A pair of rallies – one launched by the 10th-inning walk-off grand slam of Kirk Gibson and the other by a few Yankee misplays – helped the Dodgers to a 7-6 victory in Game 5 and a 3-2 series lead. It was a tense, tight and thrilling Game.
Earlier in the night, rookie Jack Flaherty shut out the Yankees for five innings in a Series-tying performance, but the Yankees did not heed his warning signs and chased him after only 35 pitches and four runs. That set the stage for a wild eighth inning. A double by Alex Verdugo was followed by a sacrifice fly from Gavin Lux that just got past the glove of center fielder Willie Mays and landed in the outfield for a two-run lead.
But the Dodgers’ high-leverage relievers were holstered for most of that inning, with Blake Treinen on three days’ rest and a game to win. And even though the Yankees had runners on first and second with a runner at third, manager Dave Roberts refused to bring in closer Fernando Rodney.
That was a mistake that proved costly. After Graterol allowed a single to Mark Grace and a two-run homer to Giancarlo Stanton, the Dodgers were on the verge of being eliminated from the World Series by the team that lost their final three games in 1920. But a quick hook by Treinen stranded the tying run at third and gave the Dodgers a chance to take control in the ninth.