The Yankees only have two baserunners through the first three innings, and both times it’s been Gleyber Torres working a walk. He was stranded in the first inning and now he’s stranded again in the third inning after Juan Soto grounded out to first base slots empire.
The Yankees’ offensive struggles continued after Walker exited, as they couldn’t get going until they were down to their final out. Alex Verdugo hit a two-run home run in the ninth inning to cut the deficit in half, but Gleyber Torres grounded out to end the game on the next at bat.
With a 3-0 series lead and three homers to his name, Freeman is about as close to a lock for World Series MVP as you can be at this point in a series. And this really is the story of the series. The Dodgers’ stars are playing like stars, and the Yankees’ stars are not. Los Angeles is also playing better defense, getting better starting pitching, and getting more from the bottom of the lineup. So yeah.
Aaron Judge, the American League MVP favorite, still hasn’t found his swing. After going hitless in three at bats on Monday, Judge has only one hit in 12 at-bats against Los Angeles, a .083 batting average.
A potential World Series clincher. Or perhaps the first game of a historic comeback. Either way, it’s Game 4 of the World Series, and the Dodgers are one win away from a championship. Historically, teams with a 3-0 lead in a best-of-seven playoff series have won 39 of 40 times. The one series loss is, of course, the Red Sox overcoming the Yankees in the 2004 ALCS. The Yankees will send rookie Luis Gil to the mound in Game 4 on Tuesday to try to save their season. The Dodgers will counter with a bullpen game.
“Man,” said manager Dave Roberts after the Dodgers deserted the dugout to greet Freeman at home plate, “it was a great game before that, but the way it finished, I just couldn’t be more excited for our guys.”
Moments after his error, Torres sparked the most interesting “defensive play” of the evening, when his long fly ball to left-center in the top of the ninth found the glove of a fan positioned at the wall in the pavilion seats. Because the fan had clearly reached over the wall to make the snag, it was ruled — and upheld on replay review — a ground-rule double rather than a go-ahead homer. In a gutsy move, the Dodgers intentionally walked Soto to face Aaron Judge with two aboard, and Blake Treinen came on to get Judge to harmlessly pop out to end the inning.
“Man,” said manager Dave Roberts after the Dodgers deserted the dugout to greet Freeman at home plate, “it was a great game before that, but the way it finished, I just couldn’t be more excited for our guys.”
Moments after his error, Torres sparked the most interesting “defensive play” of the evening, when his long fly ball to left-center in the top of the ninth found the glove of a fan positioned at the wall in the pavilion seats. Because the fan had clearly reached over the wall to make the snag, it was ruled — and upheld on replay review — a ground-rule double rather than a go-ahead homer. In a gutsy move, the Dodgers intentionally walked Soto to face Aaron Judge with two aboard, and Blake Treinen came on to get Judge to harmlessly pop out to end the inning.
The Dodgers won the NLCS on Sunday and that gave Freeman four days to get off his feet and let the ankle heal. It certainly looked like it helped. Freeman tripled in his first at-bat of Game 1 — it was a double that Alex Verdugo misplayed into a triple — and then clubbed a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the tenth. To the action footage:
New York Yankees’ Jazz Chisholm Jr. scores past Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith on a fielders choice by Anthony Volpe during the 10th inning in Game 1 of the baseball World Series, Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Who is hot and who is not?Dodgers: Edman continues his hot hitting, following up a two-hit Game 1 with a solo homer and a double in Game 2. Freeman has also homered in back-to-back games, extending his World Series home run streak to four games.
How will the bullpens line up after the starter?Yankees: The Yankees have worked their bullpen heavily to notch seven wins through their first nine postseason games, but they’ll benefit from the layoff before the World Series. Clay Holmes and Luke Weaver have appeared in eight of those nine games. Weaver — the de facto closer — leads all Yankees relievers with 10 1/3 innings. Boone has been aggressive in asking Weaver for as many as six outs in the postseason, which likely will continue in the World Series. Tim Hill has made seven appearances and Tommy Kahnle six. Mark Leiter Jr. made a pair of crucial outings late in the ALCS after being added as an injury replacement for Ian Hamilton.
“I’m having a blast, this is what you live for. I’m excited for the players. I’m excited for the fans.”Dave Roberts talks with @Ken_Rosenthal about Jack Flaherty’s night so far, Freddie Freeman’s triple, and how he’s feeling in the World Series pic.twitter.com/VJlIFAQM0y
Who is hot and who is not?Dodgers: Edman continues his hot hitting, following up a two-hit Game 1 with a solo homer and a double in Game 2. Freeman has also homered in back-to-back games, extending his World Series home run streak to four games.
How will the bullpens line up after the starter?Yankees: The Yankees have worked their bullpen heavily to notch seven wins through their first nine postseason games, but they’ll benefit from the layoff before the World Series. Clay Holmes and Luke Weaver have appeared in eight of those nine games. Weaver — the de facto closer — leads all Yankees relievers with 10 1/3 innings. Boone has been aggressive in asking Weaver for as many as six outs in the postseason, which likely will continue in the World Series. Tim Hill has made seven appearances and Tommy Kahnle six. Mark Leiter Jr. made a pair of crucial outings late in the ALCS after being added as an injury replacement for Ian Hamilton.
“I’m having a blast, this is what you live for. I’m excited for the players. I’m excited for the fans.”Dave Roberts talks with @Ken_Rosenthal about Jack Flaherty’s night so far, Freddie Freeman’s triple, and how he’s feeling in the World Series pic.twitter.com/VJlIFAQM0y
