LOS ANGELES (AP) — A breathtaking all-night party with a Hollywood ending.

The first Yankees-Dodgers game was certainly delivered.

Freddie Freeman hit the first game-ending grand slam in World Series history with two outs in the 10th inning to give the Los Angeles Dodgers a 6-3 victory over the New York Yankees in a game of drama-filled opening Friday.

“This might be the greatest baseball moment I’ve ever witnessed, and I’ve witnessed some great ones,” marveled Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.

Hobbled by a severely sprained right ankle, Freeman homered on the first pitch he saw – a 92 mph inside fastball from Nestor Cortes – and raised his bat high before beginning his trot as the sold-out crowd of 52,394 roared.

“I can’t believe what just happened,” Roberts said. “That’s what makes the Fall Classic a classic, isn’t it, because the stars come out and the superstars make big plays, get big hits, in the biggest moments. …I’m speechless right now.

It’s reminiscent of Kirk Gibson’s stunning home run that lifted Los Angeles against the Oakland Athletics in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series at Dodger Stadium – one of the most famous swings in baseball history .

Gibson, sidelined with leg injuries, came off the bench and connected against Hall of Fame closer Dennis Eckersley.

“But I played the whole game,” Freeman said with a smile.

Freeman, an eight-time All-Star who missed three games in the National League playoffs because of his injured ankle, did not have an extra-base hit in the postseason until he hit a triple in of the first round on Friday.

“I actually felt pretty good,” said Freeman, who will donate his playing spikes to the Cooperstown Hall of Fame. “The last six days we treated him very well. I feel pretty good. Just as I ran out to greet my teammates, I was feeling pretty good, since it was my first time running all week. So the ankle is fine.

After the home run, Freeman ran to his father.

“I was just screaming in his face. I’m sorry, Dad,” Freeman said with a laugh. “He’s been there since I was a little boy, giving me batting practice every day. So this is a moment, this is my father’s moment.

Giancarlo Stanton launched a two-run homer for New York in this high-profile, star-studded game between two of baseball’s most famous and successful franchises – the third consecutive World Series opener with extra innings.

“You can’t sit here and mope. You can’t stay here and complain. You can’t, you could, you would,” Yankees slugger Aaron Judge said. “It’s time to go to work.” We lost this match. Learn from it. See where we can improve and go out there and win the next one.

In the top of the 10th, Anthony Volpe crashed into a fielder’s choice at shortstop, scoring Jazz Chisholm Jr. from third after stealing two bases, to give New York a 3-2 lead.

The speedy Chisholm singled off winning pitcher Blake Treinen, then stole second. After an intentional walk to Anthony Rizzo, Chisholm slipped third base uncontested as Treinen was slow at the plate with Max Muncy playing deep at third.

Tommy Edman made a diving stop to his left on Volpe’s grounder, but couldn’t get it out of his glove at first. He moved to second to get Rizzo out as Chisholm headed home with the go-ahead run.

But the Dodgers weren’t done.

Gavin Lux walked losing pitcher Jake Cousins ​​with one out in the bottom of the 10th and moved to second on Edman’s infield single at second. Defensive replacement Oswaldo Cabrera knocked the ball away with his glove but it leaked into the outfield.

That brought in star slugger Shohei Ohtani, a left-handed hitter. Yankees manager Aaron Boone went to his bullpen again for Cortes, a left-handed starter who hadn’t pitched since Sept. 18 because of an elbow injury.

After missing the AL playoffs, Cortes was added to the World Series roster on Friday.

“I ran into the (batting) cage and told the guys in the cage that this game should have been the first baseball game ever on pay-per-view,” said Dodgers center fielder Kiké Hernández .

Left fielder Alex Verdugo made a running catch in foul territory to retire Ohtani on Cortes’ first pitch. Verdugo’s momentum knocked him over the low retaining wall, advancing both runners one base because, by rule, it became a dead ball when Verdugo ended up in the stands .

With first base open, New York intentionally walked Mookie Betts to load the bases and set up a left-to-left matchup of Cortes against Freeman.

“I was on time for the heat,” Freeman said.

His entrance into the right field pavilion sent Dodgers fans into a frenzy. It was the third home run in World Series history for a trailing team, following Gibson’s homer and Joe Carter’s homer for the Toronto Blue Jays who won the 1993 World Series against Philadelphia.

Nelson Cruz hit the only other game-ending grand slam in postseason history, for Texas in the 2011 American League Championship Series against Detroit.

“That’s it, you’re 5 in the backyard right there,” Freeman said. “It’s a dream come true, but it’s just one. We have three more.

This is the 12th time the Yankees and Dodgers have met in the World Series, the most frequent matchup in major league annals, but their previous clash in October was 43 years ago.

With the Dodgers seeking their eighth title and second in five years, the Yankees are in the Fall Classic for the first time since winning the 27th seed in 2009.

The first series featuring a pair of 50-homer hitters, Judge (58) and Ohtani (54), opened quietly as 2023 AL Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole and Jack Flaherty battled through four scoreless innings. aim. Judge struck out his swing in his first three at-bats before hitting a single against Brusdar Graterol with two outs in the seventh.

Ohtani was 0 for 3 before ripping a double off the right field wall in the eighth. He raced to third on the play when second baseman Gleyber Torres mishandled Juan Soto’s throw, which became costly when Ohtani scored on a Betts sacrifice fly that tied the score at 2.

Torres sent a long drive to left center with two outs in the ninth. A fan wearing a Dodgers jersey reached over the wall and grabbed the ball. The referees ruled fan interference and awarded Torres a double, a call confirmed on video replay. The fan immediately left the scene.

Soto was intentionally walked before Judge popped out against Treinen to end the inning.

The Dodgers took a 1-0 lead in the fifth when Hernández tripled Soto to right field and scored on Will Smith’s sacrifice fly.

The Yankees responded in the sixth. Soto singled in the leadoff before Judge pulled his swing for the third time. Stanton followed with a 412-foot shot to stop Flaherty for his 17th career postseason home run. Stanton grew up in the nearby San Fernando Valley, not far from Flaherty’s hometown of Burbank.

Stanton, the ALCS MVP, connected on a knuckle curve that hung slightly at the bottom of the strike zone. His sixth home run in 11 postseason games was launched at 116.6 mph.

After last weekend’s decisive victory in Cleveland, Stanton said, “That’s not the trophy I want.” I want the next one.

The Yankees then loaded the bases. Chisholm singled off Anthony Banda and stole second. After Rizzo retired, Volpe was intentionally walked. Austin Wells had an infield single that Edman smothered with a diving catch to save a run before Verdugo struck out against his former team.

Fernando Valenzuela, the 1981 NL Cy Young Award winner and Rookie of the Year who died earlier this week at the age of 63, was honored with a moment of silence before the game.

FOLLOWING

Game 2 is Saturday night at Dodger Stadium, with Yankees LHP Carlos Rodón taking on $325 million rookie Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

Rodón is 1-1 with a 4.40 ERA in three postseason starts, with 22 strikeouts in 14 1/3 innings. Yamamoto is 1-0 in three postseason starts with a 5.11 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 12 1/3 innings.