Yankees’ Fear Of Mookie Betts Backfires (Miserably) In World Series Game 1 Loss

The New York Yankees nearly crossed the finish line to escape Game 1 of the World Series victoriously against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night. However, once Mookie Betts stepped up to the plate, the pinstripes buckled their knees and collapsed.

Yankees right-handed relief pitcher Jake Cousins took the mound to begin the bottom half of the 10th inning as New York held a 3-2 advantage over Los Angeles. Dodgers catcher Will Smith flew out to start the do-or-die frame while second baseman Gavin Lux drew a walk, followed by an infield single from shortstop Tommy Edman. That put runners at first and second with one out, sending… Shohei Ohtani, MLB’s reigning MVP, to the plate.

New York skipper Aaron Boone played his cards very carefully. Perhaps a little too carefully, in hindsight.

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Boone called for left-hander Nestor Cortes to take the mound and try to close out Game 1. Ohtani popped out to foul territory as outfielder Alex Verdugo made a Derek Jeter into the stands-like snag in the Dodger Stadium. That put the Yankees one out away from putting the Dodgers away and taking a 1-0 series lead in the best-of-seven.

But with Mookie Betts, who was hitless through his previous three trips to the plate, next to hit, Boone elected to take a careful approach again. Dodging the righty-lefty matchup between Cortes and Betts, the Yankees walked Betts and instead challenged 2020 National League MVP and eight-time All-Star Freddie Freeman.

This backfired, historically.

Freeman crushed Cortes’ first offering to deep right field and over the fence for a jaw-dropping, walk-off grand slam to secure a 6-3 Dodgers Game 1 win — 36 years after Kirk Gibson’s iconic World Series walk-off home run in LA. It also marked the first walk-off grand slam ever in World Series history.

“I cannot believe what just happened,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said postgame, per FOX Sports. “That’s what makes the Fall Classic a classic, right? Because the stars come out, and superstars make big plays, get big hits in the biggest of moments. Two outs, bases loaded, they bring on the lefty, and Freddie, as we know, has been ailing over the last few weeks. You could probably argue that might be one of the biggest hits he’s ever had in his 2,200-hit career. I’m speechless right now.”

The Big Apple is likely very much speechless too.