Freeman and Buehler lead Dodgers past slumping Yankees 4-2 for 3-0 advantage in World Series

NEW YORK -- Freddie Freeman homered for nan 3rd consecutive crippled and Walker Buehler sounded different World Series gem arsenic nan Los Angeles Dodgers hit nan New York Yankees 4-2 connected Monday nighttime for a 3-0 lead successful nan Fall Classic.

With superstar Shohei Ohtani playing contempt a partially dislocated near shoulder, Los Angeles moved wrong 1 triumph of a astonishing expanse successful this much-hyped matchup betwixt accepted powers.

Buehler and six relievers mixed connected a five-hitter for nan Dodgers, connected nan cusp of their 2nd title successful 5 years and nan eighth successful franchise history.

“Walker Buehler, he’s been doing this his full profession successful large games, large moments,” Freeman said. “Steps up erstwhile you request him.”

Teoscar Hernández threw retired a runner astatine location sheet pinch a pinpoint peg from near field. Mookie Betts and Kiké Hernández each delivered an RBI single, and nan Dodgers chased Yankees starter Clarke Schmidt successful nan 3rd inning.

Freeman's two-run changeable 3 batters successful gave him a location tally successful 5 consecutive World Series games making love to 2021 pinch Atlanta, matching a awesome convention grounds group by George Springer pinch Houston.

Looking overmuch healthier aft a sprained correct ankle slowed him earlier this postseason, Freeman connected for nan first game-ending expansive slam successful World Series history to triumph a drama-filled opener successful Los Angeles.

Since then, it's been each Dodgers.

Game 4 is Tuesday nighttime astatine Yankee Stadium. Down to 3 patient starters, nan Dodgers scheme their 4th bullpen crippled of this postseason. Rookie right-hander Luis Gil goes for New York.

In nan 11 erstwhile World Series meetings betwixt these aged October rivals, nan only expanse was by nan Dodgers successful 1963 down Hall of Fame pitchers Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale.

New York hasn't been swept successful a Fall Classic since 1976 by nan Cincinnati Reds.

Los Angeles, however, has won 7 World Series matchups successful a statement against nan Yankees making love to its 1981 crown.

This 1 marked nan first Series crippled astatine Yankee Stadium since New York clinched its 27th title successful 2009 against Philadelphia. But a return location didn't thief slumping Aaron Judge and nan punchless Bronx Bombers, held to 4 runs and 9 hits successful nan past 2 games.

New York didn't people until Alex Verdugo's two-run homer disconnected Michael Kopech pinch 2 outs successful nan ninth inning. Kopech past retired Gleyber Torres connected a grounder to extremity it.

Buehler allowed 2 hits successful 5 innings, striking retired five. His only erstwhile triumph this twelvemonth during an injury-interrupted play was May 18 against Cincinnati.

The two-time All-Star improved to 4-4 successful 18 profession postseason starts, including a 2-0 grounds successful 3 World Series outings. He’s fixed up conscionable 1 tally and 7 hits pinch 22 strikeouts complete 18 innings successful those assignments – each successful Game 3s against Boston (2018), Tampa Bay (2020) and nan Yankees.

After nan Yankees struggled astatine nan sheet during 2 losses successful Los Angeles, head Aaron Boone decided against immoderate awesome changes to nan lineup.

He flip-flopped Anthony Volpe and Anthony Rizzo successful nan 6-7 slots, and replaced slumping catcher Austin Wells pinch right-handed-hitting Jose Trevino astatine No. 8 — moreover against a right-handed pitcher.

That was it.

“I considered a mates things connected nan agelong formation home, but this is what I settled on,” Boone said.

New York players held a short gathering successful nan afternoon, and a signaling from precocious Yankees public-address announcer Bob Sheppard introduced five-time World Series champion Derek Jeter erstwhile he threw retired a ceremonial first pitch. Bronx-born rapper Fat Joe revved up nan sold-out crowd of 49,368 pinch a pregame capacity connected nan infield.

But it was nan Dodgers who started fast.

Schmidt walked Ohtani connected 4 pitches to statesman nan game. One retired later, Freeman sent a 1-2 cutter 355 feet into nan little platform successful correct section for his 13th profession postseason homer.

He joined Yankees outfielder Hank Bauer (1958) and Giants slugger Barry Bonds (2002) arsenic nan only players to spell heavy successful nan first 3 games of a World Series.

“When you travel into a roadworthy park, you want to effort to onslaught early and quiet nan crowd, and we were capable to do that successful nan first inning,” Freeman said.

No. 9 batter Tommy Edman drew different four-pitch locomotion from Schmidt starring disconnected nan 3rd and scored connected Betts’ bloop single. Kiké Hernández added an RBI azygous successful nan sixth.

Schmidt walked 4 complete 2 2/3 innings successful his 3rd postseason start. He mislaid his 5th consecutive determination making love to a May 16 triumph astatine Minnesota.

New York nailed a runner astatine location sheet erstwhile Edman attempted a information compression successful nan fourth, but nan Dodgers flashed immoderate sensational defense to stomp retired immoderate Yankees momentum.

Betts made a diving drawback successful correct section aft Giancarlo Stanton doubled pinch 1 retired successful nan 4th for nan first deed disconnected Buehler. Teoscar Hernández past fired up each his teammates pinch a cleanable 94 mph propulsion to nan sheet connected Volpe’s single, cutting down Stanton to extremity nan inning and sphere a 3-0 cushion.

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Gil (15-7, 3.50 ERA) has made 1 postseason start, permitting 2 runs complete 4 innings for a no-decision successful Game 4 of nan American League Championship Series astatine Cleveland.

He won 7 consecutive starts earlier a no-decision against nan Dodgers astatine Yankee Stadium connected June 9, erstwhile he gave up 3 runs successful 5 2/3 innings of a 6-4 triumph by New York that prevented a three-game sweep.

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