The New York Yankees suffered another setback on Monday night, falling to the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-2 in Game 3 of the World Series. The loss in the Bronx put the Yankees in a dire 0-3 hole in the best-of-seven series, while the Dodgers are now on the verge of claiming their second championship in just five seasons.
Monday night’s game marked the Yankees’ first World Series home appearance in 15 years, but the excitement quickly gave way to disappointment as their hopes of turning the series around faltered.
The game followed a pattern similar to the first two outings, particularly for star slugger Aaron Judge. Judge went 0-for-3 at the plate, adding another strikeout to his postseason tally—his seventh in just 13 World Series at-bats. His performance so far in the Fall Classic has been well below his regular-season form, with Judge batting a meager .088.
It has been a stark contrast to the historic season he put together, where he batted .322, crushed 58 home runs, and drove in 144 RBIs.
After the game, Judge did not shy away from his struggles, acknowledging his disappointing performance. “You want to be getting the hits. You want to be doing your job, but I’m not doing my job right now,” Judge admitted. “I’ve got to pick it up.”
The Yankees’ postseason hopes now hinge on Judge finding a way out of his slump, but time is running out. Across 12 playoff games, Judge has gone just 6-for-43, resulting in a dismal .140 batting average.
RELATED: Dave Roberts Responds Sharply to Interesting Question Following Game 3 of World Series
His struggles have been particularly pronounced in crucial moments, as he is just 3-for-22 (.136) with runners on base and an alarming 0-for-10 with six strikeouts when batting with runners in scoring position throughout the playoffs.
For a player widely regarded as one of the best hitters in baseball, these numbers have been nothing short of shocking.
As the Yankees prepare for Game 4 against the Dodgers on Tuesday night in New York, they face the daunting challenge of trying to avoid a catastrophic sweep. The Bronx Bombers will need a collective effort to stave off elimination, and Aaron Judge will need to shake off his slump if they hope to extend the series.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers are just one win away from capturing another World Series title, looking to capitalize on their commanding lead and finish what they started.
With their backs against the wall, the Yankees are determined to fight on, hoping that their fans’ energy in the Bronx will provide a much-needed boost.
The Dodgers, on the other hand, have all the momentum as they inch closer to lifting the World Series trophy once again. Game 4 could be a defining moment—either a spark of hope for the Yankees or a championship-clinching victory for the Dodgers.
