Freddie Freeman came through for the Los Angeles Dodgers when they needed him the most and hit a walk-off grand slam for a 6-3 win in Game 1 of the World Series against the New York Yankees.
The Dodgers found themselves trailing by a run in the 10th inning in front of their home fans when Freeman stepped at the plate. Facing two outs and with the bases loaded, Freeman connected with Nestor Cortes’ fastball and sent it into the stands.
Freeman then took a few seconds to seize the moment before flipping his bat and starting to circle the bases.
“When you’re 5 years old with your two older brothers, and you’re playing whiffle ball in the backyard, those are the scenarios you dream about — two outs, bases loaded in a World Series game,” Freeman said after the game. “For it to actually happen, and get a home run and walk it off to give us a 1-0 lead, that’s as good as it gets right there.”
Freeman not only gave the Dodgers a valuable win, but he also made some history in the process. He became the first player in MLB history to hit a walk-off grand slam in a World Series. He is also only the third Dodgers player to hit a walk-off home run in a World Series.
The achievement feels a bit sweeter for Freeman, considering he has battled several injuries in recent months. He first suffered a dislocated finger and then rolled his ankle just when playoffs were about to start. At one point, his ankle was so bad that he had to sit out the Game 6 against the New York Mets in the NL Championship Series.
However, it appears Freeman got healthy just in time and immediately became a difference maker the Dodgers envisioned him to be when they signed him to a six-year, $162 million deal in 2022.
