The Los Angeles Dodgers qualified for the 2024 World Series after rallying from a 5-0 deficit to defeat the New York Yankees 7-6 at Yankee Stadium for a 4-1 victory.
A topsy-turvy game was turned on its head midway through when the Dodgers exploited the Yankees’ fielding errors in the top of the fifth inning to even the scores.
“We just took advantage of every mistake they made in that inning and scored five runs,” left fielder Teoscar Hernandez said.
“The bullpen and the pitching staff gave us the opportunity to stay in the game. It’s a dream come true.”
It is the second title in five years for the National League champions, having previously won in the Covid-shortened 2020 season.
Facing elimination, the Yankees came out swinging in the Bronx as back-to-back first-inning home runs from Aaron Judge and Jazz Chisholm Jr put them up 3-0.
When Alex Verdugo drove in Anthony Volpe in the second, Dodgers starting pitcher Jack Flaherty was hooked and Giancarlo Stanton’s solo shot made it 5-0 in the third.
Yankees starter Gerrit Cole was error-free through four innings, but the Dodgers rallied after Judge picked a routine catch in center field in the fifth, loading the bases with no outs before Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Hernandez all scored runs drove in to bring the score to 5. 5.
Stanton’s sacrifice fly in the sixth put the Yankees ahead again, but the Dodgers struck back in the eighth with two sacrifice flies of their own to lead 7-6.
After burning through six relievers following Flaherty’s early exit, the Dodgers turned to game three starter Walker Buehler and pitched the ninth with a one-run lead, but he retired all three batters he faced to clinch the title seal.
“Who wants a parade?” shouted manager Dave Roberts, referring to the pandemic that had curtailed their 2020 celebrations.
Dodgers ride the Ohtani hype train as the supporting cast steps up
Much of the pre-series attention was focused on Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani, who was making his first postseason appearance after a stellar first year with the Dodgers.
The 30-year-old is a rare “two-way player,” who can play as both a hitter and a pitcher at the highest level, but did not pitch until 2024 after undergoing elbow surgery.
He was further hampered in the World Series after injuring his shoulder sliding into second base in game two, and a series record of two hits from 19 at-bats as a designated hitter was modest by his standards.
But the Dodgers showed their strength in depth when Freeman, with an ankle injury, led the charge in spectacular fashion, assisted by Betts, who now has three World Series rings to his name.
Although the Yankees’ fielding and baserunning were sloppy at times, the Dodgers never gave up a quarter, and this final game was an example of how their injury-affected pitching staff worked together to help clinch the title.
World Series results and reports
Game 1: Dodgers 6-3 Yankees
Game 2: Dodgers 4-2 Yankees
Game 3: Yankees 2-4 Dodgers
Game 4: Yankees 11-4 Dodgers
Game 5: Yankees 6-7 Dodgers
Home team listed first.
