The Dodgers took a 3-0 lead in this final and could be crowned major baseball champions for an eighth time on Tuesday in New York. The Yankees, for their part, will try to extend the final. They have won 27 World Series, the last in 2009.
With the Dodgers leading 4-0, Alex Verdugo stretched out his arms to cut the lead to two runs in the ninth inning. Michael Kopech, however, managed the last takedown at the expense of Gleyber Torres to end the match.
The Dodgers’ third hitter, Freeman led off with a one-run, two-strike count on a curveball from right-hander Clarke Schmidt in the first inning. The ball left the field in right field and Shohei Ohtani preceded him to the plate. Ohtani was in uniform despite suffering a partial dislocation of his left shoulder 48 hours ago.
Freeman also hit long balls in the last two games of the Finals for the Atlanta Braves against the Houston Astros in 2021. He therefore tied George Springer’s record with a home run in a fifth consecutive game in the Series worldwide.
Mookie Betts scored the Dodgers’ third run with a single that drove Tommy Edman to the plate.
Schmidt loaded the bases in the top of the third inning with two outs when Yankees manager Aaron Boone replaced him with Mark Leiter Jr., who ended the threat by striking out Will Smith.
Schmidt, who had control issues on the mound, allowed three runs, two hits and four walks in two and two-thirds innings.
As the Yankees tried to close the gap, Betts dove to rob Jazz Chisholm Jr. of a hit in the fourth inning. From the next batter, Enrique Hernandez made a powerful throw to the plate to retire Giancarlo Stanton.
After shining defensively, Hernandez produced a run in the bottom of the sixth. His single allowed Gavin Lux to score. He achieved this at the expense of reliever Jake Cousins.
With Leiter and Cousins, seven relievers took turns on the mound for the Yankees. The hitters of the local favorites, however, were unable to completely erase the delay.
For the Dodgers, starter Walker Buehler allowed only two hits and as many free passes in five innings.
