WS MVP Freeman, batting average of 0.300, 4 home runs, 12 RBI, including consecutive home runs in games 1 to 4
The Major League Baseball (MLB) LA Dodgers, who showed off their hot batting lineup, defeated the New York Yankees and won the World Series (WS, 4 wins in 7 games).
The Dodgers achieved a 7-6 comeback victory over the Yankees in Game 5 of the 2024 MLB Postseason WS held at Yankee Stadium in New York, USA on the 31st (Korean time).
The Dodgers, who had won games 1 to 3 of the WS and then lost game 4, showed a show of overturning the 5-point gap on this day and rose to the top with 4 wins and 1 loss in the series.
With this, the Dodgers lifted the WS championship trophy for the first time in four years since 2020 and for the 8th time in total.
The Yankees, who had challenged for the throne for the first time in 15 years since 2009, ended up in second place with 1 win and 4 losses.
The Dodgers were knocked out early with starting pitcher Jack Flaherty allowing 4 hits (2 home runs) and 4 runs in 1⅓ innings, but they used 7 relievers to pull off a comeback win.
Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman, who hit home runs in Games 1 through 4, did not hit the ball that day, but had 1 hit and 2 RBIs in 4 at-bats.
The WS Most Valuable Player (MVP) also went to Freeman. In this WS, Freeman had a batting average of 0.300 (6 hits in 20 at-bats), 4 home runs, and 12 RBIs. The on-base percentage reached 0.364 and the slugging percentage reached 1.000.
Teoscar Hernández also led the batting lineup on this day with 2 hits and 2 RBIs in 4 at bats, and Mookie Betts went 1 hit and 2 RBIs in 3 at bats.
Shohei Ohtani, who suffered a shoulder injury in Game 2, was silent with no hits in four at-bats.
The Yankees fired a cannonball from the beginning, including a home run by Aaron Judge, who had been silent throughout the WS, as well as Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Giancarlo Stanton, but their defense faltered and they suffered a meaningless comeback loss.
Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole allowed 5 runs, 4 hits, 4 walks, 6 strikeouts, and 6 innings pitched.
In the beginning, the Yankees took the lead with a home run. Starting in the first inning, Judge and Chisholm Jr. hit consecutive home runs.
In the bottom of the first inning, with one out and one on first base, Judge hit Flaherty’s four-seam fastball on the first pitch and made a two-run arch to right-center. It was the first home run hit by Judge, who had been struggling with 2 hits in 15 at-bats in this WS. Chisholm Jr., who took the follow-up at-bat, attacked Flaherty’s four-seam fastball and hit a solo shot to right-center.
The Yankees, who were ahead 3-0, added a run in the second inning on Alex Verdugo’s hit to right with one out and third base on base.
The Yankees got away with a home run by leadoff hitter Stanton in the third inning. Stanton hit a solo shot that went over the right fence after hitting Dodgers reliever Ryan Brazier’s first pitch. Stanton, who hit 7 home runs this fall alone, set a new Yankees record for most home runs in a single season.
However, the Yankees’ five-point lead disappeared in an instant. The Yankees, who took their time, showed an opening, and the Dodgers did not miss it.
The Dodgers, who were down 0-5, started a counterattack in the top of the 5th inning with a hit to right by leadoff hitter Enrique Hernández. Tommy Edman hit an ordinary fly ball, but center fielder Judge missed the hit, giving the Dodgers a chance.
With no outs on first and second base, Will Smith sent a ground ball toward the shortstop. At this time, shortstop Anthony Volpi caught the batted ball and threw it to third base, but Hernández arrived at third base first, and the Dodgers filled the bases.
With the bases loaded and no outs, Cole struck out Gavin Lux and Ohtani in succession. With the bases loaded and 2 outs on the verge of ‘escaping the crisis’, he induced a ground ball to Mookie Betts.
However, Cole did not cover first base, and first baseman Anthony Rizzo, who caught the batted ball, was also in no hurry and allowed an infield hit and a run.
In an instant, the flow shifted to the Dodgers. The Dodgers continued to have chances with bases loaded with two outs, and Freddie Freeman and Teoscar Hernández hit two RBIs in a row, tying the score at 5-5.
The Yankees, who had allowed the score to tie, took the lead again in the 6th inning with Stanton’s sacrifice fly to center field with one out and runners on first and third base.
