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Freddie Freeman Stuns MLB Fans with Walk-Off HR as Dodgers Win WS Game 1 vs. Yankees

Paul Kasabian

Freddie Freeman hit a game-winning, walk-off grand slam with two out in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Los Angeles Dodgers a 6-3 win over the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday evening.

Minutes earlier, the Yankees led 3-2 with one out and runners on first and second when Shohei Ohtani lofted a fly ball down the left field foul line.

New York outfielder Alex Verdugo then drifted to the side wall, caught the pop-up and flipped into the stands for out number two.

The runners advanced to second and third because Verdugo fell into an out-of-play area during his acrobatic catch.

New York manager Aaron Boone then called for Nestor Cortes to intentionally walk Mookie Betts in favor of a lefty-lefty matchup, Cortes vs. Freeman.

The first baseman made the Yankees pay, depositing the first pitch into the seats for a no-doubt homer and the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history.

This isn't the first time the Dodgers have benefitted from a game-winning, walk-off home run with two out in the bottom of the 10th inning in Game 1 of the World Series.

In 1988, an injured Kirk Gibson came off the bench to pinch-hit and delivered a 3-2 backdoor slider into the right field stands for a 5-4 win against the Oakland Athletics. L.A., a massive underdog, won the series in five games.

Freeman himself has been playing through a right ankle sprain since Sept. 26, and he was the superhero Friday to put L.A. up 1-0 in the best-of-seven series.

Needless to say, many athletes, baseball fans and analysts were stunned and enthralled by the dramatic Freeman homer to cap an instant classic.

Game 2 will take place on Saturday at 8:08 p.m. ET. Yoshinobu Yamamoto gets the ball for the Dodgers, while Carlos Rodón gets the call for the Yanks.

   

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