Dodgers Win Epic 18-Inning Game 3 Against Blue Jays

In a night etched into the annals of baseball history, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays battled through an 18-inning epic that finally ended at 2:51 a.m. Eastern Time—just before midnight on the West Coast. The Dodgers emerged victorious, 6-5, in Game 3 of the World Series, seizing a 2-1 advantage in this best-of-seven showdown. It was a marathon for the ages, matching the longest World Series game ever played, and for those who stayed up, either at Dodger Stadium or glued to their screens from Toronto’s Rogers Centre, the drama was relentless and unforgettable. The lead changed hands, tension mounted with every pitch, and legends were made. Freddie Freeman—already immortalized for his walk-off grand slam in last year’s Fall Classic—once again delivered the finishing blow. In the bottom of the 18th, Freeman launched a towering home run off Blue Jays lefty Brendon Little, sending the Dodgers faithful into delirium and etching his name into World Series lore as the only player to hit multiple walk-off homers in the championship’s storied history. Yet, the night belonged as much to Shohei Ohtani as anyone. Scheduled to pitch Game 4 just hours later, Ohtani reached base a record-tying nine times—becoming the first player in postseason history to do so and only the fourth in any MLB game. He crushed two home runs, including a game-tying solo shot in the seventh, and added two doubles, matching Frank Isbell’s century-old World Series record for extra-base hits in a single contest. The Blue Jays, desperate to contain him, resorted to four intentional walks—three with no one on base—something seen just once before in World Series play. The numbers from this classic are staggering: six hours and 39 minutes, 18 innings, 609 combined pitches, 10 Dodgers pitchers, and a combined 37 stranded runners—a new Series record. Dodgers reliever Will Klein, a recent roster addition, became an unlikely hero, tossing four scoreless innings and throwing a career-high 72 pitches. Dodgers legend Clayton Kershaw even made a surprise relief appearance, further adding to the drama. For Blue Jays fans, the night was a rollercoaster of hope and heartbreak. Many stayed at Rogers Centre until nearly 3 a.m., witnessing Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s late hustle and the team’s record-setting 67 at-bats and 19 stranded runners. The game saw six runners thrown out on the bases and even a rare double pickoff, as both teams chased any edge in this war of attrition. The historical significance is immense. This Game 3 tied the 2018 Dodgers-Red Sox classic for the longest in World Series history. Teams winning Game 3 when a series is tied 1-1 have gone on to win the Series almost 70% of the time, and for Dodgers fans, that statistic gleams with promise. For the Blue Jays, the quick turnaround to Game 4 offers little time to dwell on the loss—something both teams and fans surely need after the emotional and physical toll of this instant classic. In the words of Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, “It’s one of the greatest World Series games of all time.” No argument here. And with Shohei Ohtani set to take the mound for Game 4, the drama and spectacle show no sign of letting up.