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Sports Oct 31, 2024
The Dodgers take their team photo following the 2024 World Series victory. | Photo courtesy of the Los Angeles Dodgers/X
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A long-awaited Los Angeles Dodgers victory parade is set for Friday morning following a four-games-to-one World Series victory over the New York Yankees Wednesday night.
The parade’s scheduled start time is 11 a.m. at Gloria Molina Grand Park across from City Hall in downtown LA. The team will ride atop double-decker buses after remarks by Mayor Karen Bass provide an official start to the 45-minute procession southbound on Spring Street, then west on First Street, south on Grand Avenue and west on Fifth Street, ending near Flower Street and Fifth.
The Dodgers overcame a five-run deficit in the fifth inning to win their second World Series title in five years, defeating the Yankees 7-6 at Yankee Stadium. The erasure of the Yankees’ 5-0 lead was the largest deficit overcome in a Series-clinching win.
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman was unanimously chosen World Series MVP. He batted in an MLB record-tying 12 runs and was the first player to hit home runs in each of a Series’ first four games.
Yankee errors favored significantly in that fifth-inning comeback. Following a leadoff single by Dodgers outfielder Kiké Hernandez, errors by New York’s Aaron Judge and Anthony Volpe loaded the bases on balls hit by LA shortstop Tommy Edman and catcher Will Smith.
Yankees starter Gerrit Cole — who had pitched four hitless innings — then struck out Gavin Lux and Shohei Ohtani, but the Dodgers kept the inning going after Cole failed to cover first base on a Mookie Betts ground ball hit fielded by Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo. Betts’ infield single scored Kiké Hernandez for the Dodgers’ first run.
A single by Freeman drove in Edman and Smith, and the Dodgers tied the game on a Teoscar Hernandez double that drove in Betts and Freeman. All five runs were unearned.
The Yankees retook the lead in the sixth inning with a sacrifice fly by Southern California native Giancarlo Stanton that drove in Juan Soto.
Another bases-loaded sacrifice fly tied the game for the Dodgers, this time by Gavin Lux who drove in Kiké Hernandez. Yankees catcher Austin Wells was called for catcher’s interference when Ohtani was at bat, again loading the bases.
That set up Betts’ sacrifice fly to drive in Edman with what would be the Series-winning run before a Yankee Stadium crowd of 49,263.
Dodgers pitchers Blake Treinen and Walker Buehler preserved the victory. Buehler entered the game in the ninth, two days after pitching five scoreless innings in the Dodgers’ 4-2 win in Game 3. It was his first relief appearance since June 28, 2018, when he was a rookie.
After Anthony Volpe grounded out, Buehler struck out Wells and former Dodger Alex Verdugo to end the game.
The Dodgers earned their eighth World Series championship and first since 2020 after early playoff exits the last three years.
Bus burned, business looted during fan celebrations
Celebrations that erupted spontaneously across Los Angeles following the Dodgers’ World Series win were marred early Thursday as some revelers looting several businesses and set fire to a Metro bus in the Echo Park area.
The bus was torched at approximately 12:50 a.m. near Echo Park Avenue and Sunset Boulevard. It was completely destroyed, with only the frame remaining.
“Metro is disappointed and angered by the senseless act of vandalism on one of our buses following the Dodgers’ World Series win,” Metro Communications Director Dave Sotero told City News Service. “We are thankful that the bus operator and the five passengers were safely evacuated before the bus was set on fire.”
The Los Angeles Police Department reported several businesses near L.A. Live, including a Nike store, were looted. Police made several arrests.
A number of other incidents were reported, including graffiti, vandalism, street takeovers and hostile crowds.
At least 12 people were arrested in connection with the various instances of unrest, according to media reports.
“Arrests were made unfortunately following instances of violence and destruction last night and LAPD (investigations) are ongoing to hold accountable people who were involved,” Mayor Karen Bass said Thursday. “However, the overwhelming majority of the celebrations last night were joyful and peaceful, and I want to thank the many Angelenos who celebrated peacefully.”
Crowds of people poured into the streets in many areas following the Dodgers’ World Series-clinching Game 5 victory over the Yankees Wednesday night.
A large crowd of people gathered near Figueroa Street and Olympic Boulevard near L.A. Live in the downtown area, with some people setting off fireworks. The Los Angeles Police Department eventually issued a dispersal order and declared the gathering an unlawful assembly.
