Freddie Freeman hits a home run in his fifth consecutive World Series game

NEW YORK – Freddie Freeman grinned after being told he had set a World Series record with home runs in five consecutive games.

“We hope there will be six,” he said.

Freeman gave the Los Angeles Dodgers the lead with a two-run home run off Clarke Schmidt with 15 pitches, and LA defeated the New York Yankees 4-2 on Monday night to take a 3-0 lead in the World Series.

He matched the mark set by George Springer in Games 4 through 7 in 2017, when the Houston Astros beat the Dodgers for the title and then scored again in the 2019 World Series opener against the Washington Nationals.

Freeman scored in the Atlanta Braves' last two games against Houston in the 2021 World Series, and in this game he scored in all three games. He became the third player to hit a home run in the first three games of a World Series, joining Hank Bauer in 1958 and Barry Bonds in 2002.

Freeman sprained his right ankle while trying to avoid a tackle by the Padres' Luis Arráez at first base on September 26 against San Diego and missed the Dodgers' final three games of the regular season. He did not record an RBI in the National League Division Series against San Diego and recorded one in the NL Championship Series against the New York Mets.

Freeman did not participate in the NLCS finals and was given six days off to play in the World Series to allow the ankle to mend.

“We went to Freddie several times and said, 'Hey, we got you the last two series,'” Dodgers teammate Max Muncy said. “That's Freddie telling us, 'Hey, I've got you this time.'”

Shohei Ohtani, playing two days after partially separating his left shoulder, initially walked four pitches. After Mookie Betts flied out, Freeman drove a high cutter on a 1-2 count about five rows deep into the underdeck in right field.

The 35-year-old Freeman is an eight-time All-Star and 2020 NL MVP and has three home runs and seven RBIs in the series.

His game-ending grand slam in the 10th inning of Game 1 on Friday night, giving the Dodgers a 6-3 victory, was his first home run since Sept. 16. He followed Teoscar Hernández for consecutive home runs in the third inning of Game 2.

“It’s not surprising that he’s performing at this level,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “He’s been very good in the postseason his entire career.”

Freeman fouled Tim Hill's pitch on his right ankle in the seventh inning.

“It wasn’t ideal,” Freeman said. “I'm doing well. It’s just a bruise.”

Freeman hit .333 in the series. He is just one win away from adding his second World Series title to the one he won with Atlanta in 2021.

“I really just want to hoist this trophy,” he said. “I don’t care how this happens. I don't care if I get 70 strikeouts 0 for the next 70. As long as we win, that’s all I care about.”