It was the perfect storm of mental errors and clutch hits to reveal what looked like a clear path to forcing a Game 6 comeback in Los Angeles. The Dodgers’ advantage in postseason experience was never more evident than in their ability to bounce back from a lopsided game as their opponent buckled under the pressure.

The Yankees regained the lead on Giancarlo Stanton’s sacrifice fly, but the momentum never left the Dodgers dugout. In the top of the eighth, they took the lead for good with sacrifice flies by Gavin Lux and Mookie Bets.

It is now the largest comeback ever made in a decisive World Series game.

Dave Roberts proves he is a great manager

Deadline draft pick Jack Flaherty took over as the staff’s de facto ace for the Dodgers’ playoff run when Tyler Glasnow went on the disabled list down the stretch and Clayton Kershaw was unavailable. His performance had been mixed throughout the month of October.

He pitched gems in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series (7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER) and Game 1 of the World Series (5.1 IP, 5 H, 2 ER), but got bombed against the Mets of New York for the second time in Game 5 (3.0 IP, 8 H, 8 ER) and suffered a similar fate on Wednesday night.

The 29-year-old recorded just four outs, allowing four hits and four earned runs. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was forced to mix and match for the final 23 outs of the game.

• Anthony Banda: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
• Ryan Brasier: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
• Michael Kopech: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
• Alex Vesia: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
• Brusdar Graterol: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 0 K
• Blake Treinen: G, 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
• Walker Buehler: SV, 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

He relied on closer Blake Treinen to throw a season-high 42 pitches in 2.1 scoreless innings. He got out of a jam that Brusdar Graterol got into in the sixth, went 1-2-3 in the seventh and gutted an eighth inning where the tying run was in scoring position.

He then put the ball in the hands of Game 3 starter Walker Buehler to get the final three outs, despite an inconsistent season from the former top-line starter returning from Tommy John surgery. He struck out two of the three batters he faced and needed 16 pitches to complete the save.

Even looking back at Game 4, Roberts made the wise decision to let Landon Knack and Brent Honeywell absorb innings in a lopsided loss, preserving all of his upper arms when each of them needed them.

It’s easy to shine a light on the manager when those pitching decisions don’t work out, and Roberts has been on the wrong side of that light in the past when the Dodgers came up short, but this was a masterclass from the manager. seat.

The World Series champions used a bullpen game instead of a No. 4 starter throughout the postseason with mixed results, but when presented with an unexpected bullpen game in Game 5, he didn’t flinch.

Redefining the Dodgers’ legacy

The Dodgers have won the NL West title 11 times in the last 12 years, and while this was their fourth trip to the World Series during that stretch, it was their first Fall Classic victory outside of the 2020 abbreviated season.

That title didn’t come with the usual celebration and parade, and haters interpreted it as less valuable than a full-season title.

Similarities to the Atlanta Braves teams that won 14 consecutive division titles in the 1990s and 2000s but only won one World Series during that span were very easy to make, but that narrative is dead.

The disappointment had been especially painful in the last two seasons before winning this year’s title.

The 2022 Dodgers were a runaway freight train during the regular season, winning 111 games and posting a ridiculous plus-334 run differential, but they were eliminated by the rival San Diego Padres in four games in the NLDS.

They again reached 100 wins last season, only to fall to another NL West foe, the Arizona Diamondbacks, who swept them in three games after exiting the Wild Card Round.

That disappointment served as the starting point for a spending spree that eclipsed $1 billion during the offseason, but it was the moves made on the margins of the roster that had just as big an impact during the playoffs.

From the addition of Tommy Edman as National League Championship Series MVP to the carefully assembled relief corps that took on a significant load during the playoffs, all the pieces fell into place for this year’s Dodgers team to finally rose to the top of the baseball world.

On the other hand, Shohei Ohtani and his $700 million contract were largely non-factors in the World Series. He went 2 for 19 with an extra-base hit and zero RBIs, clearly slowed by a shoulder injury he suffered in Game 2. Slugger Max Muncy (0 for 16, 10 K) also wasn’t a factor.

With a loaded roster, money to spend, and Ohtani set to return to the mound in 2025, the idea of ​​a repeat seems very possible, as this could be an even better team next year.

Every dynasty has to start somewhere.

Now it’s up to the Dodgers to continue meeting even higher expectations as they set their sights on another title run in 2025.