Friday, October 25, 2024
Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2024
On a picturesque Friday night at Dodger Stadium, a little compromised Freddie Freeman blasted a grand slam in the tenth inning. Freeman’s shot rivals Kirk Gibson’s miraculous home run in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series.
No baseball-knowledgeable pundit thought the Los Angeles Dodgers would get by the San Diego Padres in the NLDS because they had twelve starting pitchers on the IL. The Dodgers did, including shutting out the best team after the All-Star break.
Friday, Gerrit Cole and Jack Flaherty battled for five-plus innings. Flaherty allowed a two-run homer to Giancarlo Stanton. The Dodgers wasted many scoring opportunities, but Will Smith and Mookie Betts’ sacrifice fly tied the score. In the tenth, Blake Treinen allowed a go-ahead run.
The Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees 6-to-3 in ten innings.
Freeman’s grand slam was unbelievable. He has had a rough season with a broken finger, a sick three-year-old son, and a badly sprained ankle. Before Friday night, Freeman hadn’t had an extra-base hit. He faced a starter who hadn’t pitched since September 18th. Every Dodger fan should be happy for Freddie Freeman who just cemented his place in Dodger history forever.
As a kid, Jack Flaherty dreamed about pitching for the Dodgers in the World Series, and dreams do come true. With an out in the first, Flaherty issued a walk to Juan Soto, and an error by Tommy Edman allowed Giancarlo Stanton to reach. Flaherty escaped from the jam scorelessly.
With two outs in the first, Freddie Freeman tripled but was stranded when Teoscar Hernández lined out.
Anthony Rizzo had an infield single to open the second inning. A ground-out advanced Rizzo to second. Flaherty pitched a scoreless inning.
The Dodgers didn’t do anything offensively in the second.
While Tommy Edman made a remarkable play, Flaherty allowed an infield single to begin the third. Soto grounded into a double play. Flaherty faced the minimum.
The Dodgers didn’t do anything offensively in the third.
In the fourth, Flaherty was perfect.
The Dodgers didn’t do anything offensively in the fourth.
With two outs in the fifth, Alex Verdugo singled and was stranded thanks to a fabulous defensive play by third baseman Max Muncy.
Kiké Hernández tripled with an out in the fifth. Will Smith’s sacrifice fly scored Kiké Hernández.
Soto singled to start the sixth, and Flaherty allowed a two-run blast to Stanton.
Dave Roberts relieved Flaherty with Anthony Banda with an out in the sixth. He allowed a single to Jazz Chisholm, Jr. and stole second. Banda issued an intentional walk. He allowed an infield single to load the bases. Banda struck out Verdugo to end the scoring threat.
To begin the sixth, Edman doubled. Shohei Ohtani grounded out to advance Edman to third. The Dodgers stranded Edman at third.
Brusdar Graterol relieved Banda in the seventh. With two outs, he allowed a single to Aaron Judge but struck out Staton.
Teoscar Hernández singled to start the seventh. Max Muncy was plunked. Kiké Hernández sacrificed the runner to second and third. The Dodgers couldn’t capitalize on a scoring opportunity.
Alex Vesia relieved Graterol in the eighth. He was perfect.
With an out in the eighth, Ohtani doubled and took third on a throwing error. Mookie Betts’ sacrifice fly scored Ohtani, the tying run.
Michael Kopech relieved Graterol in the ninth. He allowed a double with two outs. He intentionally walked Soto.
Blake Treinen relieved Kopech. He got Judge.
The Dodgers didn’t do anything offensively in the ninth.
Treinen continued pitching in the tenth. He allowed a single to Chisholm with an out. Chisholm stole second. Treinen intentionally walked Rizzo. Chisholm stole third. Chisholm scored on a force play. A runner stole second. Treinen finally struck out the last batter.
With an out, Gavin Lux walked in the tenth. Edman singled moving to Lux to second. Chris Taylor ran for Lux. Ohtani flied out and moved the runners into scoring position. Betts was intentionally walked to load the bases. Freeman blasted a grand slam.
