Blake Treinen ‘finds peace’ facing Aaron Judge in World Series

Even the casual baseball fan knows all about Kirk Gibson and his legendary home run. The serious baseball fan knows Dennis Eckersley he gave up a home run. The dedicated Dodgers fan knows that Mike Davis drew the lead ahead of Gibson.

But even the most diehard of Dodgers fans would struggle to identify the winning pitcher that night.

Blake Treinenmeet Alejandro Pena.

Freddie Freeman made a winner from Treinen and all Dodgers on Friday, blasting the first Grand Slam since the start in the 121-year history of the World Series, sending a city into a frenzy and sparking instant Gibson and Freeman home run combinations.

Treinen saved the Dodgers in the ninth inning of Game 1 against the mighty New York Yankees. The Dodgers saved it in the 10th inning when Freeman hit a home run so dramatic it was hailed as legendary as soon as it landed.

“That,” Treinen said, “was pretty sick.”

Treinen has emerged as the most reliable arm in a deep quarter. He gave up only one race in August, none in September. He had dropped out of a race in October.

In the ninth inning of a tied game, the Dodgers asked Treinen to replace him Michael Kopech with the potential winner on second base. The Dodgers walked Juan Soto on purpose so Treinen would face presumptive AL MVP Aaron Judge.

“There is peace,” Treinen said. “There is peace when you step out and let it be what it is. You can let it get big or you can just try to live in it and enjoy it.”

Treinen called it a “pick your poison” situation. Neither Soto nor Judge are welcome at the plate, but with Judge, the Dodgers had the right-handed Treinen in front of a right-handed hitter.

Jack FlahertyDodgers starter, hit Judge three times.

“He’s not a guy you necessarily go looking to hit,” Treinen said, “because he’s a big hitter. But every hitter gives you a window every now and then. Right there, we were just trying to get some loose contact or at least change eye level, and luckily we got a pop-up.”

Kopech said, “Blake cleaned up after me already this postseason, so for him to come in and do what he needed to do right there was huge.”

When Treinen returned to the dugout, Kike Hernandez asked him a question.

“Do you want me to finish this?” Hernández asked.

That would not be the end of the script tonight. The Dodgers retired in order in the ninth with Hernández flying out to end the inning.

In the 10th, Treinen gave up a run when Jazz Chisholm Jr. singled, stole second, stole third and scored on a force play. During the regular season, eight of nine runners successfully stole against Treinen.

The Yankees led 3-2.

“Initially,” Treinen said, “pretty bummed that I’m going to be the one with an L next to my name.”

Hernández told Treinen again, the Dodgers will pick him up. After the game, Hernández said he anticipated it Shohei Ohtani would hit the go-ahead home run.

“Fairytale ending,” Hernández said.

Instead, Freeman hit the walk-off home run — and how about the guy who could barely walk, providing his own fairytale ending?

“It was barely out of the game before I started blacking out and trying to get on the field. I almost fell over the rail,” Kopech said. “Freddie is a bad man.”

Treinen rushed to join his teammates who enveloped Freeman in a huge hug reminiscent of 1988.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a team stay on the field for 20 minutes after the final game just to watch in awe and soak in the fans,” Treinen said. “That was the most incredible baseball moment I’ve ever been blessed to see.”

Legendary Hero: Freeman.

Winning pitcher with first career World Series win: Treinen.

“I never thought about it,” Treinen said. “Add it to the list of thanks for the big guy upstairs.”