Ohtani wins 1st World Series title with Dodgers

Shohei Ohtani won his first World Series title as the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied to beat the New York Yankees 7-6 in Game 5 on Wednesday.

It was the Dodgers’ first World Series championship since 2020 and the eighth in franchise history.

Ohtani wins 1st World Series title with Dodgers

Los Angeles Dodgers players celebrate after winning the MLB World Series with a 7-6 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 5 on Oct. 30, 2024, at Yankee Stadium in New York. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Aaron Judge hit the first of New York’s three home runs on the night as the Yankees built a 5-0 lead through the first three innings.

Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees hits a two-run home run off Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Jack Flaherty in the first inning of Game 5 of the MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium in New York on October 30, 2024. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

But the Dodgers took advantage of the Yankees’ defensive mistakes to score five runs in the fifth to tie the game at 5. Gavin Lux and Mookie Betts each hit sacrifice flies in the eighth to give the Dodgers the lead for good at Yankee Stadium.

“I’m so happy for this great end to the season,” Ohtani said. “My teammates are amazing as players and as people. So many people came all the way to watch our games and I’m grateful for that.”

The two-way Japanese star, who suffered a left shoulder subluxation when he was caught stealing in Game 2, went hitless in four at-bats and finished the series without an RBI.

The Dodgers and Yankees, the former neighbors and rivals, met in the World Series for the first time in 43 years.

Ohtani celebrated with fellow “Big Three” members Betts and Freddie Freeman, as well as Japanese teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who joined the Dodgers on a $325-million, 12-year contract, making him the highest-paid pitcher in MLB history.

Yamamoto was Game 2’s winning pitcher after allowing just one hit, a solo home run to Juan Soto, over 6-1/3 innings.

Freeman was named the World Series MVP when he became the first player in history to homer in six consecutive World Series games dating back to his trip to the 2021 Fall Classic with the Atlanta Braves.

Before Game 5, former Yankees outfielder and 2009 World Series MVP Hideki Matsui threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

Ohtani signed a $700-million, 10-year deal with the Dodgers last December, the largest contract in world sports history.

On September 19, Ohtani became the first Major League Baseball player ever to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season.

Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Shohei Ohtani flies out in the third inning of Game 5 of the MLB World Series against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium in New York on October 30, 2024. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Shohei Ohtani strikes out swinging at New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole in the fifth inning of Game 5 of the MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium in New York on October 30, 2024. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole gets Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Shohei Ohtani to fly out in the first inning of Game 5 of the MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium in New York on October 30, 2024. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Shohei Ohtani (2nd from R) of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates as the team wins the World Series with a 7-6 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 5 at Yankee Stadium in New York on October 30, 2024. (Kyodo)


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