NEW YORK (AP) — Freddie Freeman started his third straight game and Walker Buehler delivered another World Series gem as he beat the New York Yankees 4-2 to take a 3-0 lead in the Fall Classic on Monday night.

Superstar Shohei Ohtani plays despite a tough situation partially dislocated left shoulder, Los Angeles came close to a surprising victory in this much-hyped matchup between the traditional powers.

Buehler and six relievers combined for five hits for the Dodgers, who were on the verge of their second title in five years and eighth in team history.

“Walker Buehler has done this his entire career, in big games, in big moments,” Freeman said. “Stand up when you need it.”

Teoscar Hernández hit a pinpoint throw to left field, striking out a runner on home plate. Mookie Betts and Kiké Hernández each delivered an RBI single, and the Dodgers trailed Yankees starter Clarke Schmidt in the third inning.

Freeman’s two-run three-hitter gave him the advantage. Home runs in five consecutive World Series games This game with Atlanta, which extends to 2021, matches the major league record set by George Springer with Houston.

“Another win. That’s all I care about right now,” Freeman said.

Freeman, looking much healthier after a right ankle sprain slowed him down earlier this season, connected on the first shutout grand slam in World Series history to win a drama-filled opener in Los Angeles.

It’s been all Dodgers since then.

Game 4 is Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium. The Dodgers are planning their fourth bullpen game this postseason with three healthy starters. Rookie right-hander Luis Gil is headed to New York.

The only team in major league history to overcome a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-seven postseason series was the Boston Red Sox against the Yankees in the 2004 American League Championship Series.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts sparked this spectacular comeback with a crucial stolen base.

“Hopefully we can join this amazing story and shock the world,” said New York manager Aaron Boone. “But right now it’s about trying to get a lead, grab a play, force another and then go from there. But we need to get one first.”

In the 11 previous World Series meetings between these former October rivals, the only sweep was by the Dodgers in 1963 behind Hall of Fame pitchers Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale.

New York hasn’t been swept to a Fall Classic by the Cincinnati Reds since 1976.

But Los Angeles has won seven consecutive World Series games against the Yankees since their 1981 title.

This was New York’s first Series game at Yankee Stadium since capturing their 27th title against Philadelphia in 2009. But the homecoming didn’t help the collapse of Aaron Judge and a punchless Bronx Bombers team that allowed four runs and nine hits in the last two games.

New York hasn’t scored a goal so far Alex Verdugo’s two-run homer He struck out Michael Kopech with two outs in the ninth inning. Kopech then retired Gleyber Torres from the field to end it.

Buehler allowed two hits in five innings, striking out five. Their only win this year, in an injury-interrupted season, was against Cincinnati on May 18.

The two-time All-Star improved to 4-4 in 18 career postseason starts; these included a 2-0 record with a 0.50 ERA in three World Series outings. He gave up one run and seven hits with 22 strikeouts in 18 innings in those stints, including games against Boston (2018), Tampa Bay (2020) and the Yankees.

“This is very strange. For me, I think the playoffs and the big games have always been the only thing I’ve really cared about,” Buehler said. “I’ve been terrible all year. I think when you get to the playoffs, the adrenaline, no matter how scared I am about my elbow, I don’t try to make a certain shot. or whatever it is, it disappears, because it’s all gone now, it’s all gone, I think it helped me.”

After the Yankees struggled at the position during two losses in Los Angeles, Boone ruled out any major changes to the roster.

He flipped Anthony Volpe and Anthony Rizzo in the 6-7 slots and replaced fallen catcher Austin Wells with right-hander Jose Trevino in the 8th, even against a right-handed pitcher.

That’s it.

“I thought about a few things during the long flight home, but this is what I settled on,” Boone said before the game.

New York players held a brief meeting in the afternoon, and a recording of former Yankees public address announcer Bob Sheppard introduced five-time World Series champion Derek Jeter throwing the ceremonial first pitch. Bronx-born rapper Fat Joe enlivened the sold-out crowd of 49,368 with his pre-game performance on the field.

But it was the Dodgers who started fast.

Schmidt walked Ohtani on four pitches to start the game. Freeman then sent a 1-2 cutter 355 feet into the lower deck of right field for his 13th career postseason homer.

He joins Yankees outfielder Hank Bauer (1958) and Giants shortstop Barry Bonds (2002) as the only players to go deep in the first three games of a World Series.

“When you get into a road park you want to attack early and quiet the crowd and we did that in the first shot,” Freeman said.

Ohtani finished 0 for 3 with that walk and singled out his foot with a pitch. He grimaced after a few innings, clutching his collar with his left hand even as he advanced from first base to protect his ailing shoulder.

But he got through the game just fine.

“The pain went away, so I felt pretty good,” Ohtani said through a translator. “I was told to wear a device to keep my shoulder warm. So that’s what I was wearing during the (pre-game) ceremony and throughout the game as recommended by the coaches. “The reason I held on to myself while running was to make sure I wasn’t using the same shoulder arm when I was sliding.”

No. 9 hitter Tommy Edman drew another four-pitch walk from Schmidt leading off third and scored on Betts’ single. Kiké Hernández added an RBI single in the sixth.

Schmidt walked four overs over 2 2/3 innings in his third postseason start. He lost his fifth straight decision on May 16 in a win in Minnesota.

New York nailed a runner at home when Edman attempted a safety squeeze in the fourth, but the Dodgers displayed sensational defense to stop the Yankees’ momentum.

Betts grounded out to right field after Buehler’s first inning, a double by Giancarlo Stanton with a home run in the fourth. Teoscar Hernández then ignited all of his teammates with a perfect 94 mph pitch on Volpe’s single, striking out Stanton to end the inning and preserve the 3-0 lead.

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Gil (15-7, 3.50 ERA) made a postseason start, allowing two runs over four innings due to a no-decision in Game 4 of the ALCS in Cleveland.

He earned seven consecutive starts before getting a decision against the Dodgers on June 9 at Yankee Stadium, giving up three runs in 5 2/3 innings of New York’s 6-4 victory that prevented a three-game lead.

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