Dodgers Rally to Bring Home the Trophy
The Los Angeles Dodgers Win the 2024 World Series
Team meteor may have lost, but so did the Yankees. Down 5-0 and hamstrung with a thin bullpen, Dave Roberts’s star-studded squad battled back to bring the trophy home. Some highlights:
Yankee Miscues Sink the Ship
Gerrit Cole, the $324 million starting pitcher, took the bump today for the Yankees and was on cruise control for four innings. Three early home runs by an awakened Aaron Judge, Jazz Chisolm, and Giancarlo Stanton gave him a 5-run lead going into the 5th, and then it all unraveled. A leadoff single was followed by an inexplicable dropped fly ball from Judge and a throwing error by Anthony Volpe to load the bases. Two quick strikeouts from Cole, and it looked like the Yanks might escape unscathed, but a puzzling failure to cover first base by Cole on a grounder allowed a run to score and the inning to continue. Two hits later it was 5-5, new ballgame.
New York was able to scratch across another run in the 6th to re-take the lead, but miscues again cost the Yankees in the 8th. Reliever Tommy Kahnle struggling to find the strike zone and a catcher’s interference call contributed to a two-run Dodgers 8th- the last two runs that would be scored in the 2024 MLB season.
Dodgers Bullpen Comes Up Big
Three games in three days is a true test for these ball clubs, and the Dodgers bullpen had been tasked with 12.0 innings in the previous two contests (one was a bullpen game). With ace starter Jack Flaherty struggling early, Dave Roberts made the decision to go to the ‘pen after only 1.1 innings- and they delivered. SEVEN Dodgers relievers combined for 7.2 IP, 2 ER (one by old friend Brusdar Graterol), and 8 strikeouts.
Freddie Freeman was the World Series MVP, but veteran reliever Blake Treinen was the most valuable player today. With L.A. running out of arms, Treinen gritted his teeth through 2.1 gutsy innings, throwing a season-high 42 pitches and closing out the 8th with two strikeouts after putting two guys on base. Treinen ceded the 9th to starting pitcher Walker Buehler, on only two days rest. Buehler set the Yankees down in order to etch his name in October lore and clinch the series for the Dodgers.
Freddie Freeman, MVP
Freeman may have broken his historic home run streak in the World Series today, but he still went 1-4 with one run scored and two ribbies. The 35-year-old first baseman battled injuries throughout the postseason to put up a .300 BA, 4 HR, 12 RBI line on the biggest stage and take home the World Series MVP. After a challenging season for Freeman where he missed time due to his young son Max’s health problems, you can’t help but feel happy for the veteran.
Once again,
With that, the 2024 season has officially come to a close. Here’s to next year, Twins fans.