It took 14 years, 11 months and 24 days for the Yankees’ chance in the World Series to come back around, and just three short nights to send them crashing back down to earth.
Coming into this blockbuster Fall Classic, all the hype surrounded Shohei Ohtani, but after three home runs in three straight games, Freddie Freeman is the new King of LA.
The Dodgers have played three, won three in the best-of-seven showdown, and are now one game from glory after a chastening night for the Yankees in front of a sell-out crowd of 49,368 in the Bronx.
The cheapest tickets for Monday night’s showdown were going for close to $2,000 each on resale markets over the weekend, but those of a New York disposition may now be wishing they’d saved their cash for the Knicks.
It didn’t take long for the air to be sucked out of the stadium, with Clarke Schmidt surrendering an almost-instant home run just 15 pitches into the biggest game of his career.
Freddie Freeman hits a two-run home run off Clarke Schmidt to give the Dodgers an early lead
Freeman waves at the Bronx as he rounds the bases in the top of the first inning on Monday
The Dodgers are now 3-0 in the best-of-seven series and just one win from World Series glory
A far-from-healthy Ohtani was leading off for the Dodgers, less than 48 hours after medical staff had to pop his shoulder back in its socket at the end of Game 2.
His arm was in a sling until minutes before first pitch on Monday night, but all Yankees pitcher Schmidt could do to trouble him was throw four balls, all well off the mark.
If Ohtani was struggling with the pain in his upper body, it needn’t have mattered: all he needed to do was use his lower half to trundle along to first base.
Seconds later, with just one out on the board and Ohtani lingering at first, up stepped man of the moment Freeman.
Schmidt got ahead of the count early, but on the 1-2 pitch Freeman sent one 355ft into right field, over the head of Juan Soto and deep into the crowd to put the Dodgers 2-0 up.
Aaron Judge was quiet when the Yankees needed him most, in front of a sell-out crowd in NYC
Ohtani had his arm in a sling until shortly before first pitch in Game 3 of the World Series
The first-baseman now has five home runs in five straight World Series appearances, and his .0906 average makes him the all-time MLB leader. Truly a man for the big occasion.
The comparison between his performance and that of Aaron Judge was stark. One wore grey, one was in pinstripes. One hit home runs, one couldn’t hit a thing.
When Judge stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the first, chants of ‘MVP’ rang around the stadium, but all the $360million man could do was strike out swinging. It has been a similar story throughout the postseason, right when they needed him most.
Monday night’s pitcher for the Dodgers was Walker Buehler, his 6.53 ERA away from Dodger Stadium this year among the worst in the league.
When Yankees manager Boone was told by a reporter pregame that ‘lefties have hit Buehler very well this season’, he replied: ‘Righties have hit him pretty well too.’
Gavin Lux slides home safe to add a fourth run for the Dodgers on a tough night for the Yankees
The Yankees players line up to sing the national anthem before the World Series Game 3
In this Yankees batting line-up, it needn’t have mattered. Left, right or ambidextrous, this was Buehler’s big night in the Bronx and he left after five innings without surrendering a run.
In the third inning, Schmidt gave up his third of a short night when Mookie Betts singled on a soft fly ball to right field, bringing home teammate Tommy Edman to score.
Soon after, Schmidt’s night was up, and the stadium announcer more than earned his money telling fans about the Yankees’ multiple calls to the bullpen. Mark Leiter Jr made way for Nestor Cortes, who was soon replaced by Jake Cousins.
It was the latter who surrendered a fourth run to put the game beyond reasonable doubt, first sending Will Lux to first base after hitting him with a wild pitch. Lux then stole second, and Enrique Hernandez brought him home to put the Dodgers 4-0 up.
Fans queued around the block from mid-afternoon, despite the game not starting until 8pm
Fans in Oshu, Japan line up to watch a stream of the game, with all eyes on Shohei Ohtani
Per ESPN, the last time a 0-2 World Series team came back from a multiple-run deficit in Game 3 was the 1908 Tigers, and there was no chance of the Yankees making history here.
Credit must go to the raucous fans in the Bronx, who made their voices heard and more than played their part, having dug deep into their savings for the privilege.
For this Yankees team, it is now a boom-or-bust Game 4 back here on Tuesday night, as they look to avoid the ignominy of a World Series sweep.
For manager Boone it is likely the end of the road, and all that Yankees fans can hope is that it won’t be another 15 years until they’re back.
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .