The 2024 World Series: A Coast to Coast Battle
Since 1903, the World Series, also known as the Fall Classic, has been the biggest event in baseball. With several rounds of play-offs, this is the last step a team needs to achieve the title of a World Series Champion.
Before the series, the Yankees had been to the series 40 times, with 27 titles, the last time being in 2009. The Dodgers had been 24 times, with 7 titles, the last time being only 4 years ago in 2020.
This was the Yankees and Dodgers' 12th time meeting up in the World Series, but the first time since 1981. To put that in perspective, 1981 was the year Princess Diana and Prince Charles got married, MTV was launched, and Indiana Jones: The Raiders of the Lost Ark was released.
Before the series started the Yankees had a record of 94-68 and the Dodgers had a record of 98-64. The two biggest players in baseball playing against each other; captain and outfielder for the Yankees, Aaron Judge, and designated hitter for the Dodgers, Shohei Ohtani.
Game 1: Dodgers win 6-3, lead series 1-0
Before game one, Yankees manager Aaron Boone was confident with the connection the World Series contending team had.
“The closeness that these guys have with one another and that trite ‘playing for one another’ is palpable with this group, has been all year, has been since day one,” Boone said. “These guys love each other and these guys love doing it for one another.”
The Dodgers were picked to win (54.7%) over the Yankees (45.3%) with Jack Flaherty as their starting pitcher. Gerrit Cole was picked to start for the Yankees going into game one, both pitchers are the teams’ cream of the crop, leaving fans excited for the game to start.
There were no runs made by either team until the bottom of the 5th. A sacrifice fly led to a Kike Hernandez run on the Dodgers end. Soon after, the designated hitter for the Yankees, Giancarlo Stanton hit a home run giving the Yankees a 2-1 lead. Another sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 8th by the Dodgers, led to a tie of 2-2 going into the 9th.
Within the rest of the regular innings, there were no more scores run by either team leading them into a 10th extra inning. The Yankees had 2 players on base when shortstop Anthony Volpe was up to bat. Hitting a ground ball, he secured one more run for the Yankees, but that didn’t help their case when they couldn’t manage another run.
In the bottom of the 10th, the Dodgers had the bases loaded after an intentional walk with first baseman Freddie Freeman up to bat. Freeman ended up hitting the first-ever walk-off grand slam in World Series history, winning the game 6-3.
“[The grand slam] might be the greatest baseball moment I’ve ever witnessed, and I’ve witnessed some great ones,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
Game 2: Dodgers win 4-2, leads the series 2-0
Going into game 2, the Dodgers were picked to win (62%) over the Yankees (38%). The starting pitchers were Carlos Rodon (NYY) and Yoshinobu Yamamoto (LAD).
In an early scoring game for the Dodgers, utility player Tommy Edman hit a home run in the bottom of the 2nd inning, shortly followed by a solo home run by Yankees outfielder Juan Soto in the top of the 3rd, tying the game 1-1. The Dodgers gain momentum with two more homers at the bottom of the 3rd, one of which is for first baseman Freddie Freeman, getting their last points of the game, leading 4-1. This was Freeman’s 3rd straight game in which he had hit a home run, the 2nd in the World Series games.
The Dodgers’ beloved designated hitter, Shohei Ohtani, caused a scare to the fans and team when he slid on his left shoulder in the bottom of the 7th. Other than the injury scare for Ohtani, it was a slower game for both teams. There was only one more run scored for the rest of the game, caused by a single, solidifying the Dodgers’ 4-2 win for game 2.
“It’s October, nothing's gonna be easy,” Freeman said. “The last three outs are the hardest. But all confidence was involved in Blake, and Blake handed over to Alex. He got the out there. So we're up two games. It's a good start.”
Game 3: Dodgers win 4-2, leads the series 3-0
Going into game 3, the Yankees were picked to win (60.7%) over the Dodgers (39.3%). This game could change the trajectory of the rest of the series, after this game, one more win would be all the Dodgers need to secure a ring.
The starting pitchers for this game were Clarke Schmidt (NYY) and Walker Buehler (LAD).
Another early scoring game for the Dodgers, and another homer for Freddie Freeman, they take the lead 2-0 at the top of the 1st inning. This was his 4th straight homerun, 3rd in the World Series.
