Fastball

Freddie Freeman Blasts Grand Slam to Make National League, Los Angeles Dodgers History

The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Boston Red Sox on Friday night thanks to a clutch grand slam from first baseman Freddie Freeman, who moved up some impressive lists in the history books as a result.

Sam Connon

Jul 19, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers first base Freddie Freeman (5) celebrates after hitting a grand slam home run in the eighth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Dodger Stadium.
Jul 19, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers first base Freddie Freeman (5) celebrates after hitting a grand slam home run in the eighth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Dodger Stadium. / Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
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The Los Angeles Dodgers had their backs up against the wall Friday night, locked in a tight battle with the team that ripped their hearts out in the 2018 World Series.

This time, however, the Dodgers were the ones who came through in the clutch, with Freddie Freeman's history-making performance lifting them over the Boston Red Sox.

Los Angeles was down 1-0 in the bottom of the eighth with one out and runners on second and third. Red Sox manager Alex Cora decided to intentionally walk catcher Will Smith, giving his team a chance at a potential inning-ending double play, but Freeman had other plans.

After fouling off the first pitch he saw from left-handed reliever Brennan Bernardino, Freeman sent the next one over the right field fence.

That grand slam put the Dodgers on top 4-1, a lead they would hold onto until the game went final.

It marked Freeman's fourth grand slam since signing a six-year, $162 million contract with the Dodgers in 2022.

That is tied for second-most in franchise history, per TSN's StatsCentre, alongside Steve Garvey and Greg Brock. He was previously tied for fourth with Del Bissonette and Dolph Camilli.

The franchise record belongs to Gil Hodges, who hit 14 grand slams in Dodger blue.

Freeman's grand slam was also the 2,218th hit of his career, and his 2,195th as a first baseman. According to StatsCentre, that helped Freeman pass Andrés Galarraga for sixth-most all-time among National League first basemen.

Todd Helton owns the record with 2,490, while Garvey ranks second with 2,424.

It's only a matter of time before Freeman, 34, passes Charlie Grimm, who had 2,231 hits as a first baseman. At his current pace, Freeman should top the list by early 2026.

This season, Freeman is batting .291 with 15 home runs, 65 RBI, an .891 OPS and a 3.6 WAR. He is fresh off making his eighth career All-Star appearance and is now pushing to finish top 10 in NL MVP voting for the seventh season in a row.

With a 59.6 WAR to his name, Freeman may already have a Hall of Fame-worthy resume. He certainly isn't slowing down, though, so his path to Cooperstown could be cemented by the time he does call it quits.

Freeman and the Dodgers will continue their series with the Red Sox on Saturday. First pitch for game two is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. ET.

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Sam Connon

SAM CONNON

Sam Connon is a Staff Writer for Fastball on the Sports Illustrated/FanNation networks. He previously covered UCLA Athletics for Sports Illustrated/FanNation's All Bruins, 247Sports' Bruin Report Online, Rivals' Bruin Blitz, the Bleav Podcast Network and the Daily Bruin, with his work as a sports columnist receiving awards from the College Media Association and Society of Professional Journalists. Connon also wrote for Sports Illustrated/FanNation's New England Patriots site, Patriots Country, and he was on the Patriots and Boston Red Sox beats at Prime Time Sports Talk.

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