Dodgers Clinch 8th World Series Title in comeback Game 5 win

Dodgers pose post Game 5’s epic comeback in Yankee Stadium with their newly eight Commissioner’s Trophy. Photo credit: Dodgers.com

A rollercoaster season filled with headaches, cheers, injuries and near playoff exits ends in a storybook ending for your Los Angeles Dodgers who clinched their eighth World Series Title in team history in a gentleman’s sweep (4-1) to the New York Yankees.

The Dodgers went from nearly being sent home in the NLDS down 1-2 (best of five) to the Padres to hosting the Commissioner's Trophy after a dramatic comeback 7-6 win in Game 5 of the World Series.

L.A.’s rally to triumph was lifted in Game 1 at Dodger Stadium by a walk-off grand slam—the first one in WS history—off lefty Nestor Cortes in the 10th inning on the final out, that will reply for years to come, by first basemen Freddie Freeman.

“To come through in those situations that something you dream about as a kid. It’s hard to talk about right now but in a few days, I’ll have better answers. Right now I’m just ecstatic,” Freeman said on his heroics.

Freeman was named the Willie Mays World Series MVP for his historic run, a .300 average, 12 RBI’s, and four home runs in four of the five games in the World Series.

The Dodgers found themselves in an early hole in Game 5, with momentum all on the Yankees' side, allowing five runs through the first three innings in New York. A two-run homer from Aaron Judge in the first; a solo homerun from Jazz Chisholm Jr in the same inning.; an RBI single from former Dodger Alex Verdugo in the second and a solo homer from Giancarlo Stanton in the third.

The fifth inning is when Los Angeles would take advantage of multiple New York errors to push their comeback with a five-run inning. A dropped routine popup by Yankees star Aaron Judge and a failed out at third set up a bases-loaded opportunity with no outs.

The next two Dodgers batters would strike out leaving right fielder Mookie Betts on with two outs in hopes spark a rhythm. The third Yankee error would come on Betts’ at-bat with a hit down the first base line and New York first baseman Anthony Rizzo failing to step on the bag after a miscommunication.

Freeman would drive in two runs on the next at-bat and left fielder Teooscar Hernandez right after with a double to the warning track to tie it at five.

In the sixth inning, the Yankees would get the lead back with a Stanton sack fly to make it 6-5.

Dodgers deliver Blake Trienen’s arm would be put to the test in the sixth with runners on first and second with two outs to get L.A. out of a pinch, escaping with no runs earned for the rest of the inning with a ground out. He would go on to pitch two scoreless innings and deliver for L.A.

Two sac-flys from Gavin Lux and Betts in the eighth would give L.A. their first lead of the game which silenced the loud crowd at Yankee Stadium.

With an inning left in the ninth and the World Series just one win away from their grasp, the Dodgers went to starting pitcher Walker Buehler to get them there. A redemption story would be created from a pitcher who has had Tommy John surgery twice since being drafted in 2015, two years removed from his most recent as he struck out two of New York’s final three batters to clinch the title for L.A.

After the final out, which was a curve ball on a 1-2 count, Buehler would raise both arms in an ‘are you not entertained’ celebration to cap off the Dodgers’ incredible comeback and season.

With now two championships in 13 straight postseason appearances, it looks as though the Dodgers are just getting started to compete for years to come with a roster that is built to compete for years to come. Betts, Freeman, and multiple starters are still under contract for multiple seasons and guess what? Shohei Ohtani is set to pitch next season.

The future is bright in Los Angeles.

“I’m going to take the high road… I’m going to be in the moment and enjoy the heck out of this one. I’m sure there is no asterisk on this one,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said on criticism of just one title in 11 straight playoff appearances.