LOS ANGELES — After a 15-year hiatus, the Yankees made their triumphant return to the World Series with a game for the ages. The kind of emotional roller coaster and heart-stopping moments that only October can deliver. Making their first appearance in the Fall Classic since 2009, the Yankees let Game 1 slip away with one swing of Freddie Freeman's bat. A walk-off grand slam off Nestor Cortes sealed a 6-3 defeat, delivering a gut-punch to start the World Series showdown between heavyweights.
The Yankees had taken the lead in the 10th inning thanks to a Jazz Chisholm Jr. single, two steals, and an RBI groundout from Anthony Volpe. But any relief was short-lived as Jake Cousins walked Gavin Lux, and Tommy Edman's ground ball put two runners on. Cortes, despite a recent flexor strain, managed to get Shohei Ohtani out with the help of Alex Verdugo's spectacular catch. Yet, it was Freeman who ultimately sealed the Yankees' fate, launching Cortes' first pitch into the Los Angeles night.
This epic game featured a classic pitchers' duel between Gerrit Cole and Jack Flaherty, defensive lapses by Juan Soto that led to the Dodgers' first run, and a Giancarlo Stanton two-run homer that seemed to be enough until it wasn't. Ohtani's double tied the game, and Gleyber Torres' deep drive turned one fan into Jeffrey Maier, resulting in a controversial double. Aaron Judge had his chance but failed to capitalize, leaving the Yankees reeling.
In tight contests, small errors are magnified, and the Yankees made just enough of them to cost them the game. Tommy Kahnle and Luke Weaver allowed the tying run in the eighth, aided by sloppy defense. Ohtani's double off the wall and Soto's misplay allowed him to reach third, setting up Mookie Betts' sacrifice fly. Torres' deep fly in the ninth was caught by a fan, denying the Yankees a chance to retake the lead.
The Yankees struggled to break through against Flaherty for five innings, but Stanton's homer provided hope. Cole was brilliant, allowing just one run through six innings, but the Dodgers managed to score against him in the fifth. Kiké Hernandez's triple and Will Smith's fly ball led to the Dodgers' first run, a result of Soto's defensive miscues.
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