When Freddie Freeman hit a two-run homer in the top of the first, all the color drained out of every New York Yankees fan.
Not again.
Already down three games to none in the Series, now they were down 2-0 before the game had really started.
But this game felt different. Dodgers pitching couldn’t find the strike zone. And when you do that, you wake a sleeping giant.
First-inning pitcher Ben Casperous walked Juan Soto on four pitches, then walked Aaron Judge. He went 3-2 on Jazz Chisolm before retiring him. In all, the throw 22 pitches, nine for strikes. He got out of it without the Yankees scoring.
That wouldn’t happen again.
In the second inning, he walked Anthony Volpe, who scored.
Daniel Hudson pitched the third and could’t find the strike zone. He hit Aaron Judge with a pitch, then after giving up a single to Jazz Chisolm, walked Giancarlo Stanton after almost hitting him twice. Not one of the six pitches he threw came within two inches of the strike zone.
Unfortunately for Hudson, the one time he did find the strike zone, Anthony Volpe’s bat found it as well, and drilled a grand slam over the left field wall to give the Yankees a 5-2 lead.
More than that, it gave them life. And hope. And, eventually, an 11-4 victory in Game 4, giving them another chance.
No team in major league history has ever won more than one game in a World Series after being down 0-3. The Yankees are going to try to become the first tonight.
If the Dodger want to end the Series tonight and not take it back home, their pitchers are going to have to find home.
TODAY’S GAME:
7:08: New York 1 @ Los Angeles 3, FOX