YANKEES AVOID SWEEP BY DODGERS

- April Claudio, Contributor

Last night the Dodgers were looking to sweep the Yankees and win the World Series but the Yankees’ bats came alive and thwarted that plan. Now the Dodgers lead the series 3-1. They have another chance to clinch tonight with a rematch of game one’s pitching matchup.

Here’s a recap of games 3 and 4:

Monday night Clarke Schmidt faced off against Walker Buehler for Game 3 of the World Series.

The Dodgers continued to out pitch and out hit the Yankees as they lead the game 4-0 until the ninth inning.

Schmidt gave up 3 runs on 2 hits and 4 walks in 2 2/3 innings. While Buehler pitched 5 shutout innings, only giving up 2 hits and 2 walks. He struck out 5.

Freddie Freeman continued his dominance with a 2 run home run in the first inning. The Dodgers scored another run in the third inning with a RBI single by Mookie Betts and another in the sixth inning with a RBI single by Kike Hernandez.

The Yankees attempted to score a run in the fourth inning but Giancarlo Stanton was thrown out at home. It wasn’t until the ninth inning that they scored. With 2 outs, Alex Verdugo hit a 2 run home run but Gleyber Torres grounded out next to end the game.

The Dodgers won 4-2.

Tuesday night was Game 4 and the Dodgers chance to win the whole thing. The Dodgers decided to go without a starting pitcher and just used their bullpen against Luis Gil. Gil pitched 4 innings and gave up 4 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks. It didn’t look good for the Yankees as Freddie Freeman hit a 2 run home run in the first inning. But Anthony Volpe gave Yankees fans hope as he scored a run in the second inning. 

Volpe came through for us again in the third inning. Aaron Judge was a hit by a pitch, Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit a single and Giancarlo Stanton walked to load the bases. With 2 outs, Volpe hit his third career grand slam to put the Yankees up 5-2.

The Dodgers tried to rally in the fifth inning, scoring 2 more runs. Will Smith hit a solo home run and Tommy Edman scored when Freeman grounded out into a fielder’s choice.

The Yankees weren’t done there. Austin Wells hit a solo home run in the sixth inning and they scored 5 more runs in the eighth inning. Volpe hit a double and Wells walked. Volpe stole third and Wells stole second. Volpe scored on a fielder’s choice ground out by Alex Verdugo. Gleyber Torres hit a 3 run home run. Juan Soto hit a double and scored on a single by Aaron Judge.

The Dodgers used 4 pitchers in the game. Combined they gave up 11 runs on 9 hits and 6 walks.

Tim Hill, Mark Leiter Jr., Luke Weaver, Tim Mayza and Clay Holmes combined for 1 hit and 7 strike outs in five innings.

The Yankees avoided a series sweep and won the game 11-5.

Tonight they will look to win again to keep the series going. Gerrit Cole will pitch against Jack Flaherty.

Let’s go Yankees!