The stage
In a matchup charged with expectation, the Dodgers took on the Blue Jays in Game 3 of the 2025 World Series at Dodger Stadium. The series was tied 1-1 heading into this game, and both teams were hunting momentum in the best-of-seven.
What unfolded was nothing short of historic.
The early fireworks
The Dodgers jumped ahead early:
In the 2nd inning, Teoscar Hernández jacked a solo homer to left field, giving L.A. a 1-0 lead. The fire continued in the 3rd, when Shohei Ohtani launched one for his first homer of the night, making it 2-0. The Blue Jays answered in a big way in the 4th inning: Alejandro Kirk crushed a three-run homer (scoring Vlad Jr. and Bo Bichette) to flip the lead to Toronto, 4-2.
Tugs of war and tie-ups
In the 5th, Ohtani doubled and scored, and the Dodgers tied it up at 4–4 thanks to another knock from him (and a single from Freddie Freeman). The Blue Jays regained the lead in the 7th when Bichette singled in Vlad Jr., making it 5–4. Then Ohtani responded in the bottom of the 7th with his second homer of the night, tying the game at 5–5.
The marathon extra-innings
From the 8th inning onward, the game settled into a prolonged struggle of wills. Neither bullpen nor lineup gave in. Records were set (or shattered) throughout:
The game lasted 18 innings, matching the longest game in a World Series by innings. It stretched to 6 hours, 39 minutes. Shohei Ohtani reached base nine times — a postseason record — with two home runs, two doubles, and multiple walks (including four intentional). The Dodgers used 10 pitchers; the Blue Jays depleted their bullpen likewise. Rookie reliever Will Klein emerged with a performance for the ages: 4 scoreless innings in extras, earning the win.
The ending & hero moment
With the game still knotted at 5–5 heading into the bottom of the 18th, the stage was set for a dramatic finish.
Then:
On a full-count sinker from Brendon Little, Freddie Freeman launched a 406-foot drive to straightaway center field, ending the marathon. That make it 6–5 Dodgers. With that swing, Freeman became the first player in MLB history to record multiple walk-off home runs in the World Series.
What it means
The Dodgers now lead the series 2–1. A win in the next game puts them firmly in control. For the Blue Jays, the loss stings — a monumental effort that came up just short. The bullpen exhaustion and the inability to close it out will hurt. On an individual level, Ohtani’s historic night will be remembered for generations, but Freeman’s homer is the ultimate take-away for Game 3.
Why this will be remembered
By innings, this game tied the longest in World Series history. By sheer drama, extra effort, clutch swings, endurance, and stakes—it checks a lot of boxes for “instant classic.” Numerous dramatic moments: near-misses, multiple relief pitchers stepping up, baserunners thrown out, bullpen decisions made on the fly, etc. It will serve as a reference point for future generations when discussing epic postseason games.
Quick takeaways
Dodgers: resilient, deep bullpen did the job, stars delivered when it counted. Blue Jays: showed heart, had leads, but couldn’t close it out. Game 3 was less about strategy and more about willpower, stamina, and one swing at exactly the right moment. The world got reminded why October baseball has this aura: because nights like this only come around so often.