Yankees legends Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez eliminate New York's defensive mistakes in the World Series

If the New York Yankees had played clean defense in the World Series, they would probably have a 3-2 lead heading back to California.

Instead, the Los Angeles Dodgers won the Fall Classic in five games.

The Bronx Bombers lived up to their name early in Game 5 on Wednesday night, taking a 5-0 lead thanks to home runs from Aaron Judge, Jazz Chisholm and Giancarlo Stanton.

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New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge, No. 99, makes a fielding error in the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 of the 2024 World Series at Yankee Stadium. (Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images)

Gerrit Cole dominated, but suddenly everything unraveled. Right after rewriting his postseason script, Judge dropped a fly ball, putting runners on first and second. Then Chisholm couldn't handle a low throw from Anthony Volpe that loaded the bases.

Cole struck out the next two hitters without allowing a run, and he appeared to get out of the inning for the first time with a weak grounder. However, it failed for Anthony Rizzo, and with Cole not covering, a run scored and everyone was safe.

Then the Dodgers pounced as World Series MVP Freddie Freeman drove in two runs with a single, and then Teoscar Hernandez drove in another pair with a double to tie the game.

The Yanks would regain the lead, but a tired bullpen gave it up again.

Derek Jeter won five titles with the Yanks, so he knows exactly what's important – and was confused.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen an inning like that, especially in a World Series or postseason game,” Jeter said on FOX’s postgame show. “The Yankees made some mistakes. You can't make mistakes against a team like the Dodgers. In this particular inning they gave them six outs. You just can’t make that many mistakes.”

Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts, #50, reaches first base after New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo, #48, fails to make a play on the ball in Game 4 of the 2024 World Series at Yankee Stadium . (Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images)

DODGERS WIN WORLD SERIES AFTER INCREDIBLE COMEBACK IN GAME 5 OVER YANKEES

“This is one of the biggest collapses I've ever seen in 40 years,” added 2009 World Series hero Alex Rodriguez.

Defense was a concern for the Yankees all season, but they were able to overcome it from April through September. October, however, is a different beast.

It also affected the Yankees in Game 1; Triples should have been doubles, maybe even singles. However, on two occasions the Yanks gave Los Angeles a free 90 feet, putting runners on third base, and sac flies scored both runs. Without those misplays, runners are likely stuck on base and Aaron Boone never makes the controversial decision to go with Nestor Cortes over Tim Hill.

Members of the Los Angeles Dodgers lift the Commissioner's Trophy after winning Game 5 of the 2024 World Series presented by Capital One between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees on Wednesday, October 30, 2024 at Yankee Stadium to win in New York City. (Mike Lawrence/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

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But as Hernandez himself said in the postseason, LA took advantage of the mistakes, and it was the little things that ultimately gave the Dodgers their eighth World Series victory in franchise history.

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