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New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone expressed hope Monday night that his team has what it takes to pull off the biggest comeback in World Series history.
Speaking to reporters after the Yankees’ 4-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 3 to fall behind 3-0 in the series, Boone discussed the team’s plan and mindset (beginning at the 3-minute mark):
“We’re trying to get a game tomorrow,” Boone said. “OK? That’s where our focus lies. Hopefully we can go be this amazing story and shock the world.”
If the Yankees overcome a 3-0 deficit to win their 28th World Series championship in franchise history, they will become the first team in MLB history to win the World Series after going down 3-0.
Only one MLB team has ever won a seven-game playoff series after falling behind 3-0, and the Yankees were on the wrong side of it, as they fell in seven games to the Boston Red Sox in the 2004 American League Championship Series.
During the regular season, the Yankees led MLB with 237 home runs and were third in runs scored with 815. They also have the likely American League MVP in Aaron Judge, plus Juan Soto, who stands a strong chance of finishing in the top three of the MVP voting.
Despite that, the Bronx Bombers have largely looked listless during the World Series thus far, scoring a grand total of seven runs in three games.
New York’s bats were mystified in Game 3 by Dodgers starter Walker Buehler, who was 1-6 with a 5.38 ERA in 16 regular-season starts coming off his second Tommy John surgery.
Buehler allowed only two hits and two walks with no runs over five innings, and it wasn’t until the ninth inning that the Yanks scored their first runs of the game when Alex Verdugo hit a two-run home run with two outs.
The vibes have been off for the Yankees ever since Game 1 when they lost on a walk-off grand slam by Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman after leading 2-1 in the eighth inning and 3-2 in the 10th inning.
L.A. has been in firm control of the series ever since, and it would now take an all-time meltdown to prevent the Dodgers from winning their eighth World Series title.
The Yankees should have the pitching advantage in Game 4 on Tuesday night, as they will start Luis Gil, while the Dodgers are planning to go with a bullpen game.
If New York’s bats are able to wake up and burn out Dodgers manager Dave Roberts’ pen in Game 4, perhaps the Yankees have some hope of winning Game 5 as well and sending the series back to Los Angeles.
