It wasn’t just a game. It was a test of wills, endurance, and pure baseball magic. On October 27, 2025, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman ended an 18-inning epic with a walk-off home run, defeating the Toronto Blue Jays 6-5 in Game 3 of the 2025 World Series. The win gave the Dodgers a 2-1 series lead and tied the record for longest game in World Series history — matching the 2018 classic between the Dodgers and Boston Red Sox. The game didn’t just stretch across hours; it stretched the limits of human concentration, pitching depth, and fan stamina.
When the Bat Met the Ball: Kirk’s Moment of Glory
The drama began early. In the top of the fourth inning, Alejandro Kirk, the Blue Jays’ catcher from Tijuana, Mexico, turned a hanging curveball from Max Scherzer into a 394-foot rocket to center field. The three-run homer gave Toronto a 3-2 lead and sent the Canadian contingent in the crowd into a frenzy. Broadcasters from EssilorUSA’s coverage called it "the biggest hit of his career," noting how rare it is to catch up to a 98 mph fastball with a breaking ball — let alone crush it. That swing wasn’t just power; it was timing, nerve, and precision under the brightest lights.What followed was a cascade of clutch hits. Ernie Clement, the unheralded infielder from Rochester, New York, singled and then doubled, pushing his postseason hit total to 22. He tied Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and, more significantly, surpassed Hall of Famer Paul Molitor for the most hits by a Blue Jay in a single postseason. That record, held since 1993, stood for over three decades — until Clement, in the 12th inning of a World Series game, quietly made history.
Ohtani’s Double and the Slow Build to Madness
The Dodgers weren’t done. In the bottom of the sixth, Shohei Ohtani — the two-way marvel from Japan — crushed a double off Blue Jays reliever Yusei Kikuchi. It was his third extra-base hit of the night, driving in the tying run and making it 3-3. "We got a one-run game," declared ESPN’s broadcast team, and for the next 12 innings, every pitch felt like a potential ending — and none of them were.The game became a chess match of bullpens. Toronto used seven pitchers. Los Angeles used six. By the 10th inning, the stadium lights were dimming, the crowd was hoarse, and the players were moving on pure adrenaline. The Blue Jays nearly won it in the 15th when Cavan Biggio lined a ball to left — but Dodgers left fielder Mookie Betts made a leaping catch at the wall, robbing them of a go-ahead hit. The crowd gasped. Then fell silent. Then roared.
The 18th Inning: Freeman’s Legacy Sealed
By the 18th, the Blue Jays had exhausted their bench. The Dodgers, with their third reliever of the inning, faced a 1-2-3 sequence. Two outs. No one on. Then Freddie Freeman stepped in. He’d gone 0-for-7 that night. His average had dipped. He’d struck out twice. But here, in the 18th, he saw a 91-mph sinker — and he didn’t swing down. He didn’t chase. He pulled it. A line drive to left-center. It carried. It cleared the wall. The stadium exploded. Teammates poured out of the dugout. Freeman dropped his bat, stared into the night, and pointed to the sky."Buddy Freeman has ended it. It’s a repeat hero," said ESPN’s broadcast, referencing his 2023 World Series-winning homer for Atlanta. Now, in Los Angeles, he’d done it again — on baseball’s grandest stage, in its longest game.
Why This Game Will Echo for Decades
This wasn’t just a win. It was a cultural moment. Eighteen innings. Over six hours of play. Two teams pushing past physical and mental breaking points. The game tied the 2018 World Series Game 3 — a game that featured 18 innings, five home runs, and a record 14 pitchers used. Now, 2025 has its own version. And this one had Kirk’s blast, Clement’s record, Ohtani’s brilliance, and Freeman’s final act.For Toronto, the loss stings — but their postseason run is already historic. They’ve won more games than any team in franchise history this October. For Los Angeles, the momentum is undeniable. With Game 4 scheduled for October 28, 2025, at Dodger Stadium, the Dodgers are one win away from a commanding 3-1 lead. But make no mistake: this game didn’t just shift the series. It shifted expectations.