They scored 2 more runs throughout the duration of the game, and the Yankees didn’t get on the Board until the bottom of the 9th. A 2-run home run by outfielder Alex Verdugo raised the score 4-2, but it wasn’t enough to secure a win for the Yankees, leading to their 3rd loss of the series.
Despite their losses, the Yankees still have some optimism left in them.
“Hopefully we can go be this amazing story and shock the world,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “But right now it’s about trying to get a lead, trying to grab a game, and force another one, and then on from there. But we’ve got to grab one first.”
On the complete opposite side, the Dodgers are keeping themselves humble when it comes to their approach to their potential last game in the series.
“One more win. That’s all I care about right now,” Freeman said.
Game 4: Yankees win 11-4, Dodgers are leading the series 3-1
Game 4 could’ve ended the Yankees' chances for a ring, but the pressure set in, and they were ready to play. Despite their three losses in the series thus far, they were picked to win (53.9%) over the Dodgers (46.1%).
Luis Gil (NYY) and Ben Casparius (LAD) were the starting pitchers. The Dodgers first baseman, Freddie Freeman, hit his 4th World Series homer, breaking multiple records and starting game 4 2-0.
In the bottom of the 3rd, New York native and shortstop for the Yankees, Anthony Volpe had all the pressure on his back with the bases loaded. He delivered with a grand slam, creating a deficit in the score, but also crossing off a huge dream on his bucket list.
“It’s my dream, but it was all my friends’ dreams, all my cousins’ dreams, probably my sister’s dream, too. But winning the World Series was first and foremost. by far. Nothing else compares. So still got a lot of work to do,” Volpe said.
After his grand slam, the Yankees still showed that they needed to achieve more in this game. With 2 more runs in the top of the 5th, the Dodgers close the gap, making the score 4-5. Although the Dodgers were scoreless for the rest of the game, the Yankees didn’t rest.
In the bottom of the 6th, catcher Austin Wells hit a solo home run, leaving the score to be 6-4. A lot of action in the bottom of the 8th, Outfielder Alex Verdugo grounded with 2 on base, Volpe scored and Wells made it to third base. With two on base, second baseman Gleyber Torres hit a home run, and with 3 more runs in, the Yankees won 11-4.
“They’re going to fight,” Dodgers Outfielder Mookie Betts said. “If you made it this far, you have a resilient team that’s going to fight the whole time.”
Game 5: Dodgers win 7-6, take the World Series title
Before game 5 the Yankees were in a tough spot still trying to get some leverage in the series, but they were picked to win (56.4%) over the Dodgers (43.6%).
“No one's done what we're trying to accomplish [in the World Series],” Yankees catcher Austin Wells said. “So I think if you put too much pressure on it at this point, you're going to fail yourself, and you're not going to enjoy the journey. I think seeing what happens and having fun is where we're at.”
Starting the game pitching for the Dodgers was Jack Flaherty and Gerrit Cole was starting for the Yankees. Flaherty didn’t last very long after 2 home runs back to back in the bottom of the 1st, by Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Aaron Judge and then one more run in the bottom of the 2nd made off of a single, giving them a 5-0 lead.
Cole, on the other hand, had the game of his life. Nicknamed “ace” due to his dominant career thus far. Cole pitched until the halfway mark of the top of the 7th, which is rare for a World Series game.
Scoreless until the 5th, the Dodgers were struggling with their at-bats with Cole on the mound. However, due to many errors in the defense, the Dodgers were able to make up the deficit, bringing the game to a tie 5-5.
After that nightmare of the 5th, designated hitter for the Yankees, Giancarlo Stanton, hit a sacrifice fly to center, upping their score 5-6. In the top of the 8th, the Dodgers managed to score two more runs, leading the game 7-6.
No more runs were scored by either team after the 8th inning, crowning the Los Angeles Dodgers as the World Series Champions.
Both teams fought tirelessly this season for the title, but of course, only one can remain victorious. With their last win only 4 years ago, they now have 8 World Series titles in their collection.
“This is going to sting forever,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “I'm heartbroken.”
After this season, there are many decisions that need to be made regarding managers and rosters to make sure every team in the MLB can put their best foot forward in the 2025 season.
Opening day for the MLB is set to be on March 27th, 2025.
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