New York’s offense falters again as LA edges closer to its second championship in five years.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have taken a decisive 3-0 lead in the World Series following a 4-2 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 3, leaving the Yankees with the daunting task of needing four straight wins to avoid elimination. Tuesday’s Game 4, hosted at Yankee Stadium, now stands as a potential clincher for LA, which last won the World Series in 2020.
Yankee Stadium was buzzing with anticipation, but the Dodgers quickly dampened the crowd’s enthusiasm with a two-run first inning, featuring a lead-off walk by Shohei Ohtani—playing despite a shoulder injury—and Freddie Freeman’s third home run of the series. By the third inning, Dodgers slugger Mookie Betts had driven in a third run, ending the night for Yankees’ starter Clarke Schmidt.
New York’s lineup, which led the American League in runs during the regular season, has struggled throughout the series, accumulating 31 strikeouts across the three games and hitting just 4-for-20 with runners in scoring position. Yankees star Aaron Judge, a favorite for AL MVP, remains at the center of this slump, now 1-for-12 with seven strikeouts in the World Series.
Despite fleeting moments of hope—like Alex Verdugo’s two-run homer in the ninth inning—the Yankees have struggled to generate early leads, playing defensively as LA capitalized on every scoring opportunity. Giancarlo Stanton provided a glimmer of offense with a double, only to be thrown out at the plate, underscoring New York’s inability to capitalize.
“We need just one hit, one swing to turn things around,” Judge commented postgame. “We have to focus on the next game and put everything we’ve got into it.”
For the Yankees, who have not won a championship since 2009, Game 4 represents a final chance to turn the tide. Rookie Luis Gil will start on the mound with the unenviable task of keeping the Dodgers from a series sweep, while the Yankees hope that recent experience against LA’s bullpen will give them an offensive edge.
The Dodgers, buoyed by standout performances from Freeman, Betts, and pitcher Walker Buehler, have capitalized on New York’s offensive drought, keeping them on the back foot. If the Yankees are to make a historic comeback, they will need to reverse trends and deliver consistent offense.
“We know the odds are against us,” Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo remarked. “But if there’s a team out there that can come back, it’s us. We’re not laying down.”
