World Series Game One: And So It Begins

Here it is, folks: the World Series. The Fall Classic. It's always special every year, but this year's it's extra special. This year, it's the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Two of the most hallowed teams in baseball, and the two biggest payrolls in the league right now. Now, before I start this recap, I want to call out something.

I read the comments once this matchup was made. "We don't want this." "Manfred got his World Series." "MLB wanted this and the fans didn't." First off, Manfred's favorite team is the Astros, or did you forget how he covered for them when it came out that they cheated? Secondly, and more notably, do not say that the fans didn't want this World Series. Saying that is disrespectful to a certain generation of baseball fans. Here's the thing. This is the 12th World Series meeting between the Yankees and Dodgers. For many fans, it's an introduction to any chapter of this World Series rivalry. Those of us who were born after October 1981 never got to see this played out, and only lived vicariously through our elders who did. I am part of that group. I was born in 1985. I wanted this World Series for years. Now, I get to see it.

Before I start, there's another attribute that has to be mentioned.

This man, who epitomizes the word "legend," is Fernando Valenzuela. On October 22 of this year, Valenzuela passed away at the age of 63. I've heard that name a lot for a most of my life; Valenzuela pitched for several teams for 17 seasons, but he spent 11 of those seasons with the Dodgers. "Fernandomania" was the big thing back in the early 80s, especially in 1981, when he was part of the Dodgers' World Championship victory over the Yankees in the last Series between the two teams until this year. The Mexican-born Valenzuela spent over the last two decades of his life as the color analyst for the Dodgers' Spanish broadcast. Prior to first pitch, we witnessed an emotional tribute to Valenzuela, which was led by two of his former teammates, 1981 World Series co-MVP Steve Yeager, and 1988 World Series MVP (and current Dodgers color analyst) Orel Hershiser.

As for me, I was amped up for this whole game. This is the first time in 15 years that the Yankees are in the World Series, and this is my fourth year doing the game-by-game recaps on Vocal, and it will involve a Yankees World Series! Here we go!

The pitching matchup was Gerrit Cole vs Jack Flaherty, and it was a pitcher's duel for a good bit in this game. Nothing was being surrendered. Goose egg after goose egg on the scoreboard. I had a feeling I'd see this, because the Dodgers and Yankees had that extra oomph when it came to their pitching. The first run didn't come into the fifth inning, and it was the Dodgers who struck first, as Will Smith's sac fly scored Enrique Hernandez. So the Yankees were down 1-0. It would not last. Giancarlo Stanton struck AGAIN. A powerful two run shot that gave the Yankees a 2-1 lead! Stanton's sixth HR this postseason! He's tearing it up!

There was a scare by the Dodgers in seventh, but we got out of that. The eighth inning wasn't as lucky. Shohei Ohtani doubles off the wall, and he ends up going to third after Gleyber Torres misplays the ball. Second straight inning that the Dodgers had the tying run in with under two outs. This time, it works; Mookie Betts' sac fly scores Ohtani. Tie game. In the ninth, with two down, Torres' long fly ball ends up being a ground-rule double due to fan interference--a Dodgers fan reaches over the wall and catches it. Juan Soto gets a free pass, leaving Aaron Judge with a big chance to come through. Judge had struck out three times and had just one hit. I felt he was overdue for something big. Sadly, nope. Groundout to end the inning. Thankfully, Luke Weaver shut down the law firm of Hernandez, Muncy, and Hernandez to send the game to extra innings.

For the third straight year, Game One of the World Series would need more than nine innings. The 10th saw Stanton strike out, but Jazz Chisholm, Jr would single, and later steal second. Anthony Rizzo received a free pass, and while Anthony Volpe was up, Chisholm stole third. Volpe's grounder was too much for Tommy Edman to handle, and as a result, Chisholm scored and the Yankees took the lead. Rizzo was out at 2nd during this whole thing. Volpe stole second, but Austin Wells struck out. Even so, the Yankees were up 3-2. We were three outs away from stealing this thing.

The Dodgers had Will Smith, Gavin Lux, and Tommy Edman due up. Bottom of the order. If any one of them got on, we end up facing...him. Jake Cousins was in. Smith pops up. Lux walks. That means Ohtani is lurking. A double play would end it. However, Edman's grounder kicks Oswaldo Cabrera (in for Torres) in ass. Everyone's safe. So Cousins' night is over, and in comes...Nestor Cortes? Well, this is a surprise. Cortes is a starter who hasn't pitched in over a month. It's an unorthodox position, but I was happy to see him. Even so, he was facing Ohtani. Funny thing: Ohtani popped up to Alex Verdugo on the first pitch. Two down!

So all we needed to do was get Mookie Betts out, and that's that! One problem: I saw Freeman up with a bat, and just as my bewilderment began, I see the graphic. Intentional walk. I'm literally wondering what the hell is the motive here! So now the bases are loaded, and Freeman's up. Like Ohtani, Freeman sees one pitch. Unlike Ohtani, however, Freeman's pitch lands in the seats.

Walk-off Grand Slam. Oh boy.

Now, I've always been a staunch defender of Aaron Boone. I've said that the scrutinizing of Boone has been unfair, however, this loss is on him. Many are saying Cortes shouldn't have been in this game. That's not the issue. He got Ohtani to pop up on one pitch. We were about to get out of this. Walking Mookie was the big mistake. Mookie was not playing well. Yes, he had an RBI. That was on a sac fly. I seriously think that Cortes would have finished off Mookie. Instead, he had to face Freeman. Yeah. Also, my fellow Yankees fans seem to be on Judge's case, because he hasn't really been coming through with the hits in this postseason. Be patient. Judge will get things done.

So the Dodgers strike first in this year's Fall Classic. The winner of Game One of the World Series has gone on to win it 63% of the time. For the first time in this postseason, the Yankees have a series deficit. However, I want to share a bit of trivia with my fellow Yankees fans. Our last World Series appearance? We lost Game One. Care to guess how it turned out for us at the end?

Game Two is Saturday in Los Angeles.

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