Yankees stave off Dodgers, win game 4 in World Series

NEW YORK: The New York Yankees were able to stop the Los Angeles Dodgers from completing their sweep on Tuesday, despite Freddie Freeman’s record-breaking performance.

Freeman has been crushing Yankees’ fans’ hopes throughout the series, tying the record for home runs in consecutive World Series games on Monday. And today, he added to the Yankees dismay early, breaking that record in the very first innings, with home runs in six consecutive games, as he hit a rocket to right field on the fourth pitch he saw. The Dodgers’ first baseman also became the first player ever to homer in the first four games of a World Series. It was a two-run home run that brought Mookie Betts home after he doubled to right field in the previous at-bat.

The Yankees would score a run of their own in the bottom of the second. Alex Verdugo grounded out to first, allowing Anthony Volpe to score after he was walked, stole second, and took third on a double to centre by Austin Wells.

New York would really break the game open in the bottom of the next inning. The bases would be loaded after Aaron Judge was hit by a pitch, Jazz Chisholm Jr singled to right, and Giancarlo Stanton was walked. The stage was set for Anthony Volpe, and he delivered with a grand slam to left centre field, making the score 5-2 for the Yankees.

Freeman on fire, Dodgers one away from winning World Series

The Dodgers weren’t ready to give up yet, proving as much in the top of the fifth. Will Smith homered to right centre field in the first at-bat of the inning. Tommy Edman would then make his way to third after being walked, taking second on a single by Shohei Ohtani, and advance once again as Betts grounded to shortstop. Freeman would bring Edman home, making the score 4-5 after he grounded into another fielder’s choice, allowing the NLCS MVP to score while Betts was forced out.

The Yankees would increase their diminishing lead in the bottom of the sixth, as Wells sent a blast to right field. However, the flood gates were truly opened in the bottom of the eighth. Volpe and Wells would make their way on base after a double and a walk respectively. The two would then advance on steals, before Verdugo grounded into a fielder’s choice to second, allowing Volpe to score. Gleyber Torres would get in on the fun next, homering to right centre field for a three-run blast as both Wells and Verdugo were on base. Juan Soto would then double to right field before Judge singled to left, allowing the Yankees right fielder to reach home.  

Tim Mayza would record the last three outs of the game, as Enrique Hernandez grounded out to shortstop, Chris Taylor grounded out to second, and Will Smith lined out to centre.

Even with New York’s dominate win, the Dodgers still have a commanding 3-1 lead on the Yankees. Only one team has ever come back to win a best of seven series after losing the first three games, with that being the Boston Red Sox when they beat the Yankees in the ALCS in 2004.

Freeman hits bomb as Dodgers win World Series opener