The Yankees were once again let down by the offense in their World Series Game 3 loss

NEW YORK – For the New York Yankees, the franchise with the richest history in baseball, to win their 28th World Series and their first since 2009, they must make history.

No team has ever overcome a 3-0 series deficit to win the World Series. Only one team – the Boston Red Sox versus the Yankees in the American League Championship Series two decades ago – has ever made the comeback in a postseason series. But that's where the Yankees find themselves, their offense largely gone on the biggest stage after losing 4-2 to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 3 at Yankee Stadium on Monday. The quest to become the first team to defy the odds in the World Series begins with Game 4 on Tuesday.

“We’re trying to get a game in tomorrow,” Boone said. “OK? That is our focus. Hopefully we can tell this amazing story and shock the world.”

What has been shocking so far in this World Series has been New York's offensive ineptitude. The Yankees, the AL leaders in runs scored in the regular season, scored seven runs in the three games. They are 4 for 20 with runners in scoring position. They left 25 runners on base. They have just one fewer hit than the Dodgers, but have a total of 31 strikeouts compared to the Dodgers' 17.

“All it takes is one,” Yankees center fielder Aaron Judge said. “All it takes is one hit, one hit, one play and everything changes. That’s the attitude you have to have.”

At the center of the fighting, although by no means the only source, is Judge. For most of the summer, the superstar midfielder seemed out of this planet. He is expected to win the AL MVP title unanimously. He looked better at the plate in Game 3 than he did in Game 2, but he still went hitless with a strikeout and a walk, increasing his record to 1-for-12 with seven strikeouts and a walk in the World Series, going 6-for-12 .43 (.140) with a .580 OPS and 20 strikeouts in 12 postseason games.

“Yeah, definitely,” Judge said when asked if he thought he was letting his team down. “You want to get the hits. You want to go out and do your job. But I'm not doing my job at the moment. So I have to accept it.”

The lack of offense combined with early holes has buried the Yankees, who haven't led since Nestor Cortes delivered the walk-off grand slam to Freddie Freeman in Game 1. Their Game 3 deficit began when Clarke Schmidt struck out Shohei Ohtani, who was playing on four pitches for the Dodgers two days after dislocating his shoulder. Two batters later, Freeman crushed a cutter that Schmidt ripped into the seats in right field and hit a two-run home run.

Schmidt allowed another run in the third inning before retiring with two outs in the frame. The right-hander threw 68 pitches and recorded eight outs.

“We’re playing in the backseat a little bit,” Yankees left fielder Alex Verdugo said. “We need to move forward and have some momentum on our side.”

Verdugo delivered the Yankees' only runs with a two-run home run with two outs in the ninth inning as fans exited the stadium. Giancarlo Stanton made it 2:4 with a double strike. The rest of the team went 3-for-27 against Walker Buehler, who held New York to two hits in five errorless innings and six Dodgers relievers.

The Yankees had runners reach base in each of the last four innings. Their rallies ended with a questionable send (Stanton was thrown out at home after doubling in the fourth inning) and a questionable strike-three call (Gleyber Torres made a pitch above the strike zone with two runners on base in the seventh inning). . The performance drew boos from the home crowd in the first World Series game at Yankee Stadium since November 4, 2009.

If there's one positive to take away from Monday, it's that the Yankees saw six Dodgers relievers before their scheduled bullpen game on Wednesday. They hope the reps will lead to production. History is not on their side. According to ESPN Research, each of the last nine teams to go 3-0 in the World Series has completed a sweep. The last team to force a Game 5 was the 1970 Cincinnati Reds against the Baltimore Orioles. A team has never forced a Game 6 after being down 3-0.

“I don’t think we’re going to lie down tomorrow,” first baseman Anthony Rizzo said.

This World Series has been as hyped as any in recent memory. The sport's two most iconic franchises, representing both coasts, are opening another chapter in their World Series rivalry after a 43-year hiatus. Hall of Famers populate both rosters. Celebrities are in the crowd. This series had everything.

But what started as an instant classic in Game 1 could suddenly end in a sweep on Tuesday, largely because the Yankees' offense hit too many zeros. They will hand the ball to rookie Luis Gil with the season on the line, giving him early support to take the pressure off him and start a historic comeback.

“We know the odds are against us,” Cortes said. “But this team is too resilient.” I think we showed enough fighting spirit to come back. If there’s a team out there that can do that, it’s us.”