Los Angeles claimed their eighth World Series after winning game five, 7-6, against the New York Yankees last night. That gave them their fourth win in the best-of-seven series.
The Dodgers won the first three matchups in the biggest series in the MLB, two at home before a road win in the Bronx. The Yankees battled back with a win on Tuesday night but left themselves with too much to do. The Dodgers were victorious in an enthralling ball game in game five at Yankee Stadium to win the World Series for the eighth time in franchise history.
Embed from Getty ImagesGame Five breakdown
The Yanks got off to a hot start, taking a 5-0 lead at the bottom of the 4th inning. Superstar hitter Aaron Judge finally clicked into gear after being below par for the first four games in the series. He hit a two-run home run at the bottom of the first, sending the home crowd into a frenzy. Third baseman Jazz Chisholm then hit a home run of his own to take the score to 3-0 in favour of the Yankees after the first inning. Starting Dodgers pitcher Jack Flaherty was pulled from the mound at the bottom of the second inning after New York added another run. The Yankees then had the bases loaded but left them stranded in a missed opportunity to take the game almost out of reach. Giancarlo Stanton then hit New York’s third home run in as many innings to put his side up 5-0. Yankee Stadium went ballistic and sensed a second straight win to bring their team back into World Series contention and with the momentum. Judge was again at the forefront of the action as he made a superb catch against the wall to get out World Series Freddie Freeman.
But the mood changed quickly at the top of the fifth when the Yankees seemingly got complacent with their advantage and began to crack. The Dodgers sensed blood when Judge dropped a straightforward catch in the middle of the field. There was then a midfield when Chisholm received a poor throw, so he was unable to get out Hernandez at third. Starting pitcher for the Yankees, Gerrit Cole fought back by striking out Ohtani, who had the bases loaded and only one out. Mookie Bets then stepped up to the plate with only one out to go, but he drove in a run. As did Freeman and Hernandez, meaning the Yankees’ poor fielding had surrendered their lead, and it was tied at five apiece at the end of the fifth. All of Cole’s hard work had been undone by some key errors at the inflexion point of the contest.
Embed from Getty ImagesStanton’s sacrificed fly in the sixth put the Yankees back in front, but the Dodgers hit back with two of their own to take the lead 7-6. The Dodgers then turned to their game three starter, Walker Buehler, to close the game, having used six relievers since FLaherty’s exit. In the ninth, Buehler retired all three Yankees batters to seal the deal and crown the LA Dodgers as 2024 World Series Champions. It is their second title four years after winning the Covid-affected 2020 season. Yankees fans will be disappointed that they did not show up on the biggest stage and left themselves with too much to do after losing the first three games in the series. Their wait for a World Series goes on.
Dodgers stars
Shohei Ohtani, who injured his shoulder in game two whilst diving for second base, did not look the same player. But thankfully, his teammates stepped up around him. Freddie Freeman, who won the World Series in 2021 with the Atlanta Braves, hit a home run in the first four games and drove 12 runs in the five matchups, making him the series MVP. He was unstoppable and continued to deliver for the Dodgers. But the pitchers also deserve credit, shutting down the fiery Yankees batting lineup, which scored the most runs in the regular season, to just seven runs in the opening three games.
Embed from Getty ImagesMost Valuable Assets
Despite Judge’s postseason struggles, his 58 regular season home runs will be enough to make him the American League MVP, whilst Ohtani is set to win the National League MVP. Shohei signed a deal worth $700 million before the season with Los Angeles, lasting ten years. Several Dodgers were also on the same team that won in 2020, including game five closer Buehler, as well as Max Muncy, Mookie Bets and Kike Hernandez. As coach Dave Roberts alluded to amid the post-game celebrations, his team can now have their parade after the pandemic inhibited their 2020 title.
Season wrap-up
It was a thoroughly entertaining postseason in the MLB, but the LA Dodgers are the team that came out on top in the end. It is an intense faceoff between two of the sport’s best hitters and biggest franchises. It will be back to square one for most now, as Spring training will initiate another season in 2025.
Dodgers set up World Series matchup with Yankees.