Lexington throws to Louisville to close out World Series win for Dodgers

The final two players to touch the baseball for the Los Angeles Dodgers in their World Series title-clinching victory over the New York Yankees were homegrown talents right out of Kentucky.

Lexington’s own Walker Buehler had pitched two days before — five shutout innings on 76 pitches — and dealt with flu-like symptoms leading up to Game 5. “He was sick as a dog,” his father told Sports Illustrated. Needing three outs to close out the title with a one-run lead, the Henry Clay High School graduate finished with a perfect 1-2-3 inning to earn the save and cement his status as a hero in the Dodgers’ first championship since 2020 and first full-season title since 1988.

“This is the only reason I play, for games like this,” Buehler said. “The whole year—the offseason, spring training, the regular season – it doesn’t matter. Well, it matters, but not like these games. To win championships is why I play. It’s the best feeling in the world. I live for this.”

Fascinatingly enough, the Lexington native and Vanderbilt alum actually threw to a Louisvillian to close out the win in Will Smith. The Kentucky Country Day graduate — unfortunately a Louisville Cardinal, as well — is widely seen as one of the best catchers in baseball and signed a 10-year, $140 million extension with the Dodgers in March. The MLB All-Star was behind the plate to catch Buehler’s final throws to wrap up the World Series in historic fashion.

After the win, Smith went out of his way to hand the game ball to Buehler for his unlikely heroics out of the bullpen, their second World Series championship together as teammates.

“I gotta give it to Walker,” Smith said after the win.

The picture says it all, two kids from The Bluegrass State achieving greatness together on the sport’s biggest stage.

WALKER. BUEHLER. #WORLDSERIES pic.twitter.com/6BrQWnSVRE

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 31, 2024

Watch Buehler’s final pitch and Smith’s catch with the celebration to follow below:

WALKER BUEHLER CLOSES IT OUT! #CHAMPS pic.twitter.com/1S2242udt6

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 31, 2024

They should’ve been Kentucky Wildcats, but all things considered, at least the pitcher-catcher duo came from the best state of all 50.

Well done.