Dodgers Edge Blue Jays in Historic 18-Inning World Series Marathon
Freddie Freeman delivered a legendary moment for the Los Angeles Dodgers, smashing a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 18th inning to seal a dramatic 6-5 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 3 of the World Series. The win gave the Dodgers a 2-1 advantage in the best-of-seven series after a contest that stretched more than six and a half hours — tying the longest postseason game in Major League Baseball history. The marathon thriller saw no runs scored between the seventh and 18th innings, with both teams locked in a tense stalemate. Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani blasted two home runs earlier in the game, but the night ultimately belonged to Freeman, last season’s World Series MVP, who once again rose to the occasion for Los Angeles.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had earlier apologized to fans for his frustrations over travel delays following the first two games in Canada. His mood turned to joy as his team secured a crucial home victory in front of a roaring Dodger Stadium crowd. The game now joins an elite list of MLB’s longest postseason matchups, alongside 18-inning classics from 2005, 2014, 2018, and 2022.
How the Dodgers’ epic win unfolded
Teoscar Hernandez opened the scoring for Los Angeles with a home run in the second inning, followed by a solo blast from Ohtani in the third to extend the lead to 2-0. The Blue Jays responded fiercely in the fourth when a fielding error by Tommy Edman put two runners on base. Alejandro Kirk then smashed his second homer of the series over center field for a 3-2 lead, and Andres Gimenez added a sacrifice fly to make it 4-2. Toronto starter Max Scherzer, who made history by pitching in the World Series for a fourth different team, exited in the fifth inning. The Dodgers immediately seized momentum as Ohtani drove in Enrique Hernandez before Freeman tied the score with an RBI double, leveling things at 4-4. The Blue Jays regained the edge in the seventh when Bo Bichette’s line drive allowed Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to score from first base. But Ohtani responded again with his second home run of the night to tie it 5-5. From that point, both sides stranded multiple runners as tension mounted deep into extra innings.
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Ohtani was intentionally walked four times and caught stealing, while Toronto’s Davis Schneider was thrown out at the plate in the 10th. Dodgers legend Clayton Kershaw even made a rare bullpen appearance in what may be his final postseason before retirement. Finally, after more than six hours of deadlock, Freeman launched a towering home run off reliever Brendon Little to center field, sealing the victory and sending Dodger Stadium into delirium.
Game 4 takes place Tuesday in Los Angeles, with Ohtani set to start on the mound.
- Game 1: Blue Jays 11-4 Dodgers
- Game 2: Blue Jays 1-5 Dodgers
- Game 3: Dodgers 6-5 Blue Jays
The Dodgers will look to extend their lead before the series returns to Toronto for a potential Game 6.
Source: BBC
