NEW YORK — Shohei Ohtani did not look particularly comfortable in Game 3 of the World Series . It did not particularly matter for the Dodgers. Instead, it was and two timely hits from Ohtani’s fellow MVPs, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, that proved to be the difference in Los Angeles’ over the Yankees on Monday in the Bronx in .
With that, the Dodgers . While it was hardly the most explosive display by the Dodgers’ offense — just four runs on five hits — Game 3 still exemplified just how exhausting it is for a starting pitcher to try to navigate the L.A.
lineup. Yankees starter Clarke Schmidt walked Ohtani on four pitches to start the game — an instant reminder that even with a hampered shoulder and limited success in the series thus far, Ohtani presents a threat any time he steps in the box. The first of two lengthy battles between Schmidt and Betts followed, with Betts flying out to left field on the seventh offering from Schmidt.
Up came Freeman, ready to further strengthen his case for World Series MVP. “Thankfully, he threw all three pitches in the first three pitches,” said Freeman, who had never faced Schmidt in his career before Monday. “He went sweeper on the first pitch and then went cutter up, and then he threw the knuckle curve.
So I saw all three pitches. I was OK with being down two strikes because I got to see everything he had.” On the fourth pitch, Schmidt went back to the cutter up and in — a very similar spot from which Freeman ha.