**Freeman's Grand Slam Delivers Dodgers Game 1 Win**

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Post on Oct 26, 2024

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Freeman's Grand Slam Delivers Dodgers Game 1 Win

The Los Angeles Dodgers took a commanding lead in the National League Division Series with a resounding 7-1 victory over the San Diego Padres in Game 1 on Tuesday. The hero of the night? None other than Freddie Freeman, who delivered a game-changing grand slam in the bottom of the 5th inning to put the Dodgers firmly in control.

Freeman's Big Night Propels Dodgers

The game was a tight affair until the 5th inning when the Dodgers broke the deadlock. With the bases loaded and two outs, Freeman stepped up to the plate against Padres reliever Nick Martinez. The tension was palpable as Freeman fouled off several pitches before finally connecting with a high fastball, sending it deep into the left-field stands. The crowd erupted in celebration as the grand slam put the Dodgers up 5-1, effectively sealing the game's fate.

"It was a good pitch, I just happened to get a good swing on it," said Freeman after the game. "It's always nice to get a big hit, but the biggest thing is getting the win."

Dodgers Pitching Shines

The Dodgers pitching staff was stellar throughout the night, limiting the Padres to just one run. Clayton Kershaw, who was making his first playoff start since 2020, pitched five strong innings, giving up just one earned run. Brusdar Graterol, Evan Phillips, and Craig Kimbrel combined to shut down the Padres in the final four innings, keeping the Padres hitters off-balance.

Padres Struggle Offensively

The Padres offense, which had been hot during the regular season, struggled mightily against the Dodgers pitching. They managed just four hits on the night and were unable to generate any significant offense against Kershaw and the Dodgers bullpen.

Manny Machado, the Padres' star third baseman, had a frustrating night, going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. The Padres will need a much better performance offensively if they hope to even the series in Game 2.

Dodgers Looking to Build Momentum

The Dodgers will be looking to build on their momentum from Game 1 as they try to take a 2-0 series lead. The Padres, on the other hand, will be looking to bounce back and avoid falling into a deep hole early in the series.

With Freeman's heroics and a dominant pitching performance, the Dodgers are off to a strong start in their quest for a World Series championship.

Keywords: Dodgers, Padres, NLDS, Freddie Freeman, Grand Slam, Clayton Kershaw, Manny Machado, Baseball, Playoffs, Game 1, MLB, World Series