Dodgers plan to finish Yankees in Game 4 of World Series: 'Don't let these guys blow up'

NEW YORK — Dodgers manager Dave Roberts knows what it takes to overcome a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-7 series. His performance against the Yankees in Game 4 of the 2004 AL Championship Series is largely seen as the catalyst for the Red Sox's unlikely comeback.

On the other side of the same scenario — the Dodgers can beat the Yankees in Game 4 at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday — Roberts “wouldn’t give away any secrets.”

“On the other hand, we need to remain focused (and) urgent,” Roberts said. “I think offensively, to be honest, we gave up a lot of runs (in Game 3) and still found a way to win a ballgame. There simply has to be urgency. I just don’t want to let these guys come up for air.”

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The Dodgers defeated the Yankees 4-2 in Game 3, but the game felt even more one-sided. There were opportunities for Los Angeles to blow the game away, but they left seven runners on base and went 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position (RISP) on Monday.

Fortunately, the Yankees weren't much better. While their pitchers did a good job of preventing more runners from scoring, their hitters did a poor job of driving the runners. In Game 3, New York left eight runners on base and went 2-for-6 with RISP.

“It’s a credit to them that they were able to hold us and control us,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “When we had chances, we didn't take advantage of them. Ultimately it comes down to it, you have to take advantage and get one on the spot while one or two runners are on.”

It was a problem for both teams in this series. The Yankees stranded 25 runners while going 4 of 20 (.200) with RISP, while the Dodgers left 15 runners on base and went 3 of 19 (.157) with RISP.

The difference was extra-base hits. Los Angeles outscored New York 12 to 5 extra-base hits. Notably, they beat the Yankees by five home runs to three. As a result, they outscored their opponents 14-7.

As a result, the Dodgers have a commanding 3-0 lead in the World Series – and they have no intention of letting the Yankees off the hook.

“I’m not worried about how the series turned out,” said Jack Flaherty, the potential Game 5 Dodgers starter. “I’m worried about getting another one. … These guys are not going to go away quietly.”