NEW YORK – Freddie Freeman tied George Springer’s home run record in five consecutive World Series games by hitting a two-run drive in the first inning off Clarke Schmidt of the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers in game 3 gave us a 2-0 lead on Monday evening.

Looking for their second title in five years, the Dodgers took a 2-0 lead into the best-of-seven series.

Shohei Ohtani, playing two days after partially separating his left shoulder, initially walked four pitches. After Mookie Betts flied out, Freeman drove a high cutter on a 1-2 count about five rows deep into the underdeck in right field.

Freeman became the third player to hit a home run in the first three games of a World Series, joining Hank Bauer in 1958 and Barry Bonds in 2002.

He scored in Atlanta’s last two games against Houston in the 2021 World Series, and in this game he scored in all three games. The 35-year-old Freeman is an eight-time All-Star and 2020 NL MVP and has seven RBIs in the series.

Freeman sprained his right ankle while trying to avoid a tackle by the Padres’ Luis Arráez at first base on September 26 against San Diego and missed the Dodgers’ final three games of the regular season.

His game-ending grand slam in the 10th inning of Game 1 on Friday night, giving the Dodgers a 6-3 victory, was his first home run since Sept. 16. He followed Teoscar Hernández for consecutive home runs in the third inning of Game 2.

Springer hit a home run in Games 4 through 7 in 2017 as the Astros beat the Dodgers for the title, then hit another in the 2019 opener against Washington.