Dodgers Win First Game at Yankee Stadium Since 2024 World Series

The Los Angeles Dodgers returned to Yankee Stadium on Friday, July 17, since they won their first World Series of their current two-peat.

Right after the All-Star break, the Dodgers had a blockbuster matchup against the New York Yankees, setting up a clash between the two biggest baseball franchises in baseball.

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Even without Aaron Judge, it was always going to be a test for the Dodgers, and it is one they passed, at least on Friday, as they won a playoff-like game 2-1 on the back of good pitching, defense, and timely hitting.

The Dodgers once again showed they are the best team in baseball at putting all three of those things together.

Max Muncy’s moment

The Dodgers’ offense was quiet, mainly because Gerrit Cole was pitching like his vintage. He was painting and pumping out pitches with good movement, giving the Dodgers’ hitters fits.

It took until the seventh inning for the Dodgers to get on the board. Cole, who was at 90 pitches entering the seventh inning, was totally cruising, but his command dropped off a bit, and he walked Tommy Edman.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone came out, seemingly to pull Cole, but he stuck by his veteran, a move that proved to be costly.

Max Muncy battled off pitches until Cole hung a slider, giving Muncy the chance to hit a no-doubter to the right porch.

The homer was no surprise; Muncy has been hitting clutch home runs for years with LA at this point.

The Dodgers’ defense is elite again

LA turned a great relay play in the bottom of the eighth inning that saved a run. Alex Vesia allowed a double that looked like it was going to cash Trent Grisham.

Instead, Grisham was tagged out at home plate by Dalton Rushing after Pages sent a good throw to Mookie Betts.

Betts then gave Rushing a chance to get the ball and make the throw, and the young catcher made the play on a tricky slide from Grisham.

The Dodgers did this time and time again during the first half, and to start the second half, they are back to their old tricks.

This kind of game shows why the Dodgers will be the team to beat come October, no matter what the injury picture looks like.