The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the New York Yankees in the World Series
By Diego Cerna – (sports@theaggie.org)
On Oct. 30, the Los Angeles Dodgers closing pitcher Walker Bueler made the final strikeout to secure the Dodgers’ second World Series title in five years.
The Dodgers, falling five runs behind the Yankees, were able to make a comeback and secure the win due to a series of errors and bad plays from the Yankees. This allowed the Dodgers to score five straight runs in the fifth inning, tying the game 5-5. They claimed the victory with a final score of 7-6.
This victory by the Dodgers marks superstar Shohei Ohtani’s first World Series win. The two-way superstar made headlines this past summer by becoming the highest paid player in Major League Baseball (MLB) history signing with the Dodgers for a contract of $700 million for 10 years. With surgery on his right elbow, Ohtani wasn’t able to pitch this season but still played as a designated hitter. This decision showcased his offensive skill set even more, as he became the only player in baseball history to record 50 home runs and 50 steals in one season.
The World Series MVP, Freddie Freeman, was the most impactful player for the Dodgers in the series. This is Freeman’s second World Series victory and World Series MVP title. The former Atlanta Brave extended his World Series home run streak to six consecutive games with a home run, setting a new MLB record.
The most iconic home run happened in the first game of the series, when Freeman hit the first-ever walk-off home run in World Series history. Not only was it a home run but also a grand slam, giving the Dodgers a 6-3 game one victory over the Yankees. Freeman was also able to hit three home runs in the next three games.
Arguably the strongest aspect that led the Dodgers were the starting pitchers and bullpen. Relief pitcher Blake Treinen was a huge help throughout the series, namely the series-clinching win where Dave Roberts trusted him to lead the Dodgers into the ninth inning and not give up the 7-6 lead they held. That decision paid off in the end. Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Walker Buehler also had impressive outings in game two and three, holding the Dodgers to no runs in their time pitching.
As for the Yankees, there are many questions lurking in the offseason. Newly acquired left fielder Juan Soto helped lead the Yankees to their first World Series appearance since 2009 and was a key contributor in the postseason. Soto was a key member in keeping the Yankees’ offense afloat in the World Series as well. Soto’s contract has officially expired, and he plans to head into free agency this coming offseason.
The Yankees’ center fielder, Aaron Judge, also struggled this postseason, only hitting a batting average of .184 after batting over .300 and hitting 58 home runs in the regular season. The biggest mistake came in the Yankees fielding error in the fifth inning, as Judge missed catching a routine fly ball to keep the Dodgers inning alive, leading to the five-run collapse.
“I think falling short in the World Series will stay with me until I die,” Judge said in a postgame interview.
After not being able to celebrate their 2020 championship season due to COVID-19, the Dodgers were finally able to celebrate in the streets of Los Angeles on Nov. 1. LA fans came to support with over 2 million attendees showing up in downtown LA and about 40,000 fans attending the rally at Dodger Stadium.
With the most talented roster in the MLB, it’s safe to say that the Dodgers look forward to winning more championships in their future.
By Diego Cerna – (sports@theaggie.org)
