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Game One of the 2024 World Series didn’t disappoint. As long as you’re a Los Angeles Dodgers fan. Freddie Freeman hit a walk-off grand slam off of New York Yankees lefty Nestor Cortes to put his team up 1-0 in the championship series.
After the game, the All-Star first baseman told reporters that the moment was an absolute dream.
“It felt like nothing, I was just kind of floating,” Freeman said postgame on October 25. “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 kind of dream about. Bases loaded, two outs, in a World Series Game. For it to actually happen, and hit a home run, and walk it off to give us a 1-0 lead, that’s as good as it gets right there.”
Freeman finished the night 2-for-5 after hitting a triple in the first inning. When asked about his sprained ankle, a nagging injury that’s kept him hobbled all postseason, he told reporters he felt good going into Game One.
“This last week has been really good for me,” Freeman continued. “The first time I ran, was when I ran out to give high fives to my teammates when we got introduced. Tried to stay off of running as much as I could this week, treated it as much as I could, so I felt pretty good going into today. I don’t feel it right now, so that’s a good thing.”
Freddie Freeman: “It’s Pick Your Poison With Our Lineup”
Freeman told reporters that as much as he enjoyed the moment, he’s confident that any of his Dodgers teammates could have done the same. And that once he saw the Yankees walk Mookie Betts ahead of him, he started visualizing his swing at the plate.
“It’s kind of a pick your poison with our lineup,” Freeman continued. “It doesn’t matter, really, who you pitch to. We got guys who can do that at every spot in our order. Once I saw Aaron (Boone) give the four, I just started going through my plan and my process. What I was going to look for, and where I was going to look for it…I just wanted to be on time for it, and I was.”
Los Angeles now goes into Game 2 riding the momentum. But it’s up to them to ride it into a win.
Mookie Betts on Being Walked: ‘It Made Sense in the Flow of the Game’
When asked about being intentionally walked ahead in the 10th inning, Betts wouldn’t commit to whether or not he was surprised.
“Yes and no,” Betts told reporters on October 25. “I mean it made sense in the flow of the game. I was ready to go, either way. I definitely understand the move.”
Dodgers’ skipper Dave Roberts believes that the move itself is what fueled Freeman’s walk-off grand slam, saying he took it personally.
“I think he did, and I think he should,” Roberts told reporters postgame on October 25. “It’s obviously a decision that Aaron felt good about. But, I’ve walked guys and it’s worked out. I’ve walked them it doesn’t work out. They should take it personal. They’re competitors and that’s the way it should be.”
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