Dodgers Take Game 3
The Dodgers won Game 3 of the 120th World Series, 4-2, behind a two-run homer from Freddie Freeman and a dominant outing from Walker Buehler. It is just the second time the Dodgers have won each of the first three games of a World Series after previously going up 3-0 in 1963 against New York en route to earning a series sweep. Overall, it is the third time that they lead a best-of-seven series 3-0, winning the 2017 NLCS and 1963 World Series.
The Yankees face a 3-0 hole in the World Series for the fourth time in franchise history, joining: 1922 against New York Giants; 1963 against Los Angeles; and 1976 against Cincinnati, being swept in four games in each of the previous three occasions. Overall, it is the sixth time that they trail a best-of-seven series 3-0, being swept each of the previous five times
This is the 24th time that a club has taken a 3-0 lead in the World Series, with all previous 24 teams winning the World Series. The only club to ever climb out of a 3-0 hole in a best-of-seven series is the 2004 Red Sox, who won Games 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the 2004 ALCS against the Yankees en route to winning the World Series. Teams with a 3-0 series lead have won the World Series in Game 4 21 times with the three exceptions being the Orioles
in 1970 against the Reds; the Yankees in 1937 against the Giants; and the Athletics in 1910 against the Cubs. All three clubs went on to win the World Series in Game 5. Overall, the winner of Game 4 has gone on to win the World Series 86 times (72.3%).
There has not been a sweep in 11 consecutive World Series, with the last sweep coming by the Giants in the 2012 World Series over the Tigers. 11 consecutive World Series without a sweep is the second-longest stretch in World Series history, behind a 12-year streak from 1977-1988 which saw no teams record a World Series sweep.
Buehler? Buehler?
Walker Buehler carried a no-hitter into the fourth inning tonight before allowing a one-out double to Giancarlo Stanton. Overall, he allowed just two hits across 5.0 scoreless innings, tallying five strikeouts with just two walks. He is the only Dodgers starter to throw at least 5.0 shutout innings, while allowing two-or-fewer hits in the World Series, joining his 7.0-inning shutout effort in which he allowed two hits in Game 3 of the 2018 World Series. Buehler is just the fourth pitcher with two career World Series games of at least 5.0-shutout innings while giving up two-or-fewer hits, joining Madison Bumgarner (G2, 2012 and G7, 2014); Hall of Famer Warren Spahn (G4, 1958 and G5, 1948); and George Earnshaw (G4, 1931 and G5, 1930). Earnshaw is the only other pitcher of the group to have both games come as a starter, with Bumgarner throwing 5.0 innings of relief in 2014 and Spahn throwing 5.2 innings of relief in 1948.
Per Elias, Buehler now carries a 0.50 ERA (1 ER/18.0 IP) in his World Series career, which is tied for the third-lowest among pitchers with at least 15 innings pitched in the World Series since ERA became official in the NL in 1912 and 1913 in the AL. Buehler is tied with Dick Rudolph (1 ER/18.0 IP); Marius Russo (1 ER/18.0 IP) and Bret Saberhagen (1 ER/18.0 IP) and trails Madison Bumgarner (0.29 ERA – 1 ER/31.0 IP); and Jack Billingham (0.48 ERA – 1 ER/18.2 IP).
