The stage was set. It was the 10th inning of Game 1 of the World Series, and the Los Angeles Dodgers found themselves down to their final out, trailing 3-2 to the New York Yankees.

The Yankees had controlled much of the game, and with their dominant pitching and timely hitting, it seemed as if they were on the verge of taking an early series lead. But as the final pitch of the game approached, something utterly unexpected happened.

Freddie Freeman, one of the most powerful and reliable hitters in the game, stood at the plate. With a 1-1 count, Nestor Cortes, the Yankees’ starting pitcher, delivered a four-seam fastball that Freeman didn’t just hit – he obliterated it. The ball soared 412 feet through the air, clearing the fence and landing into the right-field stands. It was a walk-off grand slam – the first in World Series history.

The moment sent shockwaves through the baseball world. The Dodgers had pulled off an improbable comeback, stealing the game from the Yankees in a manner that no one had seen coming.

For the Yankees, it was a gut-wrenching defeat, a loss that would haunt them for the rest of the series and for years to come. Nestor Cortes, the pitcher on the wrong end of that iconic play, has struggled to come to terms with it.

Fast forward to the offseason, and Cortes is no longer a part of the New York Yankees organization. The Yankees, having made the decision to move forward with a revamped roster, traded Cortes to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for two-time All-Star Devin Williams. The trade was finalized just three days after Cortes’ birthday, signaling a new chapter in his career.

In a candid conversation with Tyler Kepner of The Athletic, Cortes reflected on that unforgettable moment from October and the painful aftermath. While some time had passed since the devastating loss, Cortes’ bitterness about the way the series ended was still palpable.

“We had done enough to win that game,” Cortes said. “They can talk whatever they want to talk, but we win Game 1 — which we should have — we lost 2 and 3, we win Game 4 and we should have won Game 5. Then we go back to L.A. up 3 to 2.”

Cortes maintained that the Yankees were the better team throughout the series and that their performance, even in defeat, should have resulted in a different outcome.

“So people can say it slipped away from us, people can say we made a lot of mistakes, which we did. But at the end of the day, we were the better team. I see it that way, and I’m sure everybody in that clubhouse sees it that way.”

For Cortes, the pain of the loss is not just rooted in the grand slam but in the larger narrative of the series. He felt that had the Yankees taken Game 1, they would have been able to win the series, and the events of the final games would have unfolded differently.

Instead, it was the Dodgers who capitalized on the Yankees’ missteps and took home the ultimate prize, claiming the 2024 World Series title. Cortes, ever the competitor, couldn’t shake the notion that the Yankees were the more deserving team.

Despite his lingering frustration, Cortes is still able to acknowledge the Dodgers’ accomplishment. “The reality (could have been) going back to L.A. leading 3-2. It didn’t happen that way and they deserve all the credit in the world, they won the World Series. At the moment, they showed they were the better team.” It’s clear that while Cortes holds onto the belief that the Yankees were the superior squad, he also respects the Dodgers’ victory and the strength of their organization.

Cortes’ sentiment reflects the nature of baseball itself. This is a sport filled with countless moments, big and small, that can ultimately determine the outcome of a game or even a season. Baseball is a game of uncertainty, where a single play – a timely hit, a key defensive stop, or a well-executed pitch – can shift the course of history.

And that’s exactly what happened in that 10th inning of Game 1. The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman took advantage of a single pitch and changed the trajectory of the entire series.

Though we can indulge in “what-if” scenarios and imagine a world where the Yankees won Game 1 and carried that momentum to a championship, the truth remains that the Dodgers earned their title. Baseball, as much as it is about talent and preparation, is often about seizing the moment, and the Dodgers did just that.

In the postseason, teams are often separated by a few inches, a few seconds, or a single pitch. The Dodgers’ victory was a testament to their ability to capitalize on these moments.

As the 2025 season looms large, the Dodgers are poised to defend their World Series title with a roster that has undergone some changes but remains formidable. The quest to become baseball’s first back-to-back champions in a quarter-century begins now. The Dodgers will once again have to navigate the challenges of the regular season, the playoffs, and a competitive field, all while keeping their eyes on the ultimate prize: another championship.

For Nestor Cortes, the trade to the Milwaukee Brewers marks the start of a new chapter. He leaves behind the pain of the walk-off grand slam and the heartbreak of a World Series defeat, but the lessons learned from those moments will likely fuel his motivation as he seeks to prove himself with a new team. Cortes has shown resilience and determination in his career, and it’s clear that he will continue to be a force on the mound.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers are preparing for another postseason run, with their eyes set firmly on repeating as champions. The team will rely on its experienced veterans, such as Freeman, Clayton Kershaw, and Mookie Betts, as well as emerging stars who have the potential to leave their mark on the game. If their recent success is any indication, the Dodgers will once again be a formidable opponent for anyone who stands in their way.

The 2025 World Series will inevitably bring new moments, new heroes, and new storylines. But for those who witnessed Freddie Freeman’s unforgettable grand slam in Game 1 of the 2024 World Series, that moment will forever be etched in the annals of baseball history. It was a reminder of how quickly fortunes can change and how one pitch can alter the course of a season.

As the Dodgers set their sights on back-to-back championships, they do so with the knowledge that they have already proven themselves capable of winning when it matters most. The challenge now is to replicate that magic and once again take their place atop the baseball world. In the end, it’s these moments – the highs and lows – that make baseball the captivating sport it is. And for Nestor Cortes, the hope is that, in time, he’ll have his own redemption story to tell.