LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -Freddie Freeman delivered a walk-off home run in the 18th inning to give the Los Angeles Dodgers a 6-5 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays late on Monday in a game that tied for the longest in World Series history.
The 18 innings tied the mark set by the Dodgers and Boston Red Sox in 2018 and the game was the second longest in a World Series by duration, lasting almost six hours and 40 minutes.
The win gave hosts Los Angeles a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
“It’s one of the greatest World Series games of all time,” manager Dave Roberts said. “I’m spent emotionally … fortunately for the Dodgers we got Freddie Freeman on our team.”
Freeman, who also delivered a walk-off grand slam in last year’s World Series against the New York Yankees, homered off Brendon Little to send Dodger Stadium wild.
The first baseman became the first player in Major League Baseball history with multiple career World Series walk-off home runs. He also joined an exclusive group of just four players to hit multiple walk-off homers in the postseason.
OHTANI DOES IT AGAIN
Shohei Ohtani added another chapter to his storied career, reaching base nine times, a postseason record, with two home runs, two doubles and five walks, four of them intentional.
“I get it. He’s the best player on the planet,” Roberts said.
The Japanese player, who is set to pitch in Tuesday’s Game Four, tied Corey Seager’s Dodgers record of eight home runs in a single postseason.
“What matters is that we won,” Ohtani said. “I want to go sleep as soon as possible so I can get ready.”
Rookie right-hander Will Klein, the Dodgers’ 10th pitcher, threw four shutout innings to earn the win.
“I love the way we played,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “Every single player had the right intentions. There’s a lot to digest, but I couldn’t feel as good as I do right now about the way they went about it.”
After almost seven hours of baseball, Roberts summed up the mood best.
“Guys will do anything to win a championship and they’re laying it out there.”
(Reporting by Janina Nuno Rios in Mexico City; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
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