Freeman on fire, Dodgers one away from winning World Series

NEW YORK: Freddie Freeman continued his historic World Series performance on Monday, helping the Los Angeles Dodgers to take a 3-0 lead on the New York Yankees, after hitting yet another home run and setting records in the process.

The Dodgers triple threat that leads off their batting line-up proved too much for the Yankees yet again. After walking Ohtani on four straight balls, Mookie Betts flied out to left. But, Freddie Freeman was up next and with two homers in the first two games of the world series, he was the one to look out for.

The Yankees’ Clarke Schmidt got strike one on a sweeper, followed by a cutter that was called for a ball. Strike two came courtesy of a knuckle curve. With the count 2-1, Freeman received a cutter that he rocketed to deep right field for a two-run home run to break the game open in the very first inning.

It was his fifth straight homer in World Series games, tying the record held by George Springer. He became the third player in MLB history to slam a home run in each of the first three games in the series, joining the likes of Barry Bonds and Hank Bauer.

Freeman hits bomb as Dodgers win World Series opener

The Dodgers would increase their lead in the top of the third. A four-ball walk allowed NLCS MVP Tommy Edman on to first, and he made his way to second soon after as Ohtani grounded out. A nine-pitch battle between Mookie Betts and Schmidt played out next, ending after the Dodgers right fielder singled to right on a knuckle curve, allowing Edman to reach home.

The top of the sixth would feature the Yankees dropping even further behind. Gavin Lux would reach first on a hit by pitch, and would steal second not long after. Enrique Hernandez then singled to centre on a sinker from Jake Cousins, allowing Lux to make the score 4-0 in favour of the Dodgers.

New York would try to claw their way back in the game in the bottom of the ninth, giving fans a bit of hope after Alex Verdugo hit a two-run bomb to right centre field, after Anthony Rizzo was walked earlier in the inning. However, with two outs already recorded for the Dodgers, they just needed one more to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the World Series. And they got their man in the very next at bat, as Gleyber Torres grounded out on a fastball he hit to shortstop.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have a 3-0 lead on the New York Yankees, putting them one game away from their second World Series win in five years, having won it all in the shortened 2020 season. It will be their first win in a full season since 1988.

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