By Mike Fitzpatrick, Associated Press

NEW YORK — Freddie Freeman homered for a third straight game and Walker Buehler pitched another World Series gem as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the New York Yankees 4-2 Monday night to take a 3-0 lead during the Fall Classic.

With superstar Shohei Ohtani playing despite a left shoulder partially dislocated, Los Angeles moved closer to a surprising sweep victory in this high-profile clash between traditional powers.

Buehler and six relievers combined for five at-bats for the Dodgers, on the cusp of their second championship in five years and eighth in franchise history.

Teoscar Hernández threw out a runner at home plate with a precise throw from left field. Mookie Betts and Kiké Hernández each delivered an RBI single, and the Dodgers chased Yankees starter Clarke Schmidt in the third inning.

Freeman’s two runs on three batters gave him a home run in five straight World Series games dating back to 2021 with Atlanta, tying a major league record set by George Springer with Houston.

Seemingly healthier after a sprained right ankle slowed him earlier in the postseason, Freeman connected for the first game-ending grand slam in World Series history to win a game drama-filled opening in Los Angeles.

Since then, it’s all the Dodgers.

Game 4 is Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium. With three healthy starters, the Dodgers schedule their fourth bullpen game of this postseason. Rookie right-hander Luis Gil leaves for New York.

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

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

Los Angeles, however, has won seven straight World Series games against the Yankees since its 1981 crown.

This marked the first series game at Yankee Stadium since New York won its 27th title in 2009 against Philadelphia. But a return home didn’t help Aaron Judge and the struggling Bronx Bombers, held to four points in the last two games.

New York didn’t score until Alex Verdugo’s two-run homer off Michael Kopech with two outs in the ninth inning. Kopech then retired Gleyber Torres on a grounder to end it.

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

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