Post by : Maya Rahman

The Los Angeles Dodgers secured a thrilling 6-5 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 3 of the World Series, thanks to Freddie Freeman’s walk-off home run in the 18th inning. The game, lasting more than six and a half hours, tied the record for the longest postseason match in Major League Baseball history in terms of innings.

Freddie Freeman became the hero of the night as his powerful home run ended the marathon contest, giving the Dodgers a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. The veteran first baseman, last year’s World Series MVP, proved once again why he remains one of baseball’s most clutch performers. His game-winning hit sent the packed Dodger Stadium into wild celebrations after a tense, back-and-forth battle that tested both teams’ endurance.

Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani played a key role for the Dodgers, hitting two home runs early in the game. His first homer in the third inning gave Los Angeles a 2-0 lead, and his second, a powerful blast in the seventh, tied the score at 5-5 after the Blue Jays had rallied. Ohtani also had three hits in total and was intentionally walked four times, showing the level of respect and fear he commands from opposing pitchers.

The Toronto Blue Jays battled bravely after falling behind early. Alejandro Kirk hit a three-run homer in the fourth inning, turning the score around to 3-2 for Toronto. A sacrifice fly from Andres Gimenez extended their lead to 4-2. However, the Dodgers responded quickly in the fifth, with Ohtani and Freeman driving in runs to level the match again. Bo Bichette later gave Toronto a 5-4 lead with a line drive in the seventh, only for Ohtani’s second homer to bring the game back to 5-5.

From the eighth inning onward, both teams struggled to find the winning run. Pitchers dominated the later stages as scoring chances came and went. Toronto’s pinch-runner Davis Schneider was thrown out at home plate in the 10th inning, while the Dodgers left runners stranded multiple times. Even veteran pitcher Clayton Kershaw made an emotional appearance from the bullpen, possibly his final in a World Series game.

As both teams exhausted their benches and bullpens, it was Freddie Freeman who finally ended the tension. In the bottom of the 18th inning, he lifted a pitch from Toronto reliever Brendon Little deep over center field for a walk-off home run. The crowd erupted as Freeman rounded the bases, giving the Dodgers a 2-1 series lead and maintaining their hopes of consecutive World Series titles.

This 18-inning battle joins the list of the longest postseason games in MLB history, alongside classics from 2005, 2014, 2018, and 2022. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts praised his team’s resilience and composure throughout the marathon contest, calling it “a game that tested every ounce of energy we had.”

The World Series now continues with Game 4 at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, where Shohei Ohtani will take the mound as the starting pitcher. The Dodgers aim to build on their momentum and move closer to another championship, while the Blue Jays will look to regroup and fight back to even the series.

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