Freddie Freeman’s right ankle became too much of an ailment that limited him in the NLDS and NLCS.
But that doesn’t matter much in the World Series. Freeman spent most of his time roaming the bases on offense.
The Los Angeles slugger was named the World Series MVP on Wednesday as the Dodgers cruised to a 4-1 win over the New York Yankees for the franchise’s eighth World Series championship.
Once that was done, the MVP call was easy. Freeman earned the hardware thanks to a historic home run tear that set multiple World Series records. It was a performance for the baseball ages that should cap a Hall of Fame career for the eight-time All-Star slugger.
Freeman set the tone for the series with his electric Game 1 grand slam that clinched the win in extra innings and sent Dodger Stadium into a frenzy. The no-doubt blast was the first grand slam in World Series history and sealed a 6-3 Dodgers victory.
In Game 2, Freeman delivered another home run. This time, the Dodgers extended their lead to 4-1 before Los Angeles won 4-2.
In Game 3, the series shifted from Los Angeles to New York. A win-hungry Bronx crowd was ready to give the Dodgers hell with the first pitch from Yankees icon Derek Jeter.
Then, 15 pitches into the game, Freeman did this:
Freeman’s two-run blast left Shohei Ohtani and Yankee Stadium gasping for air. It was Freeman’s fifth consecutive World Series game with a home run, leading to a 2021 World Series championship with the Atlanta Braves. Freeman tied for George Springer (Astros, 2017-19) For the longest such streak in World Series history. The home run gave the Dodgers first offense en route to a 4-2 Game 3 win.
Then in Game 4, Freeman did it again. He silenced the Yankee Stadium crowd once again with a first-inning home run, giving the Dodgers another early 2-0 lead.
At that point, the lead didn’t last. The Yankees won 11-4 to seal the sweep and force Game 5. But Freeman’s home run made history. With his sixth straight World Series game with a home run, Freeman passed Springer for the longest streak in World Series history, and he Became the first player Hit a home run in the first four games of the only World Series.
Although he didn’t hit a home run on Wednesday, Freeman hit a two-out, two-RBI single in the fifth inning that helped the Dodgers climb out of a 5-0 hole en route to a 7-6 win. It marked the greatest comeback in World Series history.
In all, Freeman had six hits, a streak-high 12 RBI and four home runs in the World Series. The 35-year-old, in his third season with the franchise, posted a .282 batting average, 89 RBI and 22 home runs during the regular season while earning his fourth consecutive All-Star nod.
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