However, the Dodgers scored two runs again in the top of the eighth inning to turn the tide.
With the bases loaded and no outs thanks to consecutive hits by Hernández and Edman and a walk by Will Smith, Lux balanced the score at 6-6 with a sacrifice fly to center field. Then, after Ohtani got on base due to interference from the catcher’s hit, Betts finally succeeded in turning the game around with a sacrifice fly to center field.
The Yankees reached first and second with one out and one out in the bottom of the eighth inning thanks to Judge’s double and Chisholm Jr.’s walk, but Stanton’s fly ball and Rizzo’s strikeout failed to counterattack.
The Dodgers, ahead 7-6, put up Walker Buehler as the closer in the top of the 9th inning, protecting the 1-run gap and confirming the win.
[서울=뉴시스]
Interview between Time.news Editor and Baseball Expert on the recent World Series victory for the LA Dodgers
Editor: Welcome to Time.news. Today, we have the pleasure of talking with baseball analyst and expert, John Davis, to discuss the recent World Series win by the LA Dodgers, defeating the New York Yankees. John, thank you for joining us.
John Davis: Thanks for having me! It’s a thrilling time for baseball, especially for Dodgers fans.
Editor: Absolutely! The Dodgers pulled off a dramatic comeback, winning Game 5 with a score of 7-6. What does this victory mean for the team, especially since they haven’t won a championship since 2020?
John Davis: This championship is monumental for the Dodgers. Winning the World Series after four years is a testament to their resilience and talent. They displayed an incredible offensive lineup throughout the series, and it’s a significant achievement to claim their eighth title overall.
Editor: You mentioned their offensive prowess. Freddie Freeman was a standout player, winning the MVP with a batting average of .300, 4 home runs, and 12 RBIs during the series. Can you tell us more about his performance and its impact?
John Davis: Freeman was nothing short of spectacular. His ability to deliver when it mattered most—hitting home runs in the first four games—demonstrates why he’s one of the elite players in the league. Even in Game 5, where he didn’t hit a homer, he still contributed with 2 RBIs. His consistency at the plate significantly bolstered the team’s morale and strategy.
Editor: Speaking of Game 5, the Dodgers were initially down 5-0. How did they manage to turn the game around against the Yankees?
John Davis: That’s a classic example of a team capitalizing on their opponent’s mistakes. The Dodgers’ offense wasn’t fazed by the deficit. They methodically took advantage of the Yankees’ defensive errors, such as the missed catch by Aaron Judge. Their comeback speaks volumes about their tenacity and belief in their ability to win, regardless of the circumstances.
Editor: On the flip side, the Yankees had some fireworks early in the game with home runs from Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. However, they ultimately fell short. What do you think went wrong for them?
John Davis: The Yankees started strong, but their defense faltered, and once the Dodgers started to close the gap, you could feel the momentum shift. Gerrit Cole’s performance was a mixed bag—while he struck out six, he also allowed five runs, which was crucial in the end. They needed to maintain their lead and capitalize on their offensive strengths, but the Dodgers quickly seized the opportunity to turn the tide.
Editor: Another notable moment was Shohei Ohtani’s struggle in the series due to a shoulder injury. How do you think this affected the Yankees’ overall performance?
John Davis: Ohtani’s silence at the plate was a significant blow to the Yankees. He’s one of the most dangerous hitters in baseball, and when he’s not producing, it puts added pressure on the rest of the lineup. His injury limited their offensive capabilities, impacting their ability to support their pitching staff effectively.
Editor: With this World Series win marking the Dodgers’ eighth championship, what’s next for them as they look ahead to the future?
John Davis: The Dodgers will likely look to build on this success and retain their key players, like Freeman, while possibly making strategic acquisitions in the offseason to maintain their competitive edge. They’ve established a strong core, and with continued investment and development, they could be in contention for more championships in the coming years.
Editor: Thank you for your insights, John. The Dodgers’ journey and this thrilling World Series victory certainly provide plenty of material for fans and analysts alike to discuss in the months to come.
John Davis: My pleasure! It’s an exciting time for baseball, and I can’t wait to see how the offseason unfolds.
Editor: That’s all for today’s interview. Thank you for tuning in to Time.news, and we’ll see you next time!