The Los Angeles Dodgers are now just one win away from clinching the World Series title after a commanding 4-2 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 4 at Yankee Stadium. The Dodgers were propelled to victory by another herculean performance from first baseman Freddie Freeman, who blasted a two-run homer in the first inning to set the tone for LA.
Freeman has been the driving force behind the Dodgers’ dominance in this Fall Classic. The five-time All-Star has now homered in a record-tying six consecutive World Series games, cementing his status as an October legend. His first inning blast off Yankees starter Luis Gil gave the Dodgers an early 2-0 lead that they would never relinquish.
“Freddie is just on another level right now,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts after the game. “He’s carrying us and setting the tone each and every night. It’s a pleasure to watch him perform on this stage.”
– Dave Roberts, Los Angeles Dodgers Manager
Yankees Bats Remain Silent
While Freeman and the Dodgers lineup continued to mash, the vaunted Yankees offense remained punchless. New York managed just six hits on the night and went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position, continuing a series-long trend of failing to deliver in the clutch moments.
The struggles of Yankees superstar Aaron Judge have been particularly glaring. Judge, who is almost certain to claim AL MVP honors after a historic 62-homer campaign, is hitting an anemic .083 in the World Series with 20 strikeouts. He went 0-for-4 in Game 4 and heard boos from the frustrated Yankee Stadium faithful.
“I’m not doing my job right now, plain and simple,” a somber Judge said in his postgame press conference. “I’ve got to find a way to get it done and help us win some games. No excuses.”
– Aaron Judge, New York Yankees Outfielder
Dodgers Bullpen Shuts the Door
With a slim two-run lead, the Dodgers turned to their vaunted bullpen to close out the victory. A quartet of relievers combined to allow just two hits over the final four innings, slamming the door on any potential Yankees rally.
- Brusdar Graterol pitched a scoreless 6th inning
- Alex Vesia struck out the side in the 7th
- Evan Phillips worked around a single in a scoreless 8th
- Closer Daniel Hudson notched his 3rd save of the series
The lockdown performance was par for the course for a Dodgers relief corps that has been virtually unhittable in October. LA’s bullpen has allowed just three earned runs in 35 innings this postseason, good for a minuscule 0.77 ERA.
Dodgers on the Verge of History
With the Game 4 victory, the Dodgers now have a commanding 3-0 series lead and can clinch their first World Series title since 2020 with a win in Game 5. No team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit to win the World Series.
According to sources close to the team, the Dodgers are determined not to let up despite being on the cusp of glory. “We’ve got to come out in Game 5 with the same intensity and focus,” said shortstop Trea Turner. “This team has worked too hard all year to take our foot off the gas now. We want to finish this.”
The Yankees, meanwhile, find themselves in the unenviable position of trying to stave off elimination against a juggernaut Dodgers squad that looks borderline invincible. It would take a miracle comeback of epic proportions for New York to even force the series back to Los Angeles.
“Our backs are against the wall, there’s no doubt about that,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone admitted. “But if there’s any team that has the fight to come back, it’s this group. We’re not done yet.”
– Aaron Boone, New York Yankees Manager
The odds are stacked heavily against the Yankees, who must now rattle off four straight wins – including two at Dodger Stadium – to pull off the improbable. With the Dodgers firing on all cylinders and looking to close things out on the road, a Game 5 victory feels like a mere formality at this point.
Game 5 is set for Wednesday night in the Bronx, with first pitch scheduled for 8:09 pm ET. The Dodgers will send ace lefty Julio Urías to the mound as they look to clinch, while the Yankees counter with Gerrit Cole in an attempt to keep their slim hopes alive.
But barring a seismic shift in momentum, this World Series appears to be a mere coronation for a Dodgers team that has proven itself to be in a league of its own. Led by an October stalwart in Freddie Freeman and a deep roster that is excelling in every facet of the game, LA stands on the precipice of securing its place in the annals of baseball history.
