The Los Angeles Dodgers have recently written themselves into World Series lore not once, but twice, with two unforgettable extra-innings victories: a record-tying 18-inning triumph in 2025’s Game 3 against the Blue Jays, capped by Freddie Freeman’s walk-off heroics, and his historic walk-off grand slam in 2024’s Game 1 against the Yankees.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have firmly cemented their reputation for postseason drama, delivering two of the most memorable World Series games in recent memory. From a historic 18-inning battle in 2025 to a thrilling walk-off grand slam in 2024, the Dodgers have consistently pushed the boundaries of excitement and etched their name into the annals of baseball history with unforgettable victories.
The 2025 Marathon: Freeman’s 18th-Inning Heroics Against the Blue Jays
In a contest that stretched over six hours and defied conventional baseball logic, the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 6-5 in a grueling 18-inning Game 3 of the 2025 World Series. This monumental game, lasting six hours and 39 minutes, officially matched the record for the longest World Series game ever played by innings. The decisive blow came from none other than Freddie Freeman, whose walk-off home run in the bottom of the 18th inning secured a crucial 2-1 series lead for Los Angeles.
The game was a showcase of individual brilliance and relentless team effort. Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani delivered a performance for the ages, reaching base an astonishing nine times—an MLB postseason record. Ohtani collected three RBIs and three runs scored, contributing four hits, including two towering home runs. His third multi-homer game in a single postseason also set a new MLB record, underscoring his unparalleled two-way impact as detailed by CNN Sports.
The game began with history being made on the mound, as Toronto’s 41-year-old starter Max Scherzer became the first pitcher ever to appear in the World Series with four different teams. Despite a strong start for Scherzer, the Dodgers took an early lead with a solo home run from Teoscar Hernández and Ohtani’s first homer. Toronto, however, clawed back with a three-run blast from Alejandro Kirk after a crucial fielding error by Dodgers second baseman Tommy Edman, briefly turning the tide of the game.
The Dodgers tied it at 4-4 in the fifth, thanks to Ohtani’s RBI double and Freeman’s subsequent RBI single. Toronto regained the lead in the seventh with a spectacular play where Vladimir Guerrero Jr. narrowly beat the tag at the plate. Ohtani responded with his second home run of the game, tying it at 5-5 and establishing a World Series record for extra-base hits in a game, equaling Frank Isbell’s 1906 mark. The game then entered a prolonged extra-innings stalemate, featuring heroic efforts from unlikely Dodgers relievers, including two shutout innings from Edgardo Henriquez and four from Will Klein, who ultimately earned the win.
A New Standard for Endurance: Comparing the Longest World Series Games
The 2025 Game 3 between the Dodgers and Blue Jays, lasting 18 innings, now shares the record for the most innings played in a World Series game. This feat was previously set by the 2018 World Series Game 3, which also featured the Los Angeles Dodgers in a marathon battle against the Boston Red Sox. That 2018 game, won by the Dodgers 3-2 on a Max Muncy walk-off home run, still holds the record for the longest World Series game by time, clocking in at an astounding seven hours and 20 minutes. The 2025 game, at six hours and 39 minutes, is now the second longest by time.
These epic contests highlight the enduring thrill of extra-inning baseball, particularly on the game’s biggest stage. The rare occurrence of games extending beyond regulation keeps fans on the edge of their seats, creating indelible memories for generations.
Longest World Series Games by Innings Played:
- 2018 Game 3: Dodgers beat Red Sox 3-2 in 18 innings.
- 2025 Game 3: Dodgers beat Blue Jays 6-5 in 18 innings.
- 1916 Game 2: (Brooklyn) Dodgers beat Red Sox 2-1 in 14 innings.
- 2005 Game 3: White Sox beat Astros 7-5 in 14 innings.
- 2015 Game 1: Royals beat Mets 5-4 in 14 innings.
Longest World Series Games by Time of Game:
- 2018 Game 3: Red Sox vs. Dodgers in seven hours and 20 minutes.
- 2025 Game 3: Blue Jays vs. Dodgers in six hours and 39 minutes.
- 2005 Game 3: White Sox vs. Astros in five hours and 41 minutes.
- 2017 Game 5: Dodgers vs. Astros in five hours and 17 minutes.
- 2015 Game 1: Royals vs. Mets in five hours and nine minutes.
Freeman’s Other Historic Walk-Off: The 2024 Grand Slam
Before his 18th-inning heroics in 2025, Freddie Freeman had already delivered another historic walk-off for the Dodgers. In Game 1 of the 2024 World Series against the New York Yankees, Freeman stunned MLB fans with a game-winning, walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the 10th inning. This epic moment marked the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history, a rare feat that instantly became an iconic highlight for Dodgers faithful, as reported by MLB.com.
The stage for this drama was set by a strategic, albeit ultimately flawed, decision by Yankees manager Aaron Boone to intentionally walk Mookie Betts to set up a lefty-on-lefty matchup against Freeman. Playing through a right ankle sprain, Freeman made them pay, depositing the first pitch into the seats for an unforgettable 6-3 victory. The game carried strong echoes of the legendary 1988 World Series Game 1, where a hobbled Kirk Gibson hit a walk-off home run against the Oakland Athletics, also at Dodger Stadium.
Freeman’s 2024 grand slam, much like Gibson’s 1988 homer and Joe Carter’s 1993 World Series-winning blast, stands among the most memorable walk-off home runs in postseason history. Both Freeman’s and Gibson’s homers are the only walk-off home runs in World Series history where the team was down to its final out, cementing their place as ultimate clutch performers.
More Unforgettable Moments from the 2024 World Series Game 1
Beyond Freeman’s heroics, the 2024 World Series Game 1 was packed with additional amazing facts:
- It was the third consecutive year that Game 1 of the World Series went to extra innings, a never-before-seen streak.
- Freeman also recorded a first-inning triple, making him the first player aged 35 or older with a stolen base and a triple in a single postseason since Mark Ellis in 2013, also for the Dodgers.
- Kiké Hernández added a triple, making the Dodgers the first team with two triples in a Fall Classic game since the Yankees in 2000 Game 4.
- Giancarlo Stanton’s two-run homer boasted a 116.6 mph exit velocity, marking the hardest-hit batted ball in the World Series under Statcast (since 2015).
- Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s three stolen bases tied the World Series record, a feat shared with legends like Lou Brock and Honus Wagner. Two of his steals came in the 10th inning, making him the second player with multiple stolen bases in a World Series extra inning.
- Juan Soto celebrated his birthday with a hit, becoming the first player since the Royals’ Eric Hosmer in 2014 Game 3 to do so.
The Enduring Legacy of Playoff Drama
These two extraordinary games, separated by a year but united by the Dodgers’ flair for the dramatic and Freddie Freeman’s clutch performances, underscore why baseball remains America’s pastime. The blend of historical records, individual brilliance, and nail-biting finishes provides fans with moments that transcend mere wins and losses. While the discussion around “pace of play” often dominates the headlines, games like these prove that true excitement and historic moments can make time stand still for devoted fans.
The Dodgers’ recent World Series history, marked by these extended battles and walk-off triumphs, ensures that their name will be synonymous with postseason exhilaration for years to come. For fans, these are the ‘instant classics’ that become campfire stories and cherished memories, solidifying the Dodgers’ place in baseball lore.
