Dodgers dominate Yankees to move within 1 win of World Series victory.

Eight days ago, Dave Roberts stood on a makeshift podium at Dodger Stadium and looked over thousands of fans celebrating in the ballpark. He had lost his voice after the National League Championship, but the manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers wanted a final roar from the fans.  

“Hey! Who wants to have a parade out in Los Angeles?” Roberts said. “Four more wins!”

The Dodgers secured a 4-2 win over the New York Yankees in Game 3 of the World Series on Monday, and now they stand on the brink of winning the World Series title, a title that is not overshadowed by COVID-19 restrictions as it was in 2020. It has become a charge for this unity, which has long sought, to be fitted with a proper diadem. It could happen however as soon as on Tuesday. After a long wait, the Yankee Stadium hosted a World Series game since 2009. The game ended in the same fashion as the last two in Chavez Ravine, with the Dodgers enjoying victory and the Yankees throwing in opportunities.

Dodgers dominate Yankees

Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman was pleased with the three matches saying, “You couldn’t ask for a better start in these three games. We’ve got one more to go, though.”

Well, on Monday the speaking team did not allow any goal. “Free” concluded his turn within the first inning smashing a two-run home run; Walker on the mound permitted merely 2 hits in five frames allowing no runs. Yankee pitcher Clarke Schmidt is the tin foil that couldn’t make it through three frames. Freeman sprang his bowel transformation too early. From then, he was squeezed on by the Dodgers’ composure.

The Los Angeles bullpen continued to deliver after Buehler left the game. In Game 4, all finishers would have to finish the game with the New Yorkers putting everything on Lous Gil, a rookie with speed. This seems to be a tough time for the New Yorkers with the Dodgers looking on the bright side. Never in the history of the World Series has a team come back after being down 3-0. The excitement of this week last week has turned into a reality check that so far, only one club looked like they had the heart of a champion. Captain of the New Yorkers and most probable MVP Aaron Judge was in his three plate appearances in vain as his side managed to leave 8 runners in scoring positions.

“I hope we can be this lovely narrative and get the people surprised,” said Yankees manager Aaron Boone. “But at the moment, it is about trying to gain the lead in a series, winning a game and forcing a third game. Which is, we have to win one first.”

Aaron Boone

This can no longer be viewed as a series that was blessed by the Californian sun and palm trees encircling the venue, having spent two adrenaline-fueled nights in Los Angeles. The event that was Game 2, as a focus of attention turned, once again, to the sport. Its ins and outs along with how it can bring the most proficient sportsman to their knees. As the fans were heading into the Bronx for Game 3. Two questions stood out in particular: Will Shohei Ohtani’s shoulder get better? And how about Judge’s bat, would it come to life?

During Game 2’s last moments, Ohtani dove head-first in an attempt to steal a base. He ended up clutching his shoulder in pain. Was diagnosed with a partial dislocation, yet no structural abnormalities. He made a statement in the team’s group chat that he would be present for Game 3, even if it meant traveling separately. Unsurprisingly, Ohtani tested out his shoulder during the day off on Sunday. He stated that certain swings were more painful than others. Following medical examinations, it was decided that Ohtani could play if he managed to cope with the pain. He put on a heating pad to warm his shoulder and exchanged fist bumps with others using his right hand after the team’s warmups.

Dave Roberts

“It is all about his will. If he is able and willing to play, he will,” Roberts explained on Sunday afternoon outside polynomial. “Schmidt will know Shohei’s in the box. That means everything.”

Roberts was correct. Ohtani did not need to swing the bat in his first plate appearance. He walked on four pitches to start the game. While he was on first, he grabbed the collar of his shirt as if there was a sling on him. He exerted zero effort: Ohtani was nearly for the two-run homer when Freeman crushed a belt-high cutter as Ohtani leisurely paraded around the bases. He shoved his arm against his chest to restrain him from sliding.

The judge was showered with applause during the introductions. The fans started chanting for the crowns that he is expected to get, for the second time strike a month: “M-V-P.” It has been bothersome for the Yankees’ fans that he was not able to replicate his summer success from the old times even in the autumn. Judge has a batting average of .140 with three extra-base hits for the whole month of October.

At the bottom of the first, Judge was the showpiece and was greeted with a standing ovation. It lasted six pitches. Judge swung through a cutter for his seventh strikeout of the Series. The endearing fans were nice enough to not boo him.

Ohtani

Ohtani did swing in his second appearance, breaking a grounder to the right side in the third inning which moved shortstop Tommy Edman to second base. The extra 90 feet allowed Edman to display his base running acumen when Mookie Betts hit a flare into right field. Soto ran forward towards the ball, his glove in the air attached to his readiness to catch. Edman did not fall for the pump fake. He was straight running and scored quite easily.

Buehler issued his first hit in the fourth. The big designated hitter, Giancarlo Stanton, yanked a sweeper into the left corner for the first hit. With one out, Stanton lumbered to second for a double. The defense saved Buehler. Betts went for a diving catch on a well-hit ball by third baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. When shortstop Anthony Volpe scraped a single into left, Teoscar Hernández threw the ball from anywhere. Hernández was reaching for the ball when Stanton was very near third base. For a vital third out, Dodgers catcher Will Smith laid the tag on Stanton just above the belly button.

Buehler

“That was a big momentum play,” Buehler said. “For them to grab a little momentum and us to kind of hammer it was quite great.”

The play gave Buehler a fungible second chance. As a young pitcher in his prime, he could fan hitters while equally intimidating them, combining athletic finesse with moxie. These past few years have not been very kind. Before the matchup, Boone was confronted in an interview with a left batter catcher Austin Wells who was being sat down by Boone. Especially since this year Buehler has been having plenty of issues with lefty batters. “Righties have hit him pretty well, too,” Boone said in explaining his reasoning. It was a fair criticism, though harsh. Buehler had an ERA of 5.38 for the season while he made a comeback after spending over two years recovering from a second Tommy John surgery.

October can be quite annoying for Buehler as it is a time when most of these failures are erased. When one plays and competes at this time of year that is “kind of the only thing I care about”, he claimed earlier this month. On Monday, he was reminded of the days when he wasn’t banged up and roared through the game with five batters struck out. “It makes the regular season worth it, for me,” Buehler said.

Dodgers Game

The Dodgers were upbeat and measured after Game 3, knowing how close they were to lighting the victory torch. But they also knew the dangers that come with this kind of audacity. Roberts, for his part, was an important member of the 2004 Boston Red Sox team which is still the only baseball team to overcome a 3-0 deficit in a postseason series best of seven. One reporter asked Roberts why this was the case as Tuesday approached.

“Don’t talk about that,” Roberts replied. “Wrong guy. Too early again. Thanks. He continued, “There’s got to be urgency. I don’t want these guys to surface out of the water for air.”