Shohei Ohtani’s rural hometown honors its superstar son — from city hall to the hair salons
OSHU CITY, Japan — Shohei Ohtani’s hometown in northern Japan is a rural place, famous for its high-quality Maesawa beef, its history of making traditional ironware and the intense green hills and mountains that surround it. The Japanese call such places “inaka” — roughly translated as the “countryside.” No glitz,...
Freeman and Buehler lead Dodgers past slumping Yankees for 3-0 advantage in World SeriesVideo
NEW YORK — Freddie Freeman homered for the third straight game and Walker Buehler pitched another World Series gem as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the New York Yankees 4-2 on Monday night for a 3-0 lead in the Fall Classic. With superstar Shohei Ohtani playing despite a partially dislocated...
World Series off to best viewership start since 2017, averaging 14.55 million viewers
LOS ANGELES — The World Series is averaging 14.55 million viewers through two games, the best start for the Fall Classic since 2017. Saturday’s 4-2 victory by the Los Angeles Dodgers over the New York Yankees averaged 13.44 million on Fox, Fox Deportes and streaming. That is a 65% increase...
Shohei Ohtani to play for Dodgers in Game 3 of World Series despite shoulder injuryVideo
NEW YORK — Shohei Ohtani will play for the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 3 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium, manager Dave Roberts told ESPN. Ohtani partially dislocated his left shoulder sliding into second base when he was caught stealing to end the seventh inning of Saturday night’s...
Yoshinobu Yamamoto shuts down Yankees, Freddie Freeman homers again as Dodgers win for 2-0 World Series lead
LOS ANGELES — Yoshinobu Yamamoto walked back to his dugout and made the slightest tip of his cap to cheering fans. He left Japan for moments like this, an opportunity to put the Los Angeles Dodgers in control of the World Series. Yamamoto allowed one hit over 6 1/3 innings,...
Freeman hits 1st game-ending slam in World Series history as Dodgers top Yankees 6-3 in openerVideo
LOS ANGELES — Freddie Freeman hit the first game-ending grand slam in World Series history with two outs in the 10th inning, giving the Los Angeles Dodgers a 6-3 victory over the New York Yankees in a dramatic opener Friday night. Hobbled by a badly sprained ankle, Freeman homered on...
Dodgers’ Fernando Valenzuela was cultural ambassador for Mexican Americans, Mexicans
For baseball fans, “Fernandomania” marked a flash of pitching brilliance, the emergence of a unique talent in the history of one of the sport’s most storied franchises. For Mexicans and Mexican Americans, Fernando Valenzuela was something even greater: a beacon of hope, inspiration and pride. Valenzuela, a Mexican-born phenomenon for...
Dodgers, Yankees ready for starriest World Series in decadesVideo
LOS ANGELES — Even 8-year-old Charlie Freeman is excited about a Dodgers-Yankees World Series. “He’s at Universal (Studios) right now with a couple of his buddies, but he goes, ‘Daddy, I can’t wait for the World Series start tomorrow,’” Los Angeles first baseman Freddie Freeman said at the last workout...
World Series analysis: Despite star power, Yankees-Dodgers could be decided by role playersVideo
NEW YORK — Aaron Judge, Juan Soto and Gerrit Cole. Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. No doubt, many of baseball’s biggest names will be center stage when the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers square off in a dream World Series matchup between two of the sport’s...
Los Angeles mourns former Dodgers star pitcher Fernando ValenzuelaVideo
LOS ANGELES — Julia Mendez carefully positioned three candles in a row under a sign welcoming fans to Dodger Stadium. Then she pulled out a foil-wrapped burrito and rested it against the post. “I know he ate a burrito all his life,” said the 70-year-old fan from North Hollywood, who...
At Aaron Judge’s urging, Yankees feature new vibe heading into World Series vs. DodgersVideo
NEW YORK — These Yankees have minted a new vibe going into their first World Series since 2009. Baseball’s most tradition-bound team, with a grandiose granite-and-limestone stadium and pinstriped home uniforms that have hardly changed since 1936, has added a flamboyant flash to its accessories: Statue of Liberty green. “Been...
Ohtani’s historic 50-50 ball sells at auction for nearly $4.4M amid ongoing dispute over ownership
Shohei Ohtani’s 50th home run ball has sold at auction for nearly $4.4 million, a record high price not just for a baseball, but for any ball in any sport, the auctioneer said Wednesday. Ohtani became the first player in baseball history to hit 50 homers and steal 50 bases...
Fernando Valenzuela, Mexican-born pitcher whose feats for Dodgers fueled ‘Fernandomania,’ dies at 63
LOS ANGELES — Fernando Valenzuela, the Mexican-born phenom for the Los Angeles Dodgers who inspired “Fernandomania” while winning the NL Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year in 1981, has died. He was 63. The team said he died Tuesday night at a Los Angeles hospital, but did not...
Nestor Cortes expects to be on Yankees World Series roster, even if it’s a long-term health riskVideo
NEW YORK — Nestor Cortes expects to be on the New York Yankees’ World Series roster against the Los Angeles Dodgers after throwing two innings of batting practice and pronouncing himself recovered from an elbow injury that has sidelined him for more than a month. Cortes said he plans to...
After thrilling season ends, surprising Mets have ‘work to do’
NEW YORK — Yes, the New York Mets have much to feel good about following a rousing run of unexpected success this season. All those warm fuzzies were warranted. Now, the cold reality: Pete Alonso’s uncertain future is far from the only priority this winter. New York probably will have...
Dodgers stay alive all the way to the World Series with bullpen games and contributions from allVideo
LOS ANGELES — The World Series is always the goal for the big-spending Los Angeles Dodgers. It has been elusive recently, with first-round flops two years running. Now, with Shohei Ohtani leading the way for the first time, they are going for another championship. So a raucous clubhouse celebration was...
Yankees and Dodgers meet in World Series for 12th time in matchup of Broadway and Hollywood
NEW YORK — Broadway vs. Hollywood. Subway vs. Freeway. Judge vs. Ohtani. New York neighbors who became cross-country rivals, the Yankees and Dodgers renew their starry struggle in the World Series for the first time in 43 years. “When you’re playing for the Dodgers and playing for the Yankees, it...
Dodgers finish off Mets with win in NLCS and advance to face Yankees in World Series
LOS ANGELES — Tommy Edman and Will Smith homered to send Shohei Ohtani into the World Series for the first time, and the Los Angeles Dodgers eliminated the New York Mets with a 10-5 victory in Game 6 of the NL Championship Series on Sunday night. The Dodgers clinched their...
Juan Soto’s 3-run homer in 10th sends Yankees to World Series
CLEVELAND — Juan Soto hit a three-run homer with two outs in the 10th inning and the New York Yankees advanced to their 41st World Series — and first in 15 years — by beating the Cleveland Guardians, 5-2, in Game 5 of the AL Championship Series on Saturday night....
Yankees get to Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase, take 3-1 ALCS lead
CLEVELAND — Cleveland Guardians All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase gave up two runs in the ninth inning, and the New York Yankees moved closer to another World Series by winning 8-6 on Friday night to take a 3-1 lead in the American League Championship Series. Gleyber Torres hit an RBI single,...
Pete Alonso, Mets extend season again by beating Dodgers
NEW YORK — Pete Alonso golfed an early three-run homer, and the New York Mets hammered an ineffective Jack Flaherty, extending the National League Championship Series with a 12-6 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 on Friday. Starling Marte had three doubles, four hits and three RBIs...
Online bidding for Ohtani’s historic 50-50 ball up to $1.8M as litigation for proceeds continues
The online auction for Shohei Ohtani’s 50th home run ball has just four days remaining, with the highest bid at $1.8 million. The auction has been somewhat overshadowed by the legal situation surrounding the ball. Christian Zacek walked out of Miami’s LoanDepot Park with the ball after gaining possession in...
David Fry’s homer in 10th sends Guardians to win over Yankees
Rookie pinch-hitter Jhonkensy Noel hit a tying homer with two outs in the ninth inning, and David Fry connected for a two-run shot in the 10th, rallying Cleveland past the New York Yankees, 7-5, on Thursday and pulling the Guardians to 2-1 in the AL Championship Series. Cleveland led 3-1...
U mad, bro?: Steelers QBs, Pirates ownership, Penguins goalies — the holy trinity of Pittsburgh sports fan angst
A Pittsburgh Steelers win when they score more than 30 points is pretty rare. What’s even more rare is when that happens, and half the fan base still wants to change quarterbacks. But that’s what we have this week in Pittsburgh. So, despite a successful Vegas vacation, there is still...
Ramírez’s late homer in Game 2 gives Guardians lift as they prepare to face Yankees in 0-2 ALCS holeVideo
CLEVELAND — José Ramírez finally had his New York moment. After several frustrating at-bats in Yankee Stadium, Cleveland’s All-Star third baseman connected for a homer in the ninth inning of Game 2. The shot into the ballpark’s famed “short porch” in right was too little, too late but a positive...
