Freddie Freeman’s unstoppable Dodgers performance earns him World Series MVP honors

Freddie Freeman went homerless for a change, but that didn’t prevent him from claiming a share of another World Series record before the Dodgers hoisted a championship trophy Wednesday night, and he was named the series MVP.

The slugging first baseman delivered a two-run single in the fifth inning of the Dodgers’ 7-6 victory over the Yankees in Game 5 of the World Series, giving him 12 RBIs in this Fall Classic.

It matched the record established by Bobby Richardson for the Yankees in the 1960 World Series.

Richardson set the record in seven games, and Freeman needed only five to match it.

Freeman homered in the first four games of the series — becoming the first player in World Series history to accomplish that feat. Along the way, he established a record by hitting a homer in six straight World Series games (dating to 2021 with the Braves).

Not bad for a player whose gimpy right ankle forced him to miss two starts against the Mets in the National League Championship Series.

But Freeman received the opportunity to rest the ankle (which he sprained Sept. 26) between the NLCS and World Series, and the results have been dramatic.

“He’s otherworldly right now,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before the game. “He’s as healthy as he’s been in quite some time. … His swing looks great. He’s just such a good example for all of us. Even when you’re not healthy, be out there and post because it matters.”

Freeman’s walk-off grand slam against Nestor Cortes in the 10th inning of Game 1 on Friday was the defining moment in the series.

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Freeman followed with a homer Saturday and, after the series shifted to Yankee Stadium, blasted first-inning homers in Games 3 and 4.

Freeman’s two-run single that allowed him to tie Richardson’s record came as part of a wacky fifth inning in which all five runs the Dodgers scored against Gerrit Cole were unearned.

The crusher was Mookie Betts’ roller to Anthony Rizzo with two outs on which Cole failed to cover first base.

Betts was safe at first base, and Freeman’s ensuing single pulled the Dodgers within 5-3.