### Dodgers Dominate Yankees with a Crushing 18-2 Victory

The Los Angeles Dodgers sent a clear message to the baseball world over the weekend, showcasing a powerful performance that could signify a return to top form. Despite entering this weekend's World Series rematch against the New York Yankees on a less-than-ideal note, the Dodgers obliterated their opposition with an 18-2 win on Saturday at Dodger Stadium.

The Dodgers unleashed a relentless offensive barrage in the first two innings, scoring four runs in the first and six more in the second. Their 10-run lead by the third inning eliminated any suspense, with standout performances from Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, and Max Muncy bolstering the team.

"We've been playing middling baseball for a while now," admitted Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. "Maybe it took a club like the Yankees to get us to reset and step our game up. We've certainly done that these last couple nights."

The Dodgers' offense had not been the issue, as they entered Saturday ranking second in the majors in runs scored and OPS, and first in batting average. However, injuries to key pitchers had put a significant strain on the team's recent play, leading to an 11-12 slide prior to the Yankees series.

"We know that we have a good ballclub," said Roberts. "I don't think us not winning series against teams with winning records is an indictment on our ballclub."

The Yankees entered the series on a hot streak, winning 16 of their previous 20 games. But the Dodgers immediately quashed their momentum. Friday night saw the Dodgers come from behind to win, and Saturday's game quickly turned into a rout. Singles from Ohtani, Freeman, Muncy, and Will Smith within the first five at-bats set the tone, with Tommy Edman's double adding to the tally.

By the second inning, the Dodgers piled on more damage. After consecutive walks, Muncy hit a three-run homer, reached his 200th career long ball, and effectively ended rookie Yankees starter Will Warren's game. Later, Hyeseong Kim's second home run of the season pushed the Dodgers to double digits.

Landon Knack pitched six strong innings, giving up a single run on a home run from Aaron Judge, who also hit a second solo blast later. The Dodgers’ offense did not relent, with Freeman tying MLB legends Willie Mays and Ted Williams for 46th most career doubles. Muncy, surging with five home runs and 24 RBIs in his last 19 games, added another three-run homer to cement his career-high seven RBIs in a single game.

"For us to do it without Mookie [Betts], that’s huge," Muncy said, referring to Betts’ absence due to a fractured toe. "It’s just a really good day offensively all around."

With Betts’ return on the horizon and recent performances indicating a rejuvenated roster, the Dodgers demonstrated that they remain formidable contenders for their second consecutive World Series title.