Freddie Freeman hits walk-off homer in 18th inning, Dodgers win World Series Game 3
Summary
Freddie Freeman ended an 18-inning World Series classic with a walk-off solo home run leading off the bottom of the 18th, giving the Los Angeles Dodgers a 6-5 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays and a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven.
Shohei Ohtani produced a historic night for the Dodgers, going deep twice and doubling twice to finish with four extra-base hits and an extraordinary nine times on base after a string of intentional walks. Will Klein, the last reliever available, threw four shutout innings and 72 pitches to pick up the win.
The marathon lasted 6 hours, 39 minutes and matched the longest by innings in postseason history (the only other 18-inning World Series game was Game 3 at Dodger Stadium seven years earlier). Key moments included Alejandro Kirk’s three-run homer for Toronto, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s opportunistic run, and plenty of late-night defence and near-misses before Freeman’s 406-foot drive to straightaway centre finally finished it.
Key Points
- Freddie Freeman hit a walk-off solo homer to win Game 3 in the 18th inning, final score 6-5.
- Shohei Ohtani had a record-setting performance: two homers, two doubles and reached base nine times — a feat not seen in 83 years.
- The game lasted 6 hours, 39 minutes, matching the longest by innings in postseason history.
- Will Klein threw four shutout innings (72 pitches) in long relief to secure the win — the biggest of his career.
- Toronto’s Alejandro Kirk hit a three-run homer to spark a fourth-inning rally that put the Blue Jays ahead 4-2.
- Dodgers tied the game in the fifth; Guerrero’s seventh-inning run and Ohtani’s second solo home run were pivotal moments.
- Los Angeles leads the World Series 2-1 and can still clinch the title at home — something the franchise hasn’t done since 1963.
Context and relevance
This was a pivotal game in a high-stakes World Series. Marathon contests like this expose bullpen depth, influence pitching plans for the rest of the series and can swing momentum dramatically. Ohtani’s two-way dominance continues to redefine expectations for elite players, while Freeman’s second straight Series walk-off (he hit an historic grand slam last year) cements his reputation as a postseason clutch hitter. The result leaves the Dodgers in control with a chance to close the series at home.
Why should I read this
Because it was proper theatre — Freeman’s walk-off, Ohtani doing ridiculous things, and an 18‑inning slog that tested every player and manager. If you want the key moments and why this changes the feel of the Series (quickly), this summary saves you the time of reliving six hours and thirty‑nine minutes.