Freddie Freeman sets Yankee Stadium ablaze with record-tying swing

On a chilly October night under the lights of Yankee Stadium, all eyes were on Clarke Schmidt, tasked with containing a Dodgers lineup led by veteran Freddie Freeman. As Game 3 of the World Series got underway, the Yankees faithful, a sea of pinstripes and banners, roared with the intensity only October baseball can muster. The Yankees, back in the Fall Classic after years of close calls, were hungry for a title, and their ace pitcher was supposed to be their edge.

But Freddie Freeman had other plans. Already a seasoned World Series hero from his Braves days, Freeman entered the game with the kind of poise that only comes from years of postseason battles. His Dodgers teammates relied on his steady hand and powerful bat, knowing that every swing could mean the difference between glory and heartbreak. And with a sprained ankle that had many doubting his ability to perform, Freeman's mere presence in the lineup was a testament to his dedication.

By the time Schmidt threw his first pitch, the crowd's anticipation had peaked. But after walking Shohei Ohtani to open the game, and with Mookie Betts flying out, Schmidt faced Freeman with only one out and a runner on base. The 35-year-old slugger, seemingly unbothered by his ankle, took a confident stance. With one swing, he crushed a two-run homer over the right field fence, sending Yankee Stadium into a stunned silence and putting the Dodgers up 2-0.

That homer was more than just a lead for Los Angeles; it was a record-tying statement. Freeman's blast marked his fifth consecutive World Series game with a home run, tying the record held by George Springer. His streak, spanning games with both the Braves and Dodgers, underscored his extraordinary knack for delivering in high-stakes moments. Freeman was quickly becoming the frontrunner for World Series MVP, a testament to his continued dominance on baseball's biggest stage.

Freeman's power surge shakes up the series and silences the Bronx

Freeman's home run surge began in Game 1, when he hit a walk-off grand slam off Nestor Cortes, sending Dodgers fans into a frenzy and setting the tone for the series. He continued his onslaught in Game 2 with a solo shot against Carlos Rodon, stretching the Dodgers' lead to 4-1. Now, as the Dodgers marched through Game 3 with Freeman leading the charge, his historic streak seemed unstoppable.

Battling his ankle injury all the while, Freeman hadn't homered since mid-September before this series. Yet, he made it clear that the injury wasn't affecting his game as much as people assumed. "Actually felt pretty good," Freeman said after his Game 1 grand slam. "The last six days, we treated it really well. I've been feeling pretty good. Right when I ran out to give high-fives to my teammates, I felt pretty good, because that was the first time I ran all week. So, ankle's good."

Now, as Game 3 raged on, the Yankees were left scrambling to regroup. Their hopes of regaining control at home were slipping away with every swing Freeman took. The Yankees' bullpen buzzed with activity, knowing they'd have to find a way to contain Freeman if they had any hope of clawing back into the series. But the veteran slugger seemed unfazed, his focus honed on securing another championship.

As the series continues, Freeman's impact reverberated not just within the Dodgers clubhouse but across baseball. His bat had become the Dodgers' heartbeat, his experience a guiding light for a team hungry to bring a title back to Los Angeles. In the midst of a raucous Yankee Stadium, it was Freeman's steady hand that remained the calm amid the storm, propelling the Dodgers forward.