Early on, the Dodgers seized momentum with solo home runs from Teoscar Hernández and Shohei Ohtani, establishing a 2-0 lead. But the Blue Jays, undeterred, responded in the fourth inning: Alejandro Kirk launched a three-run homer, and an Andrés Giménez sacrifice fly put Toronto ahead 4-2. Ohtani, who continues to build his postseason legend, delivered an RBI double in the fifth, and Freddie Freeman followed with a single to knot the game at 4-4. The lead swung again in the seventh when Bo Bichette’s single gave Toronto a 5-4 edge, only for Ohtani to answer in the bottom half with his second home run of the night, tying the score and electrifying the Los Angeles crowd.
As the game pressed into the 12th inning, both managers emptied their benches and bullpens. The Blue Jays, hampered by the injury to George Springer, turned to Tyler Heineman as their final available position player. Meanwhile, the Dodgers leaned on their depth and experience, with Clayton Kershaw entering the game in a high-leverage relief role. Key defensive plays, like Tommy Edman’s throw to retire Ernie Clement and Freddie Freeman’s alert fielding, kept the score deadlocked.
Shohei Ohtani’s performance was nothing short of historic: two home runs, two doubles, and a total of three RBIs in a single World Series game is a statistical feat rarely seen at this stage. According to ESPN, Ohtani was 3-for-3 at one point, and his game-tying blast in the seventh came off a 97 mph fastball from Seranthony Dominguez. The crowd witnessed a moment for the ages as a lifelong Dodgers fan, David Aguilar, snagged Ohtani’s home run ball in the left field bleachers—an indelible memory in Dodgers World Series lore.
Despite some tense moments—like Tyler Heineman being called out at third before a replay review overturned the decision, and a late-game cramping scare for Ohtani—the teams remained locked in a chess match. Braydon Fisher pitched through jams, and the Dodgers’ defense kept Toronto from capitalizing with runners on base. The duel between the benches and bullpens underscored the intensity and unpredictability of postseason baseball.
With the series still tied and Game 3 deep into the night, both teams face critical questions heading into Game 4. Ohtani, who is scheduled to pitch, will be under scrutiny after his marathon effort at the plate and on the bases. ESPN Analytics currently rates the series as a toss-up—50/50—reflecting just how evenly matched the Blue Jays and Dodgers are at this stage (ESPN Blue Jays vs. Dodgers Live Score).
As a sports editor focused on numbers and betting analysis, the trends emerging from this series are fascinating. The Dodgers’ offense, led by Ohtani and Freeman, is showing power and resilience, while Toronto’s lineup continues to find timely hits despite roster challenges. With the series shifting momentum by the inning, and both teams pushing their depth to the limit, fans and bettors alike should expect continued unpredictability as the 2025 World Series unfolds.
For more live highlights and statistical breakdowns, follow the action on The Athletic’s World Series coverage and ESPN’s Gamecast.