B2B HRs from Teoscar, Freddie propel Dodgers to 2-0 WS lead

LOS ANGELES -- During introductions prior to Game 2 of the World Series on Saturday at Dodger Stadium, no Dodgers player got a better reception than Freddie Freeman, who won Game 1 with the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history.

As Freeman stepped up for his first at-bat, the sold-out crowd gave the star first baseman a standing ovation. In his second at-bat, Freeman was ready to give the home fans another Fall Classic memory.

With the game tied at one in the third, Teoscar Hernández and Freeman hit back-to-back homers against Yankees left-hander Carlos Rodón, giving the Dodgers a three-run lead in a game they went on the win, 4-2, to take a 2-0 series advantage.

Hernández and Freeman became the second pair of Dodgers teammates to hit back-to-back homers in the World Series, joining Pedro Guerrero and Steve Yeager, who did it in Game 5 of the 1981 Fall Classic, also against the Yankees.

“Teo’s homer obviously was huge,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “I thought he just missed clipping him earlier and got a fastball belt line and really put a great swing on it. Then Freddie, it’s one thing to turn around 92 [mph], but 97 up and in, that’s a different monster. He just took a really good swing. We needed it. Clearly.”

Tommy Edman got the scoring started with a solo homer in the second inning. It was the first time Rodón had allowed three homers in a start since June 21. It’s also the fourth time a team has hit three or more homers in the first three innings of a World Series game. Ron Cey, Reggie Smith and Yeager accomplished the feat for the Dodgers in Game 2 off the Yankees’ Catfish Hunter in 1977.

Those three homers turned out to be the difference for the Dodgers, who are now in the driver’s seat. In all best-of-seven postseason series, teams taking a 2-0 lead have gone on to win the series 77 of 92 times (84%). The most recent comeback from a 2-0 deficit came in the 2023 NLCS, with the D-backs rallying against the Phillies. Under the current 2-3-2 format, teams winning Games 1 and 2 at home have gone on to take the series 45 of 56 times (80%).

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“I’ve been on the other end, being down two games and been able to come back,” said Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts, referring back to the Dodgers’ 2020 NL Championship Series against the Braves. “I know they’re going to come out ready to go. They don’t have a choice. We don’t, either. We have to keep going. It’s good, but we still have business to take care of.”

Hernández has been taking care of business all season long, just as he envisioned this offseason. Even with a down season in Seattle, Hernández was hoping to get a multiyear deal in the offseason. But after waiting around for most of the winter, Hernández shifted his focus. Instead of prioritizing something long term, he was ready to take a one-year contract with an organization that would help him get back to the postseason.

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When the Dodgers came calling, Hernández knew he wanted to jump on the opportunity, passing up other offers from at least the Red Sox and Angels. Since then, all Hernández has done is come through in big situations.

After a career-high 33 homers during the regular season, Hernández has three homers in the postseason, including his first World Series blast. The Dominican outfielder now has four homers in five games against the Yankees this season. In his career against the pinstripes, Hernández has 18 homers, the third-most against an opposing team.

“It was special, not only for me personally, but because I put the team in front,” Hernández said of his first Fall Classic homer. “I always say it, I don’t care how I do as long as the team wins. That’s what matters for me. In this World Series, just trying to do the things that I know how to do and just help the team.”

As for Freeman, his legend continues to grow in the World Series and he has established himself as the early favorite to win Most Valuable Player if the Dodgers end up winning the crown. Dealing with a badly sprained ankle, Freeman started back-to-back games for just the third time this postseason.

With his third-inning homer, Freeman has homers in four consecutive World Series games, dating back to the 2021 Fall Classic with the Braves. That ties Lou Gehrig (1928-32) and Reggie Jackson (‘77-78) for the second-longest such streak and trails just George Springer, who homered in five straight from 2017-19. Freeman joins Jackson as the only players to homer in consecutive World Series games for multiple teams.

Freeman also became the second player to have multiple homers and a triple over the first two games of a World Series. The other? Babe Ruth in 1923.

“I think the triple’s more shocking, to be honest,” Freeman said on the FOX postgame show. “Those six days off were huge for me in between the NLCS and the World Series. I was able to calm my ankle down, so hopefully with the flight tonight … I’ve been swelling a lot on flights, so hopefully tomorrow we can get it down and get it in a good spot for Game 3.”

With Shohei Ohtani’s status for the rest of the World Series now in question after the superstar sustained a left shoulder subluxation on a stolen-base attempt in the seventh inning on Saturday, the Dodgers are going to need Freeman, Hernández, Edman and the rest of the cast to continue stepping up offensively.

Getting contributions from everyone hasn’t been an issue for the Dodgers all postseason long. Now, they’ll take their high-powered offense to the Bronx with a chance to close out the organization’s eighth World Series title.

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“You’re not trying to lose in front of your home crowd,” Freeman said. “You want to get those wins early, and you’re going into a tough place to play.”