The Los Angeles Dodgers hit back from a five-run deficit to beat the New York Yankees 7-6 in Game 5 and clinch the World Series.
The Yankees were cruising on the back of four hitless innings from ace Gerrit Cole but a five-run fifth – an inning in which the home side imploded with a series of basic errors – from the Dodgers brought them level.
New York edged ahead again in the sixth but two runs, courtesy of sacrifice flies from Gavin Lux and Mookie Betts, saw LA take the lead for the first time in the eighth.
Having used six relievers to get to the final inning, the Dodgers turned to starter Walker Buehler to get the final three outs which he did with minimal fuss.
WALKER BUEHLER CLOSES IT OUT! #CHAMPS pic.twitter.com/1S2242udt6
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 31, 2024
It was the eighth World Series title in franchise history, their first since the Covid-affected season in 2020 and first in a full season since 1988.
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Freeman named MVP
World Series MVP Freddie Freeman, who hit four home runs and 12 RBI across the five games, said: “It seems like we hit every speed bump possible over the course of this year.
“And to overcome what we did as a group of guys, it’s special. This is what we start out to do every single spring training is to win a championship. I think it’s the hardest thing to do in sports because you just never know what’s going to happen.
“To come through in those situations, that’s what you dream about as a kid, doing that in the World Series.
”It’s hard to talk about right now, but maybe in a few days when I’ve let it settle in, I’ll have better answers for you. Right now I’m just ecstatic.”
4 HR.
12 RBI.
1 FREDDIE.FREDDIE FREEMAN IS YOUR #WORLDSERIES MVP! pic.twitter.com/BXKIlmbVW7
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 31, 2024
Betts hails Dodgers’ grit
The Dodgers have been riddled with injuries all year but showed plenty of determination to get the job done.
Betts said: “We’re obviously resilient, but there’s so much love in the clubhouse that won this game today.
“That’s what it was. It was love, it was grit. I mean, it was just a beautiful thing. I’m just proud of us and I’m happy for us.”
Manager Dave Roberts added: “One thing is that we just kept going.
“Even in the postseason, I don’t think anyone had us picked. I don’t think they had us picked to get out of the first series. For us to go out there and fight and scratch and claw and win 11 games in October, that’s a credit to our guys.”
