Shades of 1988 glistened throughout Dodger Stadium on Friday, as Los Angeles conjured Postseason magic in the World Series opener against the New York Yankees.
First baseman Freddie Freeman played with an injured ankle during the NLCS and has throughout much of the Postseason. Similarly, in 1988, Dodgers outfielder Kirk Gibson had injured legs when Los Angeles matched up against American League pennant-winner Oakland.
READ: Aaron Judge leads New York Yankees to first World Series since 2009: ‘Dreaming of it for years’
After four days rest, Freeman had time to heal his ankle for Game 1. It came up big in the 10th inning against Nestor Cortes Jr., as Freeman blasted the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history lifting the Dodgers 6-3 over New York.
“I haven’t really — it felt like nothing, just kind of floating,” Freeman said. “Those are the kind of things, when you’re 5 years old with your two older brothers and you’re playing wiffle ball in the backyard, those are the scenarios you dream about: Two outs, bases loaded in a World Series 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.”
READ: Reds hire Terry Francona as manager
READ: Pete Rose passes away at 83
Freeman’s home run propelled Los Angeles ahead in its fourth World Series since 2017 before a sellout crowd of 52,394.
According to MLB, it was the 63rd walk-off win in World Series history and fifth in Dodgers history during the Fall Classic. Freeman joined Max Muncy after Game 3 in 2018, Gibson, Jackie Robinson in 1956 and Cookie Lavagetto in 1947.
Leave a Reply