Dodgers take 18-inning World Series Classic

LOS ANGELES – Freddie Freeman blasted a walk-off home run in a record-equaling 18-inning World Series classic to give the Los Angeles Dodgers a 6-5 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday.

Freeman – who had smashed an iconic walk-off grand slam in the Dodgers’ 2024 World Series win over the New York Yankees – launched a mammoth solo shot to settle a marathon six-hour 39-minute battle at Dodger Stadium.

The victory puts the Dodgers 2-1 up in the best-of-seven Major League Baseball championship series with Game 4 due to take place on Tuesday.

Freeman’s winning home-run crowned a night of extraordinary drama that saw both teams slug it out in a back-and-forth battle that resembled a heavyweight boxing contest.

The game equaled the previous longest game in World Series history, the Dodgers 18-inning victory over the Boston Red Sox in the 2018 championship, that was also won via a walkoff.

“This one took a little longer but this game was incredible,” Freeman said, comparing Monday’s drama to last year’s grand slam winner against the Yankees.

Freeman’s moment of magic – which makes him the only player in history with multiple walk-off World Series home runs – eclipsed an array of astounding individual performances on both sides.

Dodgers’ superstar Shohei Ohtani had almost single-handedly hauled his team back into the contest, blasting two home runs and getting on base a record nine times.

Ohtani, the hitting and pitching superstar regarded by many as the greatest player in history, is due to lead the Dodgers from the pitching mound in Game 4 on Tuesday.

“What matters the most is that we won and what I accomplished today is in the context of this game and what matters the most is we flipped the page and play the next game,” Ohtani said.

“I want to go to sleep as soon as possible so I can get ready.”

With the two teams essentially playing the equivalent of two games back-to-back without a rest, each team burned through almost their entire pitching staff.

Dodgers reliever Will Klein was the last available arm for the world champions as the tension mounted. Klein, who had not thrown more than 36 pitches in any of his previous appearances, threw 72 pitches as he navigated the final four innings superbly to shut down the Blue Jays bats.

“Our bullpen was absolutely incredible,” Freeman said afterwards. “Will Klein – absolutely incredible.”