Dodgers' deja vu: Freddie Freeman mimics Kirk Gibson's homer heroics

(Photo credit: Sage Osentoski-Imagn Images)

LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Dodgers brought back vivid memories of championships in 1981 and 1988, all wrapped inside a single emotional evening as they powered their way to the early advantage in the World Series.

Freddie Freeman hit a game-ending grand slam in the bottom of the 10th inning as the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied for a 6-3 victory over the New York Yankees on Friday to win Game 1.

Trailing 3-2 in the 10th, the Dodgers got a one-out walk from Gavin Lux, followed by an infield single from Tommy Edman off Jake Cousins (0-1). Both runners advanced on Shohei Ohtani's foulout to left field. Mookie Betts was walked intentionally before Freeman launched a first-pitch fastball from left-hander Nestor Cortes into the seats in right field.

It was shades of Kirk Gibson's game-winning home run in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series for the Dodgers after he hobbled to the plate on a leg injury. Freeman has been dealing with a sprained right ankle in the playoffs.

"It felt like nothing, just kind of floating," Freeman said about his trip around the bases. "Those are the kind of things, when you're 5 years old with your two older brothers and you're playing Wiffle Ball in the backyard, those are the scenarios you dream about: two outs, bases loaded in a World Series game.

"For it to actually happen and get a home run and walk it off to give us a 1-0 lead, that's as good as it gets right there."

The victory also came three days after the death of Legendary Los Angeles pitcher Fernando Valenzuela, whose heroics in the 1981 World Series helped the Dodgers to a title over the Yankees.

"(It) might be the greatest baseball moment I've ever witnessed, and I've witnessed some great ones," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of the Friday victory.

Freeman joined Gibson and Joe Carter (1993 Toronto Blue Jays) as the only players to hit walk-off homers with their team trailing in a World Series game -- though Freeman is the first to end a World Series game with a grand slam.

"You get told you do something like that in this game that's been around a very long time -- I love the history of this game and to be a part of it, it's special," said Freeman, who also legged out a first-inning triple.

Said Betts: "I wanted to stop (rounding the bases) and wait on him, but I couldn't. Just kept on running and screaming."

The Yankees' Jazz Chisholm Jr. singled, stole second and third and scored on Anthony Volpe's groundout in the top of the 10th inning off Blake Treinen (1-0) to give New York a brief 3-2 lead.

Giancarlo Stanton crushed a two-run home run in the sixth inning, and right-hander Gerrit Cole gave up one run on four hits over six-plus innings for New York.

Game 2 is set for Saturday at Dodger Stadium between teams meeting in the World Series for the record 12th time and the first time since 1981.

"We have another game tomorrow and that's what it comes down to, as tough as this one is losing a game like that," Yankees slugger Aaron Judge said. "We have another chance to even it up in Game 2."

Cole and the Dodgers' Jack Flaherty were locked into a pitchers' duel until the fifth, when Enrique Hernandez got Los Angeles started with a one-out triple into the right field corner. Will Smith followed with a sacrifice fly to right field for a 1-0 lead.

The Yankees broke through against Flaherty in the sixth. Juan Soto led off with a single and Stanton hit a towering home run to left field for a 2-1 lead.

After the Dodgers failed to score in the sixth and seventh innings despite getting a runner to third base with less than two outs each time, the Dodgers tied it in the eighth. Ohtani doubled with one out against Tommy Kahnle and went to third on right fielder Soto's errant throw back to the infield. Betts followed with a sacrifice fly to tie the score 2-all.

With two outs in the ninth inning against the Dodgers' Michael Kopech, Gleyber Torres' drive to the top of the wall in left that was ruled a double on fan interference. The Dodgers walked Soto before Treinen retired Judge on a popup.

"Whatever happened tonight, we'll forget it," Torres said. "Tomorrow is another game. We have plenty of opportunity to do whatever we want to do and get the same plan we have tonight and just try to attack."

Cortes was just added to the Yankees' roster earlier Friday after not pitching in the playoffs thus far because of forearm flexor tendon soreness. He threw just two pitches.

"I didn't get it done tonight but I know there are more opportunities for me to come," Cortes said.

--Doug Padilla, Field Level Media