A monumental 18-inning walk-off home run from Freddie Freeman secured a 6-5 victory for the Los Angeles Dodgers over the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 3 of the 2025 World Series, tying a record for the longest game by innings and sending shockwaves through the baseball world, giving the Dodgers a crucial 2-1 series lead.
In a contest that stretched into the early hours of Tuesday, October 28, 2025, the Los Angeles Dodgers outlasted the Toronto Blue Jays in an epic 18-inning marathon, winning Game 3 of the World Series 6-5. The dramatic victory came courtesy of a walk-off home run from Freddie Freeman, igniting Dodger Stadium and giving his team a pivotal 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven championship series. This historic game tied for the longest in World Series history by innings played, a testament to the sheer will and endurance displayed by both clubs, as reported by USA TODAY Sports.
A Night of Unprecedented Records and Endurance
Clocking in at six hours and 39 minutes, Game 3 was a grueling test for players and fans alike. This titanic struggle officially tied the record for the longest World Series game ever played by innings, a mark previously set by the Dodgers themselves in Game 3 of the 2018 World Series against the Boston Red Sox, which lasted seven hours and 20 minutes. The sheer duration of the game was nearly double the average World Series game time from 2024, highlighting the extraordinary circumstances.
The statistical anomalies didn’t stop with the game’s length. A staggering 19 pitchers took the mound throughout the night—10 for the Dodgers and nine for the Blue Jays—setting a new postseason record. These arms combined to throw 609 pitches, 48 more than any other postseason game since the turn of the millennium, according to MLB.com postseason records. The Toronto Blue Jays also etched their name into the record books, setting a new World Series high with 67 at-bats, though their offense struggled to convert opportunities, stranding 19 runners on base. The Dodgers, not far behind, left 18 runners themselves, combining for a postseason record 37 runners left stranded.
Freeman and Ohtani: Defining Performances
While the entire game was a collective effort of endurance, individual performances shone brightly. Freddie Freeman’s game-winning solo shot in the 18th inning was his second career postseason walk-off home run, placing him in an elite club alongside legends like David Ortiz, Carlos Correa, and Bernie Williams. Notably, Freeman stands alone as the only player to hit two walk-off home runs in the World Series, having also hit a walk-off grand slam in Game 1 of the 2024 World Series against the New York Yankees.
Superstar Shohei Ohtani also delivered a night for the ages. The two-way sensation tied the game with a home run in the seventh inning and set a postseason record by reaching base an incredible nine times. His first four plate appearances resulted in four extra-base hits, including two home runs and two doubles, a feat that tied a 119-year-old major league record set by Frank Isbell in 1906. Ohtani’s two homers gave him his third multi-home run game in a single postseason, another unprecedented achievement. Reflecting the immense respect for his offensive prowess, he was intentionally walked four times, a first in postseason history for a single game, according to MLB.com.
Pitching Milestones and Unsung Heroes
The game featured significant moments for starting pitchers. Max Scherzer, pitching for the Blue Jays, made history by becoming the first player to pitch in the World Series for four different teams, having previously taken the mound for the Texas Rangers, Washington Nationals, and Detroit Tigers. He was pulled after 4.1 innings, allowing three runs on five hits. Dodgers starter Tyler Glasnow also had a challenging outing, giving up four runs (two earned) on five hits into the fifth inning.
Among the many relievers, future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw made a memorable appearance for the Dodgers in the 12th inning, getting a crucial out with the bases loaded. As Kershaw has indicated plans to retire at the end of the season, every postseason moment he delivers holds added weight for fans.
Fan Buzz: The Brad Paisley Effect and Series Implications
For the fan community, the length of the game brought a curious tradition to light: the “Brad Paisley effect.” Country singer Brad Paisley performed the American national anthem before Game 3, and his presence has become a running joke among baseball enthusiasts due to his prior anthem performances preceding unusually long World Series games. This includes Game 1 in 2022 (10 innings), Game 2 in 2017 (11 innings), and the 2018 Game 3 (18 innings). Many fans humorously suggest Paisley brings an unspoken “curse” of extended play.
Beyond the fun, the outcome of Game 3 carries significant implications for the series. Historically, when a best-of-seven postseason series is tied 1-1, the team that wins Game 3 goes on to win the series 69.3% of the time, according to MLB.com. When that Game 3 victory occurs at home, as it did for the Dodgers, that percentage stands at a robust 60.4% (29 of 48 times). This statistical advantage bodes well for Los Angeles as they head into Game 4.
Looking Ahead to Game 4
Game 4 is scheduled for Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PDT on Fox. Adding another layer of excitement, Shohei Ohtani is slated to take the mound for the Dodgers, following his record-setting offensive performance in Game 3. Baseball fans can anticipate another thrilling chapter in this fiercely contested World Series.
World Series 2025 Schedule:
- Game 1: Blue Jays 11, Dodgers 4
- Game 2: Dodgers 5, Blue Jays 1
- Game 3: Dodgers 6, Blue Jays 5 (18 innings)
- Game 4: Oct. 28 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PDT
- Game 5: Oct. 29 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PDT
- Game 6: Oct. 31, if necessary
- Game 7: Nov. 1, if necessary
