Takeaways from Yankees-Dodgers World Series Game 1: Freddie Freeman, Aaron Boone highlight thriller for different reasons

For a record third season in a row, Game 1 of the World Series needed extra innings to decide a winner. This time, the Los Angeles Dodgers topped the New York Yankees, 6-3, in an extra-innings instant classic to grab a 1-0 advantage in the best-of-seven Fall Classic.

With the bases juiced in the 10th inning, Freddie Freeman turned on a first-pitch fastball from Yankees reliever Nestor Cortes Jr. for a game-sealing, no-doubt grand slam.

Here are four takeaways from the action:

Freddie Freeman plays the role of Kirk Gibson in Game 1

Thirty-six years since Gibson’s iconic home run off Dennis Eckersley in the 1988 World Series, Freeman created a similar “Where were you?” moment to cap off an unforgettable Game 1. While Freeman was nursing only one bad leg, his monstrous grand slam will forever live in Dodgers and World Series lore.

In the NLDS against the San Diego Padres, Freeman suffered a severely sprained ankle, which would typically keep a player off the field for weeks. However, this is the postseason, where the best not only play through the pain but thrive on it.

Freeman finished 3-for-18 in the NLCS versus the New York Mets but would respond on the biggest stage, recording a triple and the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history. It’s a moment that will be replayed for decades while also giving the Dodgers an incredible momentum boost with a quick turnaround before Game 2.

Aaron Boone’s decision-making doomed Yankees

Yankees starter Gerrit Cole pitched a gem, holding the Dodgers to only one run through six innings of work despite drawing only six swings and misses. However, manager Aaron Boone panicked, pulling Cole after allowing a lead-off single to start the sixth inning with a 2-1 lead.

Tasking his bullpen with getting through the top of the Dodgers lineup twice ultimately came back to bite the Yankees. After Tommy Kahnle and Luke Weaver gave up the lead, Boone made his second questionable decision.

With two on and one out in the bottom of the 10th inning, Boone decided now would be the best time to give Cortes his first action since Sept. 18. The left-hander survived Shohei Ohtani thanks to an incredible catch by Alex Verdugo, but after intentionally walking Mookie Betts, crumbled under pressure, giving up a first-pitch grand slam by Freeman.

Giancarlo Stanton’s redemption tour continues, but Aaron Judge needs to be better

Despite the loss, Stanton has hit his stride in the postseason. Including his two-run bomb in Game 1, which gave the Yankees the lead in the sixth inning, six of the slugger’s 11 hits during the playoffs have been home runs, giving him 17 with the Yankees, the fourth-most in the franchise’s history.

Per Stathead, he’s the only player in MLB history to go deep in four or more consecutive games of a postseason twice, having homered in five straight during the 2020 playoffs.

Conversely, following a 0-for-5 outing on Friday, Judge is an underwhelming 6-for-35 at the plate with 16 strikeouts this postseason.

History on the Dodgers’ side?

The importance of winning Game 1 can’t be understated. But history specifically related to the Dodgers and Yankees proves it’s invaluable.

The previous two meetings in the World Series between the historic rivals in 1978 and 1981 saw the winner of Game 1 win the series. Meanwhile, this is only the fifth time in the wild-card era that the teams with the best records in the National and American Leagues have met in the Fall Classic, with the winner of Game 1 winning every series up to this point.