When told he had tied a World Series record by hitting home runs in five straight games, Freddie Freeman smiled. “Let’s hopefully make it six,” he said.
Freeman gave Los Angeles the lead just 15 pitches into the game with a two-run homer off Clarke Schmidt, and the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees 4-2 on Monday night, taking a 3-0 lead in the World Series.
He matched the record set by George Springer, who homered in Games 4 through 7 in 2017 when the Houston Astros beat the Dodgers for the championship, and then hit another in the 2019 opener against Washington.
Freeman homered in Atlanta’s last two games against Houston in the 2021 World Series, and he has now hit in all three games of this series. He became the third player to hit a home run in the first three games of a World Series, following Hank Bauer in 1958 and Barry Bonds in 2002.
Freeman sprained his right ankle on September 26 against San Diego while trying to avoid being tagged at first base by Luis Arráez and missed the last three regular-season games for the Dodgers.
He didn’t have any RBIs in the NL Division Series against San Diego and one in the NL Championship Series against the Mets.
Freeman did not play in the final game of the NLCS against the Mets and had six days off before the World Series, which helped his ankle heal.
“We went to Freddie several times and said, ‘Hey we got you the last two series,’” Dodgers teammate Max Muncy said. “This is Freddie telling us, ‘Hey, I got you this time.’”
Shohei Ohtani, playing just two days after partially separating his left shoulder, walked on four pitches to start the game. After Mookie Betts flied out, Freeman hit a high cutter on a 1-2 count, sending it about five rows deep into the lower deck in right field.
Freeman, an eight-time All-Star and the 2020 NL MVP, is 35 years old and has seven RBIs in the Series.
His game-ending grand slam in the 10th inning of Game 1 on Friday night gave the Dodgers a 6-3 win and was his first home run since September 16. He also followed Teoscar Hernández with back-to-back homers in the third inning of Game 2.
“Not surprised he’s performing at this level,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “He’s been very good in the postseason throughout his career.”
In the seventh inning, Freeman fouled a pitch from Tim Hill off his ankle. “That wasn’t ideal,” he said. “I’m OK. It’s just a contusion.”
Freeman is hitting .333 in the Series with three homers and seven RBIs. He is one win away from adding a second World Series title after winning with Atlanta in 2021.
“I really just want to hoist that trophy,” he said. “I don’t care how that happens. I don’t care if I go 0-for-the-next-70 with 70 strikeouts. As long as we win, that’s all I care about.”
