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Agence France-Presse

Associated Press

Freddie Freeman blasted a sensational walk-off grand slam as the Los Angeles Dodgers came from behind to defeat the New York Yankees 6-3 in a thrilling World Series opener on Friday.
Freeman, restored to the line-up after a nagging ankle injury, cracked a 423-foot two-out home run in the 10th inning to hand the Dodgers an electrifying victory at Dodger Stadium.
The Yankees looked to have snatched a precious advantage after Jazz Chisholm scampered home to give the Bronx Bombers a 3-2 lead in the top of the 10th.
The Dodgers were then left staring at defeat after watching the Yankees notch two outs in the bottom of the inning to stand on the brink of victory.
But after New York loaded the bases with an intentional walk of Mookie Betts, Freeman stepped up to the plate with one last chance to snatch victory.
Yankees reliever Nestor Cortes sent down a 92mph fastball and Freeman caught it on the full and sent it soaring into right field in a moment of pure theatre that was straight out of Hollywood.

“That’s a dream come true,” Freeman said after his winning moon-shot – the first walk-off grand slam in a World Series game. “But it’s only one – we’ve got three more.”
Game two in the best of seven series takes place on Saturday.
Former MVP Freeman has struggled to find his best form this postseason after turning an ankle just before the playoffs.
But the 35-year-old first baseman delivered in the clutch with a moment that is destined to become part of the folklore of World Series history.
An elated Freeman joked that he had almost had an out-of-body experience as he rounded the bases before being mobbed by teammates as roars of “Freddie, Freddie” cascaded down from the sold-out Dodger Stadium stands.
“It felt like nothing, just kind of floating,” Freeman said. “Those are the kind of things, when you’re five years old with your two older brothers and you’re playing wiffle ball in the backyard, those are the scenarios you dream about: two outs, bases loaded in a World Series game.
“For it to actually happen and get a home run and walk it off to give us a 1-0 lead, that’s as good as it gets right there.”
After the home run, Freeman ran over to his father.
“I was just screaming in his face. I’m sorry, dad,” Freeman said, laughing. “He’s been there since I was a little boy, throwing batting practice to me every day. So this is a moment, it’s my dad’s moment.”
The defeat was desperately cruel on the Yankees, who behind a superb pitching performance from starter Gerrit Cole had largely kept quiet the Dodgers vaunted offence led by Shohei Ohtani.
The Dodgers had taken the lead with a run from Enrique Hernandez in the fifth inning after Will Smith’s sacrifice fly.
But the Yankees hit back in the sixth inning with a two-run home run from Giancarlo Stanton to take a 2-1 lead.

The Dodgers tied it up in the bottom of the eighth inning after Betts’ sacrifice fly allowed Ohtani to come home.
That sent the game to extra-innings and the Yankees appeared poised to snatch victory after Chisholm scored.
But Freeman provided a startling full-stop to a night of nerve-shredding drama as the hoped-for blockbuster between the two historical rivals unfolded.
The Yankees and Dodgers, arguably the two most iconic franchises in Major League Baseball, are meeting in the World Series for a 12th time and for the first time since 1981.
Hype surrounding this year’s Fall Classic has cranked into overdrive due to the big-hitting exploits of Dodgers superstar Ohtani and Yankees captain Aaron Judge.
But in the event, Ohtani and Judge were forced out of the spotlight by Freeman’s inspired winner.
“It might be the greatest baseball moment I’ve ever witnessed, and I’ve witnessed some great ones,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Freeman’s winner.
“Once they decided to walk Mookie, I just felt good with Freddie at the plate. And just that swing, you knew it was gone.
“Just pure elation. You don’t see teams celebrate after a game, a walk-off like that, but I just think it was certainly warranted. It was a great game before that, but the way it finished – I just couldn’t be more excited for our guys.”
Yankees manager Aaron Boone meanwhile defended the decision to walk Betts to allow Freeman to come to the plate.
“Just taking the left-on-left match-up there,” Boone said of the decision to walk Betts. “I didn’t deliberate long.”


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Major League Baseball (MLB)

World Series: Freddie Freeman hits first walk-off slam in history as LA Dodgers win opener

The Los Angeles Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman rounds the bases after hitting the game-winning grand slam home run off New York Yankees relief pitcher Nestor Cortes in the tenth inning of World Series game one. Photo: EPA-EFE

The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman hit the first walk-off grand slam in a World Series game. Photo: EPA-EFE

A superb pitching show by Gerrit Cole (centre) had kept the Dodgers’ vaunted offence quiet. Photo: USA TODAY

World Series opener: Aaron Judge relishing duel with baseball’s ‘best player’ Shohei Ohtani

National League home run king Shohei Ohtani (left) of the Los Angeles Dodgers will face American League home run king Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees in the World Series starting on Friday. Photo: Kyodo

Giancarlo Stanton of the New York Yankees is one of th many stars on show in the World Series. Photo: AFP

Mookie Betts (left) and Freddie Freeman are two of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ former MVPs on show. Photo: AFP

Shohei Ohtani’s 50th home run ball most expensive ever, sells for US$4.39m at auction

Shohei Ohtani is the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a season. Photo: TNS

The ball on display at Goldin Auctions’ head office in Runnemede, New Jersey. Photo: Kyodo

New York Liberty win first WNBA Championship title, down Lynx in dramatic Game 5

The New York Liberty hold up the championship trophy after beating the Minnesota Lynx in Game 5. Photo: AP

Breanna Stewart makes a clutch free throw to tie the game near the end of the fourth quarter. Photo: AP

Florida teen’s lawsuit temporarily stops Shohei Ohtani’s 50th home run ball from being sold

Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a two-run home run against the Miami Marlins on September 19, his 50th of the season, to become the first player with a 50/50 season in MLB history. Photo: TNS

Baseball5 World Cup will show Hong Kong can host high-level events, organisers say

Dave Ho (far right) with the Hong Kong team that will compete in their home World Cup.

Hong Kong’s players have been training six times every week leading into the six-day tournament.

Sport

Other Sport

Freeman, back in the team after injury, cracked a 423-foot two-out home run in the 10th inning to see the Dodgers home over the Yankees


Freeman, back in the team after injury, cracked a 423-foot two-out home run in the 10th inning to see the Dodgers home over the Yankees.
