Freddie Freeman continued his hot streak in the World Series, hitting a home run in Game 3 to help the Los Angeles Dodgers secure a 4-2 victory over the New York Yankees. This win puts the Dodgers just one game away from winning their first World Series title since 2020. Freeman has now hit home runs in five consecutive World Series games, dating back to his time with the Atlanta Braves in 2021. In Game 3, Freeman hit a two-run blast off Yankees starter Clarke Schmidt in the right field seats to give the Dodgers an early lead. Dodgers starter Walker Buehler also had a strong performance, pitching five innings of two-hit ball with five strikeouts.
Despite the Yankees’ efforts, their offense struggled to produce runs in Game 3. Giancarlo Stanton managed to get the Yankees’ first hit with a double in the fifth inning, but a base running error by Stanton ended the Yankees’ scoring chance. The only offense the Yankees could muster came on a two-run home run by Alex Verdugo in the bottom of the ninth inning. Yankees slugger Aaron Judge continued to struggle, going 0-for-3 with a strikeout and a walk in the game. The Dodgers’ pitching staff, including Brusdar Graterol, Alex Vesia, Daniel Hudson, Anthony Banda, and Ryan Braiser, kept the Yankees’ offense in check for most of the game.
The pressure is on the Yankees as they now face a must-win situation, needing to win four straight games to claim the World Series title. The Dodgers, on the other hand, are looking to sweep the series and secure their first championship since 2020. Game 3 showcased the Dodgers’ exceptional performance on both offense and defense, with Freeman’s home run and Buehler’s strong pitching leading the way. The Yankees will need to regroup and come out stronger in the next game to have a chance of staying alive in the series.
The crowd at Yankee Stadium was silenced by the Dodgers’ dominant performance in Game 3, with the Yankees unable to capitalize on scoring opportunities throughout the game. The Dodgers’ offense was able to add to their lead with runs in the third and sixth innings, thanks to hits from Mookie Betts and Kiké Hernández. The Dodgers’ starting pitching has been a key factor in their success throughout the series, with Buehler following the strong performances of Jack Flaherty and Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Games 1 and 2.
Heading into Game 4, the pressure is on both teams to perform at their best. The Yankees will need to find a way to solve the Dodgers’ pitching staff and generate more offense to stay alive in the series. The Dodgers will be looking to close out the series with a sweep and secure their World Series title. As the series continues, both teams will need to make adjustments and bring their A-game to each remaining game to determine who will come out on top as the 2022 World Series champions.
