LOS ANGELES — Freddie Freeman has achieved it once more.
One 12 months after hitting the primary walk-off grand slam in World Sequence historical past, he got here by means of once more for the Dodgers with successful for the ages.
Freeman’s solo house run within the 18th inning towards the Toronto Blue Jays ended a recreation tied for the longest in World Sequence historical past, propelling Los Angeles to a 6-5 win and a 2-1 collection lead.
“It’s one of many best World Sequence video games of all time,” Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts mentioned.
Freeman performed down the epic nature of his homer to seal a recreation that formally lasted six hours and 39 minutes.
“I used to be simply making an attempt to get on base towards a troublesome lefty, sinkerballer,” Freeman mentioned after the marathon Recreation 3. “I received it to a 3-2 depend and put a superb swing on it.”
He mentioned he felt “simply pure pleasure,” including: “That’s nearly as good because it will get.”
The one different World Sequence matchup to go 18 innings was the Crimson Sox at Dodgers in 2018.
Monday’s recreation was one of the distinctive in baseball historical past. There have been 609 pitches thrown, 19 completely different pitchers used, 25 place gamers used and 37 runners left on base.
The size was so inconceivable that Los Angeles starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto — who threw a masterful full recreation victory simply two nights in the past in Toronto — started warming up within the bullpen.
Whereas Freeman deserves credit score for the decisive blow, his teammate Shohei Ohtani was equally essential within the victory for the defending champions.
The Japanese celebrity hit two house runs and two doubles early within the recreation — after which was deliberately walked 4 straight occasions by the Blue Jays, who most popular to face Mookie Betts and Freeman than Ohtani’s sizzling bat.
Ohtani reached base 9 occasions, setting the postseason report and tying the all-time report with solely three different batters (the final in 1942).
“You simply don’t see that kind of habits from opposing managers,” Roberts mentioned of Ohtani being walked all through the sport. “That’s only a signal of respect.”
Ohtani, who can also be among the many finest pitchers in baseball, will begin on the mound for Los Angeles on Tuesday night time at 8 p.m. ET reverse Toronto’s Shane Bieber for Recreation 4.
Ohtani received each of his pitching matchups this postseason, permitting simply three earned runs over 12 innings.
“He’s a freak. I don’t know the way anyone can do what he does,” Dodgers pitcher Will Klein mentioned of Ohtani postgame. “Simply attending to be teammates with him is a good honor.”
The truth that each groups should swimsuit up mere hours after the final one ended feels inconceivable.
“I’m spent emotionally, Roberts mentioned. “We received a ball recreation later tonight, which is loopy.”
Their opponent was decided to not let the gutting loss outline the collection. “The Dodgers didn’t win a World Sequence at the moment,” mentioned Blue Jays supervisor John Schneider. “They received a recreation.”
Now it is time, by some means, for one more.
The Related Press contributed.
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