NEW YORK – The New York Yankees seemed poised to keep their World Series dreams alive Wednesday night, but a series of costly defensive blunders allowed the Los Angeles Dodgers to seize a 7-6 victory, securing their eighth championship and second in the last five years. The Yankees’ fall from a commanding five-run lead unraveled in a fifth-inning disaster that erased what once looked like a decisive advantage.
Aaron Judge, the Yankees’ star outfielder, set the tone for a night that soon spiraled out of control with a rare error that kicked off the Dodgers’ five-run rally. Judge’s botched attempt to catch an easy fly ball allowed Dodgers base runners to advance, marking the beginning of a string of errors from other key Yankees players like shortstop Anthony Volpe and ace pitcher Gerrit Cole. After a promising start, the Yankees saw their hard-earned lead slip away as the Dodgers kept up the pressure, eventually clinching the title with a tight one-run win.
“It’s the worst feeling you can have,” Cole admitted, unable to hide his disappointment as he reflected on the game’s devastating outcome. “This is about as tough as it gets.”
The Yankees returned to the World Series for the first time since 2009, hoping to finally claim a title after a 15-year drought. For the fans and players alike, that gap feels interminably long, especially given the Yankees’ historic status as one of baseball’s most successful franchises. Now, they are left to grapple with the latest disappointment, and as Judge noted, “We just didn’t get the job done.”
With the offseason looming, New York faces uncertainty, including the challenge of retaining star slugger Juan Soto, who is likely to attract substantial offers from other teams. Soto expressed that he’s open to exploring his options regarding his future with the Yankees. Judge shared similar feelings, remarking, “I know everyone here wants him to stay. He brings so much to our team, both on and off the field.”
Despite the night’s grim outcome, the Yankees had their moment in Game 4, which they won decisively, staving off a sweep by the Dodgers. That victory gave fans hope that New York could pull off an improbable comeback and become the first team to rally from a 3-0 deficit in the World Series. Their strong start in Game 5, with back-to-back home runs by Judge and Jazz Chisholm Jr. in the first inning, and a third-inning homer from Giancarlo Stanton, gave them a comfortable 5-0 lead. But even with Cole, their ace, pitching four scoreless innings, things began to unravel when Judge’s costly error opened the door for the Dodgers.
As Judge attempted to catch a routine fly ball in the fifth inning, the ball slipped out of his glove, placing runners on first and second with no outs. Visibly shaken, Judge later admitted, “You can’t give a good team extra outs.” The next error came moments later when Volpe misfired a throw to third base, loading the bases and putting even more pressure on Cole. Despite managing to strike out two batters, Cole’s lapse in judgment allowed Dodgers’ Mookie Betts to notch an infield single, narrowing the Yankees’ lead to 5-1. Cole later explained that he’d misjudged the angle to cover first base, saying, “I took a bad angle. By the time the ball got by me, I wasn’t in position to cover.”
Freddie Freeman, named the World Series MVP, capitalized on the Yankees’ mistake by driving in two runs to tie the game. Teoscar Hernández followed with a double over Judge’s head, bringing in two more runs and erasing the Yankees’ lead. The crowd at Yankee Stadium, previously roaring in support, was stunned into silence. Manager Aaron Boone struggled to summarize the devastating inning, simply noting, “We didn’t take care of the ball well enough.”
The Yankees briefly recaptured the lead in the sixth inning with a sacrifice fly by Stanton, making it 6-5. But as the game neared its end, the Dodgers seized one final opportunity. Yankees reliever Tommy Kahnle allowed two singles and a walk to load the bases in the eighth inning. Closer Luke Weaver entered the game, but a controversial catcher’s interference call on Austin Wells added to New York’s woes, setting the stage for sacrifice flies by Lux and Betts that gave the Dodgers a 7-6 lead. Los Angeles pitchers Blake Treinen and Walker Buehler then held the Yankees scoreless in the final innings, sealing the Dodgers’ victory.
Back in the locker room, Cole struggled to find words to describe the Yankees’ collapse. “It’s brutal,” he said simply, capturing the despair felt by his teammates and fans alike.
The Yankees are left facing an offseason filled with questions, particularly regarding Soto’s potential return. Soto’s impact on the team extended beyond his statistics, as Judge emphasized, “He’s one of the best players in the game and a great leader. Having him here means a lot.” But as Soto contemplates his options, the Yankees must brace for the possibility of losing yet another star player.
For Yankees fans, this World Series loss is a bitter reminder that October glory, once all but expected, now feels painfully elusive. After a season of hope and promise, the Yankees are again left with a long winter of “what ifs.”