Takeaways from World Series Game 5: Dodgers win second title in five years thanks to Yankees’ defensive miscues

The Los Angeles Dodgers no longer have to deal with critics discrediting their pandemic-shortened 2020 championship.

On Wednesday, Los Angeles overcame an early five-run deficit and a late one-run hole to secure a thrilling 7-6 road win over the New York Yankees to close out the World Series. The largest comeback in a World Series-clinching win gives the Dodgers their second title in five years and eighth in franchise history.

Here are three takeaways from Los Angeles’ historic victory. 

Right-hander Gerrit Cole shines until Yankees defense falters

After allowing one run on four hits with four strikeouts in six innings during New York’s Game 1 loss to Los Angeles, Cole once again started strong in Game 5. Los Angeles’ star-studded lineup was shut down by the six-time All-Star through the first four innings of the contest, with only two runners reaching base on a pair of walks.

However, things quickly unraveled in the fifth inning while the Yankees led, 5-0. A leadoff single from Dodgers outfielder Enrique Hernandez brought utilityman Tommy Edman to the plate. On the fourth pitch of the at-bat, Edman sent a Cole sinker to center field, but Aaron Judge shockingly dropped the routine fly ball.

Just one batter later, shortstop Anthony Volpe — one of the heroes of Game 4 — tried to get a force out at third base on a groundball hit by catcher Will Smith. Unfortunately for New York, Volpe one-hopped the throw to Jazz Chisholm Jr., who couldn’t hang onto the ball, which allowed the Dodgers to load the bases. Cole was able to rebound for a moment, striking out second baseman Gavin Lux and designated hitter Shohei Ohtani.

Even so, Los Angeles refused to squander its opportunity to get back into the game and mounted a massive two-out rally. Outfielder Mookie Betts kicked off the scoring for the Dodgers, legging out an RBI infield single due to Cole failing to cover first base. Immediately after that, Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman unsurprisingly came through in the clutch, hitting a two-run single. 

Then, outfielder Teoscar Hernandez sucked the life out of Yankee Stadium, delivering a game-tying two-run double to even the score at five runs apiece. 

Cole would issue another walk, though he got out of the inning. The 2023 American League Cy Young Award winner dug deep to post a scoreless sixth inning — during which he picked up his fifth and sixth strikeouts — and recorded two outs in the seventh before being pulled. 

Dodgers refuse to quit, storming back against Yankees bullpen to clinch title 

Despite their fifth-inning implosion, the Yankees rebounded in the sixth, taking a 6-5 lead thanks to a Giancarlo Stanton sacrifice fly. While the Dodgers couldn’t cash in on having two runners on base in the seventh, it didn’t take them much longer to reclaim momentum.

In the eighth inning, Yankees manager Aaron Boone turned to right-hander Tommy Kahnle to replace Clay Holmes. Los Angeles pounced on the changeup specialist Kahnle, notching back-to-back singles, with Smith then drawing a walk to load the bases.

With the season hanging on the line, Boone called on closer Luke Weaver for the third consecutive day. Weaver didn’t allow a run in any of his previous World Series appearances, but it was clear he was running out of gas.

Lux, the first batter Weaver faced, hit a game-tying sacrifice fly, setting the stage for Ohtani to finally have a big moment in the Fall Classic. Nevertheless, on the first pitch of Ohtani’s at-bat, New York’s Austin Wells was called for catcher’s interference, putting the two-time AL MVP on first base. The defensive miscue proved to be another one New York couldn’t overcome, as Betts gave Los Angeles a 7-6 lead with a sacrifice fly of his own.

Betts’ sac fly was ultimately the deciding factor, with the Dodgers hanging on to win the heavyweight clash. 

Another disastrous postseason complicates Judge’s Yankees legacy 

Although baseball is a team sport, and he’s set to win his second AL MVP Award, Judge’s latest postseason woes have tarnished his legacy with the Yankees. Judge was essentially a non-factor in the ALDS and ALCS, posting a dismal .161 batting average with two homers and six RBI, but he had a chance to flip the script in the World Series.

For the first four games of the Fall Classic, Judge’s struggles persisted. The six-time All-Star went 2-for-15 at the plate with seven strikeouts, recording his lone RBI after Game 4 turned into a blowout.

It appeared as though Tuesday’s performance gave Judge the confidence he desperately needed, considering he opened the scoring in Game 5 with a two-run homer, his first of the series. In spite of this, Judge’s fifth-inning drop will be a lasting image in the minds of Yankees fans and pointed to as the reason New York couldn’t force a Game 6.

For a team that has won 27 championships and none since 2009, only a World Series victory can salvage Judge’s legacy. The 32-year-old will surely continue to put up ridiculous regular-season numbers. Still, it’s hard to imagine the fanbase supporting him as strongly as they have throughout his career until he can consistently come through in the postseason.