Steve Webb
LOS ANGELES, CA — Though it will get lost in all of the Freddie hoopla, Jack Flaherty played a key role in the Dodgers’ thrilling 5-4 win over the Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series. The righty held potent New York lineup to two runs over 5.1 innings. Despite giving up a two-run homer to Giancarlo Stanton in the sixth, the Dodgers’ right-hander stayed composed, setting the stage for Freddie Freeman’s walk-off grand slam. Flaherty’s gritty performance laid a crucial foundation for the dramatic victory, and after the game, he shared his thoughts on the atmosphere, his pitching duel with Garrett Cole, and Freeman’s inspiring effort.
“It was an incredible atmosphere, an unbelievable setting,” Flaherty said. “You have to take it one pitch at a time, especially when you’re going up against a lineup like that.” Reflecting on Stanton’s home run, which was the only major blemish on his night, he added, “You don’t make a mistake, and Stanton puts a good swing on it. He’s done that all postseason, and really throughout his career. You’d like that one back, but you’ve got to move on.”
The right-hander found himself locked in a tight pitchers’ duel with Yankees ace Garrett Cole, who matched Flaherty inning for inning. “That dude over there, he’s a stud,” Flaherty said of Cole. “It makes the game—it’s just one pitch at a time. What Garrett was able to do tonight, the way he pitched was unbelievable. Our bullpen, their bullpen, our defense—it was just an unbelievable ball game on both sides.”
Flaherty emphasized the quality of the entire game, noting that both teams’ bullpens delivered strong performances, keeping the contest within reach until the very end. “The Bullpens, both ours and theirs, were fantastic,” he said. “We really leaned on our defense tonight too. Everybody did their job, and it made for an incredible game.”
Freeman’s walk-off grand slam was undoubtedly the night’s biggest moment, a dramatic blast that made history as the first walk-off grand slam in postseason history. Flaherty, like the rest of Dodger Stadium, watched with awe as Freeman’s swing sent the ball soaring out of the park. “He hit it, and he left no doubt,” Flaherty said. “We didn’t have to stress over whether or not it was going out. He hit it, he knew it, and you could see it by his reaction. That was incredible.”
Freeman’s resilience has been a key story throughout the Dodgers’ season. Battling through pain, the first baseman has continued to give his all despite being less than 100% healthy. “It just makes you want to go out and give everything you’ve got,” Flaherty said of Freeman’s impact on the team. “That’s what every guy on this team has. Freddie is unbelievable with what he’s done day in and day out. You just appreciate that dude as a ballplayer and as a human being.”
Playing in front of his hometown crowd in Los Angeles added another layer of significance to Flaherty’s performance. “Walking out was incredible, even just to the bullpen, feeling the city behind you,” he said. “That’s what the city does—they’re going to be there, they’re going to show up, they’re going to be loud. They were there all night, and it was as good as it gets.”
When asked about the inspiration he draws from Dodgers legends, especially the late Fernando Valenzuela, whose presence looms large at Dodger Stadium, Flaherty spoke of the emotional connection. “He was a legend, an LA legend, especially,” he said. “What he did throughout his career, inspiring a city, you see it and try to channel the emotion and pitch with it.” In a nod to Valenzuela, Flaherty donned the late pitcher’s jersey upon arriving at the stadium. “Needed to,” he said simply.
Flaherty acknowledged that while the win was a memorable one, it was just the beginning. “It’s one win, and we get to come back again and do it tomorrow,” he said. “We celebrate and enjoy it, but we’ve got to make sure we get back after it tomorrow and ride that emotional high.”
Reflecting on the challenge of facing Aaron Judge, Flaherty spoke with respect for the Yankees’ star. “Judge is unbelievable,” he said. “I was able to make some good pitches, and some days, that’s just the way it goes. You take today, remember it, but also remember that it’s one day, and he’s going to be ready for the next one.”
With Game 1 now in the books, Flaherty and the Dodgers know the road to the World Series title is far from over. “We’re going to need some more of it,” he said of the energy from the Dodgers’ faithful. “If we end up coming back, we’re going to need it again. This city is incredible, the fans were incredible, and we’re just going to need more of it because that’s a really good team over there, and we’re going to need everything we’ve got.”
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