Freddie Keeps Going
Freddie Freeman opened the scoring with a two-run homer in the first inning and has now hit a home run in each of the first three games in this World Series. He is the third player to hit a home run in each of the first three games of a World Series, joining Barry Bonds (2002) and Hank Bauer (1958). Along with his home runs in Game 5 and 6 of the Braves’ 2021 World Series run, Freeman has homered in each of his last five World Series games, tying George Springer for the most consecutive World Series games with a home run. Springer set the record with a homer in five straight games, including Games 4, 5, 6 and 7 in 2017 and Game 1 in 2019. In the series, Freeman is batting .333 (4-for-12) with three homers, seven RBI, a triple, a walk, three runs scored, a .385 on-base percentage, a 1.250 slugging percentage and a 1.635 OPS. Freeman’s seven RBI in the World Series are tied with Pedro Guerrero (1981), Davey Lopes (1978) and Hall of Famer Duke Snider (1955) for the second-most by a Dodgers player within a single World Series. Only Gil Hodges (1956) and Snider (1952) have more, holding the record with eight RBI a piece, respectively
Pitching Frenzy
The Yankees used eight pitchers tonight, setting a franchise World Series record. It is tied for the second-most ever in a World Series game with the 2021 Astros (G6 – 9 inn); 2011 Rangers (G6 – 11 inn); 2005 Astros (G3 – 14 inn); 1975 Reds (G6 -12 inn); 1967 Cardinals (G6 – 9 inn); and 1961 Reds (G5 – 9 inn). The only clubs to use nine pitchers in a game are the 2018 Dodgers (G3 – 18 inn); 2018 Red Sox (G3 – 18 inn); 2017 Dodgers (G2 – 11 inn); and the 2005 White Sox (G3 – 14 inn). Combined with the Dodgers, 15 total pitchers were used in tonight’s game, marking the most in a nine-inning World Series game since. There have only been three previous World Series games in which at least 15 combined pitchers were used including Game 3 of the 2018 Fall Classic (18 pitchers – 18 inn); Game 3 of the 2005 World Series (17 pitchers – 14 inn); and Game 6 of the 2011 World Series (15 pitchers – 11 inn).
Beat the Streak
Gleyber Torres drew a pair of walks tonight and Juan Soto drew a walk, extending both of their on-base streak to 12 games. The streaks are tied for the fourth-longest within a single Yankees’ Postseason with Hall of Famer Derek Jeter owning each of the top-four. Jeter reached base safely in 15 consecutive games in 2009; 14 consecutive games in 2000; 13 consecutive games in 1996; and 12 consecutive games in 1999.
Running Wild
After drawing a walk in the sixth inning, Gavin Lux stole second base, marking the 56th stolen base of the Postseason. The 56 stolen bases this Postseason are the tied for the third-most ever in a single Postseason, joining 1999. The only Postseasons with more stolen bases are 1995 (59); and 2023 (57). The Dodgers (13 SB) and Yankees (10 SB) have the most and second-most stolen bases of all clubs in October.
Multi-Hit Stanton
Giancarlo Stanton tallied two hits, knocking a double in the fourth inning to break up Walker Buehler’s no-hitter, and a single in the sixth inning. Stanton is now batting .298 (14-for-47) with six homers, 14 RBI, three doubles, five walks, seven runs scored, a stolen base and a 1.110 OPS this Postseason. He has hit safely in 10 of the Yankees’ 12 Postseason games and has reached base safely in all but one (G2, ALCS). Additionally, Stanton now has a hit in each of his last six Postseason games dating back to Game 3 of the ALCS against Cleveland. He is the first Yankees player with a hit in at least 10 Postseason games within a single Postseason since Hall of Famer Derek Jeter had a hit in 14 games of the Postseason en route to winning the 2009 World Series.
Welcome to New York
Tonight’s first pitch temperature was 52°, a 25° difference from the 77° degree first pitch at Dodger Stadium in Game 2. Per Elias, the 25° difference marks the eighth time over the last 30 years (when complete data is available) that the temperature has been at least 25° higher or lower in consecutive World Series games. The other swings include 1997 Game 5 and Game 6 (+34: 46° and 80°); 2018 Game 2 and Game 3 (+31: 47° in Boston, 78° in LA); 2011 Game 2 and Game 3 (+30: 50° in STL, 80° in TEX); 2003 Game 2 and Game 3 (+30: 48° in NY, 78° in FLA); 2017 Game 2 and Game 3 (-28: 93° in LA, 65° in HOU); 1997 Game 2 and Game 3 (-28: 77° in FLA, 49° in CLE); and 2003 Game 5 and Game 6 (-25: 81° in FLA, 56° in NY).
