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Dodgers hold off Yankees behind Freddie Freeman's 2-run home run in World Series Game 3: Live updates and reaction

The Los Angeles Dodgers are one win away from winning the World Series.

Walker Buehler had his best start of the year, Freddie Freeman hit a home run for the third straight game and Shohei Ohtani played with a visibly sore shoulder as the Dodgers beat the New York Yankees 4-2 in Game 3 at Yankee Stadium. The Dodgers are undefeated in this series and could win the franchise's eighth championship as early as Tuesday.

What was supposed to be a Goliath-versus-Goliath showdown has been a one-sided duel since the 10th inning of Game 1. The Dodgers simply haven't batted an eye since taking control of the series with Freeman's walk-off grand slam in the opener. Freeman hit another home run in Game 2 and hit another home run in the first inning of Game 3. The Dodgers haven't trailed since Game 1.

And the rotation, which was supposed to be a weakness for the Dodgers, has become a key strength.

Buehler, coming off the worst regular season of his career, has now thrown 12 consecutive scoreless innings in the postseason. He threw five scoreless innings on just 76 pitches in Game 3, and the Dodgers bullpen was just one out away from completing the shutout when Alex Verdugo hit a two-out, two-run home run in the ninth. The only other time the Yankees threatened to score, Dodgers left fielder Teoscar Hernández threw Giancarlo Stanton to the plate. Dodgers starters Jack Flaherty, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Buehler have combined for a 1.62 ERA over 16 2/3 innings.

The Yankees' rotation wasn't nearly as good. Game 3 starter Clarke Schmidt was in trouble early and quickly exited the game. He opened with a four-pitch walk to leadoff hitter Ohtani – who was in the Dodgers' lineup despite dislocating his shoulder in Game 2 – and two batters later Freeman hit a home run on a two-strike pitch, to give the Dodgers an early 2-0 lead. Schmidt also walked the first batter of the third inning, and Mookie Betts drove in that run. Schmidt was retired after two more walks loaded the bases in the third, marking the first time this year that he failed to last at least four innings. Yankees Game 2 starter Carlos Rodón also failed to get through four.

Meanwhile, Yankees presumptive MVP Aaron Judge is 1-for-12 with seven strikeouts in the series and was hitless again in Game 3 (though he did walk in his final plate appearance).

Now the series heads to Game 4, with the Yankees' backs against the wall and rookie starter Luis Gil on the mound. The Dodgers, who are firmly in control of the series, will play a bullpen game where they have a chance to find their way into history.