Freddie Freeman’s walk-off grand slam catapults the Dodgers over the Yankees to win Game 1 of the World Series

In a rematch 43 years in the making, the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees, 6-3, in Game 1 of the World Series thanks to some historic late-game heroics from Freddie Freeman.

The Boys in Blue were the first to score in the bottom of the fifth inning thanks to a Kiké Hernandez triple to right field that was quickly followed by a sacrifice fly from catcher Will Smith.

The Dodgers didn’t stay in front long after slugger Giancarlo Stanton — an LA native — hit right fielder Juan Soto for a two-run homer against his hometown team to put the Yankees ahead 2-1.

LA had chances to tie the game with runners in scoring position in the seventh, but couldn’t bring them home when second baseman Gavin Lux struck out.

The Dodgers’ defense held the Yankees at bay through the eighth, retiring the side with pitcher Alex Vesia striking out two and forcing Anthony Volpe to line out.

While superstar Shohei Ohtani was relatively quiet in his first World Series game, he doubled to right field but made it to third thanks to a fielding error by Volpe.

In the next at-bat, Mookie Betts drove in Ohtani for the tying run with a sacrifice fly to center.

Neither team could drive in the go-ahead run through the ninth, sending the World Series to extra innings. However, it wasn’t long before the Yankees hit the go-ahead RBI after shortstop Tommy Edman fumbled a ground ball, allowing Jazz Chisholm Jr. home, making it 3-2 when pitcher Blake Treinen struck out Austin Wells.

But Edman made up for it by getting on base during his next at-bat. From there, the Yankees survived Ohtani’s next at-bat, only to intentionally walk Betts and load the bases to Freeman.

With the first pitch, a four-seam fastball, Freeman launched the walk-off grand slam, the first in World Series history, to right field to close the game for the Dodgers, 6-3.

When is the next game in the Dodgers-Yankees World Series?

The Dodgers and Yankees will meet again on Saturday at 17:08 local time. The Yankees are expected to start Carlos Rodón, who has a 4.40 ERA so far this postseason. On the Dodgers mound will be rookie right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who has posted the same marks as Rodón in his three postseason starts.

Here is a list of game times all of which will be live on FOX.

Game 2

• When: Saturday 26 October, first pitch at 8:08 p.m. ET
• Where: Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California

Game 3:

• When: Monday 28 October, first pitch at 8:08 p.m. ET
• Where: Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York City

Game 4:

• When: Tuesday 29 October, first pitch at 8:08 p.m. ET
• Where: Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York City

Game 5 (if necessary):

• When: Wednesday 30 October, first pitch at 8:08 p.m. ET
• Where: Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York City

Game 6 (if necessary):

• When: Friday, November 1, first pitch at 8:08 p.m. ET
• Where: Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California

Game 7 (if necessary):

• When: Saturday 2 November, first pitch at 8:08 p.m. ET
• Where: Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California

How many times have the Dodgers and Yankees played in the World Series?

The Dodgers and Yankees are two of baseball’s most storied franchises, with a World Series rivalry dating back to World War II.

Since 1941, the two teams have met 12 times in autumn classic, by far the most in Major League Baseball history. While the Yankees have dominated the Boys in Blue in most of their matchups in the 20th century, they have won eight of the 11 World Series matchups in that time frame.

Until Friday’s matchup, the two teams have not faced each other in the big game since 1981which the Dodgers won thanks to stellar play from the team’s bullpen, including the pitcher Fernando Valenzuela.

The two franchises are some of Major League Baseball’s biggest juggernauts in their upcoming leagueswith the Yankees solidly ahead of any other franchise in terms of postseason success. Since 1923, New York has won 27 World Series titles, the most championship wins in any American sports league.

As it stands, the Boys in Blue have captured seven World Series titles, most recently in the shortened 2020 season. If they can keep things going, they will have the fifth-most titles ever, tied with their division rivals, the San Francisco Giants.