Historic Rivalry Returns to Fall Classic
Michael Picariello
Staff Writer
As the sun set at Chavez Ravine on a beautiful Friday night, the Dodgers took the field for the first game of the World Series, they were just a few wins away from their second championship in five years. The New York Yankees, coming off two dominant series wins, had finally made it back to the Fall Classic after a fifteen-year drought. This began one of the most anticipated World Series, baseball fans hoped to see the two teams recapture their historic rivalry, one that started when both teams played in New York more than 65 years ago.
The series lived up to the hype in Game 1 in an instant classic game, one that most baseball fans will remember for years. The game was a pitchers’ duel until the offenses exploded in the late innings, including a towering home run from Giancarlo Stanton. In the 8th after a misplay by Gleyber Torres, Mookie Betts lifted a sacrifice fly to tie the game and after a scoreless 9th inning, they headed to extra innings. Two runners quickly got on base off the Dodgers’ best reliever, Blake Treinen, and shortstop Anthony Volpe came through with an RBI fielder’s choice. The Dodgers quickly loaded the bases and Freddie Freeman hobbled to the plate on his sprained ankle to blast Grand Slam and walk off the Yanks in Game 1. Fox announcer Joe Davis captured the moment perfectly by reciting the legendary Vin Scully’s call of Bill Bukner’s home run in 1988, saying “Freeman hits a ball right field, She is Gone!”
Saturday night’s Game 2 was an amazing power display by the Dodgers, who commanded most of the game. Los Angeles got to Carlos Rodon early, surrendering two back-to-back home runs to Tommy Edman, Teoscar Hernandez, and Freddie Freeman. The Yankees offense struggled mightily throughout the game as they have struggled most of the season scoring without home runs. In the ninth, New York once again got to Blake Treinen, who gave up an RBI single to Stanton and was forced to exit the game and task Alex Vesia to get the final out. Pinch hitter Jose Trevino came up to the plate and flew out to centerfield as the Dodgers headed East with a 2-0 lead in the series.
Game 3 in New York started with a bang, as Freddie Freeman continued his hot hitting when he belted a home run in the first inning off Clarke Schmidt. Walker Buehler dominated the Yankees lineup through five innings and continued to display his clutch postseason pitching. After Dave Roberts used five relievers to get the next nine outs, Michael Kopech gave up a two-run home run to Alex Verdugo in the ninth inning, but the Yankees still fell short 4-2.
As the Yankees started to seem like they were in their final breath, the offense came alive in Game 4 with big hits from unlikely sources. Volpe came up with the bases loaded in the third inning and hit a grand slam to put the Yankees ahead in an amazing moment for the kid from New Jersey. Luis Gil and the bullpen held down the three-run lead until New York scored five in the eighth, including a big Gleyber Torres home run to put the game away.
With the Yankees on the brink of elimination once again, they turned to their ace, Gerrit Cole, who shined through the first four innings as the Yank grabbed a 5-0 lead on home runs from Judge, Stanton, and Chisholm. As it looked as if the series was heading back to LA, New York made two errors, and a miscommunication at first base, led to a Teoscar Hernandez bases-clearing double, as the Dodgers had tied the lead. The Yankees did get one run back in the sixth inning to take the lead, but the Dodgers rallied in the eighth inning to score two runs and put the Yankees on the ropes. Freddie Freeman and the Dodgers went on to win their eighth World Series title.
Contact Michael at michael.picariello@student.shu.edu