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Five Moments That Won the Dodgers the World Series

The Los Angeles Dodgers have won the World Series over the New York Yankees. It is the eighth championship for the historic franchise. There are many things that led to the climactic victory. Here are five moments that helped the Dodgers ultimately win the World Series.

But First…

The starting pitching was thought to be an Achilles heel for Los Angeles due to lack of depth. However, the postseason rotation of Jack Flaherty, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Walker Buehler went 16 2/3 innings, giving up three earned runs and five walks with 15 strikeouts in Games One through Three. If they are not effective, it is unlikely that these moments matter.

Five Moments That Won the Dodgers the World Series

5. Ohtani Takes the Extra Base

In Game One, with one out in the bottom of the eighth, Shohei Ohtani doubled to right field, and the throw from Yankees right fielder Juan Soto got away from shortstop Anthony Volpe. The presumable National League Most Valuable Player alertly advanced to third base on the error. Ohtani promptly scored on a sacrifice fly by Mookie Betts, tying the game 2-2. If the Dodgers don’t tie it there, chances are they lose Game One in regulation.

4. Three Straight Two-Out Hits

In Game Five, down 5-0 in the fifth, the Dodgers, with help from the Yankee defense, loaded the bases with no one out against Gerrit Cole. However, the veteran right-hander struck out Gavin Lux and Shohei Ohtani, and it looked like he may escape unscathed. But when Cole failed to cover first base, the Dodgers scored a run. Freddie Freeman followed with a two-run single, and Teoscar Hernández drove in two more with a double to center field, tying the score at 5-5.

3. The Mound Meeting

Dodgers starter Jack Flaherty was only able to four total outs in Game Five. The relievers, responsible for 60% of the innings pitched in the regular season, had to do the heavy lifting again in the biggest game of the year. The Dodgers used all their high-leverage arms by the middle of the sixth inning. Only closer Blake Treinen was left. The right-handed closer had missed almost two years due to a shoulder injury and had already thrown around 60 pitches in his previous two appearances in this World Series. The Dodgers needed seven outs. Treinen made it through the sixth and the seventh, but the Yankees threatened in the eighth. With one out, Aaron Judge doubled to right and Jazz Chisholm Jr. walked.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who had Walker Buehler warming, visited the mound. After a brief conversation, Roberts left Treinen in to face Giancarlo Stanton, who had homered earlier in the game. Treinen induced Stanton to fly out to right and then struck out Anthony Rizzo to end the inning. The Dodgers closer threw a total of 42 pitches but ultimately preserved a one-run lead.

2. Walker “Big Game” Buehler

Once thought a long shot to make the Dodgers’ postseason roster due to elbow surgery and lack of control, the Dodgers had no choice but to depend on their big right-hander. He rewarded their trust. After pitching five scoreless innings in Game Three, Buehler made himself available out of the bullpen in Game Five. He was the only one left to pitch the ninth. He did, retiring the Yankees in order. The Dodgers won the World Series.

1. Gibby, Meet Freddie

In the bottom of the tenth inning of Game One, with the Dodgers trailing by one run, the Yankees brought in Nestor Cortes to face Shohei Ohtani with two on and one out. Cortes got Ohtani to foul out, but the runners advanced to second and third. To preserve the left-on-left matchup, the Yankees chose to intentionally walk Mookie Betts to load the bases and face a hobbled Freddie Freeman. Freeman put the first pitch he saw into the stands. The rest, as they say, is history.

There is no question that the Dodgers’ lineup is full of talented stars, but they also displayed plenty of heart. Now they have a trophy and a parade to show for it.

Katherine Wacker

Katherine Wacker

Katherine Wacker has been a baseball fan since she was seven years old. She is a freelance writer with a pre-published novel. Currently, she has her own website www.katherinewacker.com and a blog at katherineschronicle.wordpress.com. Katherine lives in Tucson, Arizona with her dad, and kitty, Lily.

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