Freddie Freeman Silences Yankee Stadium, Inspires Dodgers

Freeman's heroics lead Dodgers to victory in Game 1 of NLDS

In a game that had all the makings of a classic, Freddie Freeman was the hero for the Los Angeles Dodgers in their 5-3 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the National League Division Series (NLDS) on Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium. Freeman's two-run home run in the top of the fourth inning gave the Dodgers a 3-0 lead, and his RBI single in the eighth inning provided the insurance run that would ultimately seal the victory.

Freeman's performance was all the more impressive considering the circumstances. The Dodgers were playing in a hostile environment against a Yankees team that had won 101 games during the regular season. But Freeman never seemed to be fazed by the pressure, delivering clutch hit after clutch hit.

Freeman's home run was a thing of beauty. It was a 400-foot blast to left field off Yankees starter Gerrit Cole. The single in the eighth inning was just as impressive. With two runners on base and two outs, Freeman lined a 1-2 pitch from Yankees reliever Jonathan Loaisiga into right field to give the Dodgers a 5-2 lead.

Freeman's performance was a microcosm of the Dodgers' entire night. The Dodgers were aggressive at the plate, putting together 11 hits and drawing five walks. They were also solid defensively, turning two double plays and making several other key plays in the field.

The victory was the Dodgers' first in the playoffs since Game 5 of the 2020 NLCS. It also gave them a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series. Game 2 is scheduled for Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium.