The Los Angeles Dodgers are one win away from a World Series sweep.
Walker Buehler had his best start of the year, Freddie Freeman homered for the third game in a row, and Shohei Ohtani played through a visibly sore shoulder as the Dodgers beat the New York Yankees 4-2 in Game 3 at Yankee Stadium. The Dodgers have yet to lose in this series and could win the franchise’s eighth championship as early as Tuesday.
What was supposed to be a Goliath vs. Goliath showdown has instead been a one-sided matchup since the 10th inning of Game 1. The Dodgers simply haven’t blinked since taking control of the series on Freeman’s walk-off grand slam in the opener. Freeman homered again in Game 2, and he hit another home run in the first inning of Game 3. The Dodgers haven’t trailed since Game 1.
And the rotation that was supposed to be a Dodgers weakness has been a difference-making strength.
Buehler, coming off the worst regular season of his career, has now pitched 12 consecutive scoreless innings in the postseason. He pitched five scoreless innings on just 76 pitches in Game 3, and the Dodgers bullpen was one out away from completing the shutout when Alex Verdugo hit a two-out, two-run homer in the ninth. The only other time the Yankees threatened to score, Dodgers left fielder Teoscar Hernández threw out Giancarlo Stanton at the plate. Dodgers starters Jack Flaherty, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Buehler have combined for a 1.62 ERA across 16 2/3 innings.
The Yankees rotation hasn’t been nearly as good. Game 3 starter Clarke Schmidt was in trouble early and out of the game quickly. He opened with a four-pitch walk to leadoff hitter Ohtani — who was in the Dodgers’ lineup despite dislocating his shoulder in Game 2 — and two batters later, Freeman homered on a two-strike pitch to give the Dodgers an early 2-0 lead. Schmidt walked the first batter of the third inning, too, and Mookie Betts drove in that run. Schmidt was pulled after two more walks loaded the bases in the third, making this the first time all year that he failed to get through at least four innings. Yankees Game 2 starter Carlos Rodón also failed to get through four.
Meanwhile, the Yankees presumptive MVP Aaron Judge is 1-for-12 with seven strikeouts in the series and went hitless again in Game 3 (though he did walk in his last plate appearance).
Now, the series comes down to Game 4 when the Yankees will have their backs against the wall with rookie starter Luis Gil on the mound. The Dodgers, in firm control of the series, will have a bullpen game, with an opportunity to sweep their way into history.
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Dodgers dominate Yankees to move within 1 win of World Series victory
