By Avry Jones
Photo: Reuters
Game 1: October 25, 2024
At Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, the Dodgers hosted the Yankees for Game 1 of the World Series. The atmosphere was electric, with fans on the edge of their seats as the two powerhouse teams faced off.
The game started strong, and both pitchers did not give up too many base hits or walks. However, at the bottom of the 5th, Enrique Hernandez hit an electrifying triple to the right field to get it into the prime scoring position. Hernandez later scored on a sacrifice fly by Will Smith to open the scoring 1-0.
However, in the top of 6th, Juan Soto singled to center to get the Yankees on base; Aaron Judge struck out. However, next up was Giancarlo Stanton, who hit a home run to left, measured at 412 feet, to put the Yankees up 2-1. The score would stay 2-1 until the bottom of the 8th when Shohei Ohtani doubled to right to get into scoring position, then reached third on a throwing error by Juan Soto. A pitching change occurred after Ohtani’s double, but that did not help the Yankees as Mookie Betts hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Ohtani and tie the game at 2-2.
Nevertheless, Game 1 was shaping to be exciting as it headed into extra innings. The Yankees scored in the top of the 10th by Jazz Chisholm Jr. scoring after Anthony Volpe grounded into a fielder’s choice to put the Yankees up 3-2.
However, the Dodgers were not done. In the bottom of the 10th, the Dodgers fought hard to get at least one man on base to be the winning run. Gavin Lux walked, Tommy Edman legged out an infield single, Chris Taylor was put in to run for Lux for the extra speed, and after Ohtani fouled out to left, the Yankees walked Mookie Betts to load the bases. Then, Freddie Freeman stepped up to the plate and became the hero many young kids playing baseball dream of by smashing a Grand Slam to right 409 feet to walk off the Dodgers in a great way to finish Game 1 of the World Series. Freeman hit the first walk-off Grand Slam in World Series history.
Game 2: October 26, 2024
Game 2 saw the Dodgers once again take the field with confidence, looking to extend their lead in the series as Yoshinobu Yamamoto took the mound for the Dodgers to take a commanding 2-0 lead; the Yankees were determined to bounce back and ready for a fierce battle.
The game started similarly to Game 1, with the Dodgers scoring early as Tommy Edman homered to left in the bottom of the 2nd to give the Dodgers an early 1-0 lead. However, the Yankees came back in the next inning when Juan Soto homered to right at 386 feet to tie the game 1-1. But, in the bottom of the 3rd, the Dodgers broke opening the scoring with Mookie Betts hitting a single. Teoscar Hernandez homered to right center at 392 feet for the score to be 3-1, then Freddie Freeman went back-to-back with a homer to right-center at 401 feet to put the score at 4-1 until the top of the 9th inning.
The Yankees fought to find their rhythm, with Aaron Judge going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. Nevertheless, the Yankees gave it all they had in their last attempt, with Juan Soto singling to right and then reaching second on a wild pitch, but Stanton singled to left to score Soto to cut the lead to 4-2. The Dodgers struggled to finish the Yankees by letting Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Giancarlo Stanton single to reach base, but a pitch also hit Anthony Rizzo to load the bases. After Blake Treinen was able to strike out Anthony Volpe, Alex Vesia came in to secure the save by getting Jose Trevino to fly out to center for the final out of Game 2 with the still bases loaded. Despite the Yankees’ efforts to mount a comeback, they could not overcome the Dodgers’ strong performance. The Dodgers won Game 2 with a score of 4-2, taking a commanding 2-0 lead in the World Series.
Key Takeaways
The first two games of the 2024 World Series have been a showcase of incredible talent and intense competition. The Dodgers have demonstrated their offensive prowess, with key players like Tommy Edman and Freddie Freeman making significant contributions. Conversely, the Yankees have faced challenges, particularly with their superstar Aaron Judge struggling at the plate, but Giancarlo Stanton has been productive as well as Juan Soto. As the series moves to New York, all eyes will be on the Yankees to see if they can turn things around and mount a comeback, and the Dodgers want to maintain their momentum and secure their place as World Series champions with two more wins. This World Series has been thrilling so far, but who will come out on top in the end?
