In a game destined for the annals of postseason lore, Freddie Freeman once again authored a World Series ending to remember. The Dodgers first baseman launched a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 18th inning to cap a marathon 6-5 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 3. The win not only pushed Los Angeles ahead in the series but tied Game 3 of the 2018 Fall Classic for the longest in World Series history at six hours and 39 minutes.
Freeman, now the only player to hit multiple walk-off home runs in the World Series, played hero for a second consecutive October. His opposite-field shot off Brendon Little ended an epic filled with clutch hits, chaotic baserunning, and standout pitching performances.
The night also belonged to Shohei Ohtani, whose historic outing added another chapter to his already dazzling resume. Ohtani reached base nine times, crushed two home runs, notched four extra-base hits, and drew four intentional walks — feats never before achieved in a single postseason game. And he’ll be back on the mound for Game 4.
Los Angeles struck early with solo shots from Hernández and Ohtani off Toronto ace Max Scherzer. But the Blue Jays responded in the fourth, capitalizing on an error and a hanging curveball that Alejandro Kirk deposited into the left-center seats for a three-run bomb. Vlad Guerrero Jr. later added a go-ahead run with pure hustle, scoring from first on a Bo Bichette single.
But every time the Blue Jays surged, Ohtani answered. His RBI double tied the game in the fifth, and his second home run — a towering shot to left-center — erased Toronto’s seventh-inning lead. The slugger’s bat wasn’t just hot; it was historic.
In a game filled with wild baserunning moments, six runners were thrown out, including Freeman himself early in the game and Jays pinch-runner Davis Schneider in extras. A bizarre pickoff of Bichette following umpire confusion added to the drama.
Pitching depth proved vital. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts cycled through 10 arms, including future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw, who extinguished a 12th-inning threat with the bases loaded. Toronto, meanwhile, leaned on reliever Eric Lauer for more outs than their starter, while also navigating the loss of ALCS hero George Springer to injury.
Still tied deep into the night, both teams flirted with victory. Freeman narrowly missed another walk-off in the 13th. But it was Will Klein who kept LA’s hopes alive with four lights-out innings in relief, setting the stage for Freeman’s fireworks in the 18th.
With the Dodgers now holding a 2-1 series lead, the momentum — and the pressure — shifts to Game 4. History favors the Game 3 victor in tied series. If Ohtani’s performance was any indication, history might just be on LA’s side.