Freddie Freeman doesn’t know how to stop.
Here was the Dodgers first baseman — and World Series MVP frontrunner — picking up on Tuesday where he left off a night earlier, when he resumed from his superb weekend.
Freeman smashed his fourth homer in this Fall Classic, establishing two records along with it, but it wasn’t enough to carry the Dodgers in their 11-4 loss to the Yankees in Game 4 of the World Series.
Freeman followed Mookie Betts’ first-inning double against Luis Gil with a shot into the right field seats that, for a second straight night, gave the Dodgers a 2-0 lead in the initial frame.
It was a record sixth straight World Series game (dating to 2021 with the Braves) in which Freeman homered.
Freeman on Monday tied George Springer for the record. Freeman also became the first player to homer in each of the first four games of a World Series — a night earlier he matched Barry Bonds and Hank Bauer by homering in the first three.
The early jolt wasn’t enough to propel the Dodgers, who received a solo homer from Will Smith in the fifth before Freeman’s hustle helped deliver the team’s fourth run.
Freeman, playing on a gimpy ankle, beat the relay throw to first on a potential double-play grounder, allowing Tommy Edman to score.
Freeman was initially called out on the play, but the Dodgers challenged and got the ruling overturned. Freeman sprained the ankle Sept. 26 and has been compromised throughout the postseason.
Freeman’s biggest contribution to this series remains the walk-off grand slam he hit in Game 1 that evoked memories of Kirk Gibson’s epic blast for the Dodgers in the 1988 World Series. Freeman also homered the following night at Dodger Stadium.
“I am not surprised he’s performing at this level,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after Game 3. “He’s been very good in the postseason throughout his career. I think the five days [off] before the series was huge, that gave him the chance to get out of the woods [with the ankle].
“Now that we’re out of the woods, I think it’s manageable, sustainable. I think he’s just really in a good spot. With the swings he’s taken, he can stay firm on his front side.”