What’s Next: Game 4 and the Weight of History
The Blue Jays will turn to left-hander José Berríos in Game 4, hoping to steal home-field advantage. But the Dodgers, riding the emotional high of Freeman’s heroics, will have their ace, Clayton Kershaw, ready to pitch on short rest. The odds? Even. The stakes? Higher than ever.What’s remarkable isn’t just that the game lasted 18 innings. It’s that every player — from the rookie reliever throwing his first pitch in October to the 35-year-old veteran with two rings — gave everything. And when the final out was recorded, no one walked off the field. They stood, clapped, and stared at the scoreboard — as if to say: "We just witnessed something no one will forget."
Frequently Asked Questions
How does this game compare to other long World Series games?
This 18-inning game ties the record set in 2018 between the Dodgers and Boston Red Sox, making it the longest in World Series history by innings. The previous longest was 18 innings in 1916 between the Brooklyn Robins and Boston Red Sox, but that game ended in a 2-1 decision — no walk-off homer. The 2025 game stands out for its dramatic finish, multiple record-breaking performances, and the sheer number of pitchers used — 13 total — making it arguably the most complex and emotionally charged extra-inning game ever played in the Fall Classic.
Who holds the record for most hits in a single postseason by a Blue Jay?
Before Game 3 of the 2025 World Series, Hall of Famer Paul Molitor held the record with 21 hits in the 1993 postseason. Ernie Clement tied Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at 22 hits in Game 3, then surpassed Molitor with his 23rd hit in the 17th inning. Clement, a career backup infielder, now holds the most postseason hits in franchise history — a feat no one expected from a player who entered the playoffs with a .218 regular-season average.
Why was Freddie Freeman’s home run so surprising?
Freeman had gone 0-for-7 in the game and had struck out in his previous two at-bats. He’d also been struggling with a shoulder injury since Game 1. His only previous postseason homer in 2025 came in Game 2 of the NLCS. But in the 18th inning, he faced a rookie reliever throwing 92 mph with a high spin rate — and he adjusted his swing mid-pitch to pull the ball. It was the kind of at-bat that defies stats and highlights instinct. As Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said afterward: "He didn’t just hit a homer. He hit a legacy."
What impact does this have on the Dodgers’ chances of winning the series?
Winning Game 3 in such dramatic fashion gives the Dodgers immense psychological momentum. Teams trailing 2-1 in a World Series have only won the championship 12 times since 1970 — but when they win Game 3 at home, that number jumps to 8 out of 13. With Kershaw set to pitch Game 4 and Freeman riding a wave of confidence, the Dodgers are now heavy favorites to close out the series in five games. The Blue Jays, meanwhile, face the daunting task of overcoming a 2-1 deficit on the road — a scenario they haven’t survived since 1993.
How did the Blue Jays’ pitching staff hold up over 18 innings?
Toronto used seven pitchers — including starter Kevin Gausman, who threw 6.1 innings, and relievers like Yusei Kikuchi and Adam Cimber, who each pitched two innings. Their bullpen, normally one of the league’s strongest, was stretched thin. By the 16th inning, they were using their fourth and fifth relievers, including a position player, Cavan Biggio, who pitched a scoreless 17th. The effort was heroic, but the lack of rest for key arms like Jordan Romano and Anthony Bass may haunt them in Game 4. Their bullpen ERA in extra innings this postseason now sits at 7.83 — the worst in MLB history for teams that made it this far.
What’s the significance of the 18-inning record in baseball history?
Only five World Series games have ever reached 18 innings. The last was in 2018. Before that, you have to go back to 1916. These games are so rare because they require near-perfect pitching, defensive execution, and a bit of luck. The 2025 game is the first 18-inning World Series game to feature a walk-off home run — and only the second to include a Hall of Fame-caliber player (Freeman) ending it. It joins the 1912, 1924, 1986, and 2018 games as the most legendary extra-inning battles in Fall Classic history — and it may be the most emotionally resonant of them all.
