The New York Yankees almost crossed the end line to flee Recreation 1 of the World Collection victoriously in opposition to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday evening. Nonetheless, as soon as Mookie Betts stepped as much as the plate, the pinstripes buckled their knees and collapsed.
Yankees right-handed aid pitcher Jake Cousins took the mound to start the underside half of the tenth inning as New York held a 3-2 benefit over Los Angeles. Dodgers catcher Will Smith flew out to begin the do-or-die body whereas second baseman Gavin Lux drew a stroll, adopted by an infield single from shortstop Tommy Edman. That put runners at first and second with one out, sending… Shohei Ohtani, MLB’s reigning MVP, to the plate.
New York skipper Aaron Boone performed his playing cards very fastidiously. Maybe a bit of too fastidiously, in hindsight.
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Boone known as for left-hander Nestor Cortes to take the mound and attempt to shut out Recreation 1. Ohtani popped out to foul territory as outfielder Alex Verdugo made a Derek Jeter into the stands-like snag within the Dodger Stadium. That put the Yankees one out away from placing the Dodgers away and taking a 1-0 sequence lead within the best-of-seven.
However with Mookie Betts, who was hitless by his earlier three journeys to the plate, subsequent to hit, Boone elected to take a cautious method once more. Dodging the righty-lefty matchup between Cortes and Betts, the Yankees walked Betts and as an alternative challenged 2020 Nationwide League MVP and eight-time All-Star Freddie Freeman.
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This backfired, traditionally.
Freeman crushed Cortes’ first providing to deep proper subject and over the fence for a jaw-dropping, walk-off grand slam to safe a 6-3 Dodgers Recreation 1 win — on the thirty sixth anniversary of Kirk Gibson’s World Collection walk-off dwelling run. It additionally marked the primary walk-off grand slam ever in World Collection historical past.
“I can’t imagine what simply occurred,” Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts stated postgame, per FOX Sports activities. “That’s what makes the Fall Basic a traditional, proper? As a result of the celebrities come out, and superstars make large performs, get large hits within the greatest of moments. Two outs, bases loaded, they create on the lefty, and Freddie, as we all know, has been ailing over the previous few weeks. You can in all probability argue that is likely to be one of many greatest hits he’s ever had in his 2,200-hit profession. I’m speechless proper now.”
The Huge Apple is probably going very a lot speechless too.
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