Jack Flaherty helps the Dodgers win Game 1 of the World Series

Los Angeles – Los Angeles Dodgers starter Jack Flaherty he remained comfortable in front of his fans, contributing to a 6-3 score Game 1. World Series victory on the mound over New York Yankees.

A product of prepping at nearby Harvard-Westlake, Flaherty had another solid performance for the Dodgers, facing off against his UCLA graduate counterpart Gerrit Cole of the Yankees.

Flaherty allowed five hits and two earned runs while striking out six in 5⅓ innings.

“Just one pitch at a time,” Flaherty said of getting through the game. “It was an amazing atmosphere and an unbelievable environment.”

Roberts was impressed with Flaherty’s overall performance aside from “one bad throw.”

In the sixth inning, Giancarlo Stanton crushed Flaherty with a two-run homer to left field with the score 1-2, giving the Yankees a 2-1 lead, prompting Roberts to remove Flaherty.

The Dodgers’ bullpen gave up one run remaining in the series-opening win.

Flaherty took up the challenge against a lineup that featured Aaron Judge, arguably the American League’s most valuable player. The pitcher beat the umpire by hitting him in each of Friday’s three games.

“It was great,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I think he obviously used a breaking ball, and hitting a 3-2 fastball was a big hit in that one.

“Aaron is the MVP. He will win this year and you have to be careful (with him).”

Said Flaherty: “The referee is unbelievable. I managed to make some good throws. Some days that’s what it’s like. I made some good throws and it worked. Next time we will look at how to get him out in different ways because he is a good hitter who will have to adapt.

The Dodgers announced their seventh postseason sellout, with 52,394 in attendance to watch the series opener and pay tribute to another pitching legend.

Flaherty worked on the mound, which was painted with the number 34 in honor of Fernando Valenzuela, who died Tuesday. Flaherty, 29, entered the stadium before the game wearing a Valenzuela jersey.

“He was a legend,” Flaherty said. “This was a tough loss for the Dodgers community. … I just tried to come out and channel my emotions and present them and enjoy what was at stake.”

Flaherty is coming off a National League Championship Series season that has seen him experience extreme ups and downs. In the first game against the New York Mets, he threw six scoreless innings and allowed only two hits. However, his starter in Game 5 gave up eight earned runs in three innings.

Flaherty will be on regular rest to start Game 5 on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium.

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