An autopsy of that fantastic 5th inning that ended the Yankees' season

CJ GÜNTHER. Shutterstock images.

Bill Buckner. Grady Little. The 5th inning. We have a new entry in the sports failure lexicon. The Yankees' disastrous 5th inning is instantly one of the greatest failures in baseball history. And unlike Grady or even Fred Merkle in 1908, the 5th inning is unique because it didn't come down to a single player or decision. There was one mistake after another as some of baseball's biggest names went to bed on the World Series stage.

So let's go blow by blow through this historic and hysterical inning in baseball history and explain how the Yankees blew their best chance to win a World Series in 15 years.

NYY 5, LAD 0

0 outs

Gerrit Cole went into the 5th inning with one pitch: 4 IP, 0 H, 2 BB, 3 K. He was absolutely dominant. The only thing that could stop him would be something crazy, like the Dodgers getting six outs in an inning.

You even had a great catch by Aaron Judge in centerfield the inning before that prompted Hubbs to declare on stream, “Tell me he's a bad centerfielder!”

1st batsman: Enrique Hernandez

Cole left a fastball too far in the zone and Hernandez hit a single to right. The only reason this seemed notable is because it was the first hit of the game for the Dodgers.

Second batsman: Tommy Edman

Remember how Hubbs declared Judge a good midfielder?

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I can help you with that, Hubbs. Aaron Judge is a bad centerfielder. He is an incredible hitter and should be a first-choice HOFer. He also had a defensive WAR of -1.7 over the last two seasons. The range has become significantly worse. If Juan Soto goes to the Mets, maybe you can move Judge to right field.

Of the three massive blunders in this inning (and even taking into account the later blocks and catcher interference), this is the least egregious. The other mistakes were mental mistakes. Judge took his eyes off the ball for just a second, or perhaps lost it in the light. Had he just dropped that catch in the 4th and caught that one, I'm not writing this blog right now and we'll get baseball tomorrow night. Oh, Yankees.

Third batsman: Will Smith

This is the play that Volpe threw to third base instead of second base for some reason. It's crazy that this mistake happened just 5 pitches after Judge's drop. I really like Volpe and think he will play in several All-Star games throughout his career. But that was a serious mental mistake from someone who had a very good postseason.

4th batsman: Gavin Lux

5th batsman: Shohei Ohtani

2 outs (should be 4)

NYY 5, LAD 0

This is where Cole gave up and almost got out of this thing. He beats Lux and Ohtani in 4 pitches each. Ohtani may never have looked so helpless just flailing around the field in his career. You could have given Ohtani 6 shots here and I still don't think he puts the ball in play.

6th Batsman: Mookie Betts

The dot seen around the world.

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This piece was so shocking that Mike Francesa literally played the face of Home Alone on stream. When the camera pans to first base and NO ONE IS THERE, it's one of the most shocking things you can see at a baseball game. I understand it. They are human and everything happens so quickly. However, for someone who has hated that team in the Bronx my entire life, it was magical.

Mookie Betts doesn't get enough credit for busting his ass down the stretch on a play that at first glance seemed like a routine grounder. Cole will spend his winter wondering why he decided that showing was a better idea than running. If he never wins a World Series, he may spend the rest of his life worrying about it.

Whatever the case, a run scored, but the Yankees still had a significant lead.

NYY 5, LAD 1

2 outs (should be 5)

7th batsman: Freddie Freeman

Freddie Freeman had perhaps the best offensive performance in the World Series that I have ever seen. He tied the World Series RBI record with 12, but in just 5 games. He hit 1,000 in the five games. He had four home runs… and even a triple.

This non-NLCS week must have done wonders for that ankle. Freeman did not have an extra base hit in either the NLDS or NLCS.

I don't think anyone was shocked to see him just drive the ball up the middle to score two runs.

NYY 5, LAD 3

8th batsman: Teoscar Hernandez

That was Bane breaking Batman's back. No matter how the game ended after that, the series was over. It wasn't just that the game was a draw. Remember, the Yankees took the lead before Tommy Kahnle entered the ballpark, and then there was a ball and a catcher.

Rather, this nightmare innings was no longer a footnote. It was a statement. If Cole manages to get Betts instead of pointing at an inanimate object, it's still 5-0. If anything, the Yankees would have proven that they gave the Dodgers five outs in an inning and still shut them out.

Amazingly, it wasn't over yet.

NYY 5, LAD 5

2 outs (should be 5)

9th Batsman: Max Muncy

Muncy, who literally went 0-0 heading into the 2024 World Series, somehow got by here. In hindsight, it's great that Cole was able to shake off that inning and pitch so well in the 6th and 7th.

10th batsman: Enrique Hernandez

It landed against Volpe, who was just making it to second base himself. Imagine if he somehow threw the ball away?

NYY 5, LAD 5

3 outs (should be 6)

5 runs (0 earned)

4 hits

2 PRAISE

This is crap that's on par with Buckner. Both are similar in that there are multiple culprits. The 1986 Red Sox featured not only Buckner, but also Calvin Schiraldi, John McNamara and Bob Stanley. To be fair, there was more at stake. That was the 10th inning of Game 6.

But if you have to look back 38 years to find a comparable World Series nightmare, you have a real story on your hands. Gerrit Cole can win a third ERA title or even another Cy Young. But until he can win a World Series, “The Point” will be the first moment that comes to mind when thinking about his career.

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For now, the 5th inning will be the first thing you think of when you think of the Yankees. For someone like me, who hates this team more than any other, it was the perfect ending.