday, but he didn’t let that stop him.
Despite dealing with an ankle injury that kept him on and off the field all month, Freeman delivered a clutch performance in Game 1 of the World Series. In the 10th inning, he crushed a grand slam off New York Yankees pitcher Nestor Cortes Jr.
The Yankees opted to intentionally walk Mookie Betts, setting up Freeman, a lefty, for the big hit against the left-handed Cortes.
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Freeman’s homer clinched a 6-3 win for the Dodgers, marking a strong start in this historic matchup between two legendary teams for the first time in 43 years.
At one point, the Yankees were leading 3-2, but a walk by Gavin Lux and a single from Tommy Edman led to runners on first and second with one out in the 10th. Edman was the last batter for Jake Cousins before Cortes came in to face the dangerous slugger Shohei Ohtani.
Ohtani managed just one pitch from Cortes before flying out, thanks to an outstanding catch by Alex Verdugo.
Freeman finished his night at the plate with a notable 2-for-5, including a triple alongside his grand slam.
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It looked like the Yankees were primed to end Game 1 in the ninth, but Gleyber Torres’ drive toward left field was snagged by a fan, resulting in a ruling of fan interference and turning a potential home run into a double. The game remained tied at 2-2, forcing extra innings.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. proved his speed in the top of the 10th. He led off with a single, then stole both second and third, putting him just a step away from home. A ground ball by Anthony Volpe turned into another scoring opportunity as he reached first, allowing Chisholm to cross the plate.