Dodgers win 18-inning classic Game 3 on Freddie Freeman walk-off homer to grab World Series lead

LOS ANGELES — The game’s biggest star was handling business, but even so the Dodgers needed much extra Monday night to gain the World Series advantage. Freddie Freeman smashed a walk-off homer in the 18th inning, sending the Dodgers to a 6-5 victory over the Blue Jays in Game 3 of the World Series at Chavez Ravine.The game tied the longest in terms of innings in the Fall Classic’s history, matching the contest the Dodgers and Red Sox played in 2018.“It’s one of the greatest World Series games of all-time,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, whose team holds a 2-1 series lead. Shohei Ohtani reached base nine times — five of which were via walk (four intentionally) — on a night he blasted two homers to give him eight in this postseason.

Ohtani, who also doubled twice, became the first player in postseason history to reach base nine times in a game — and just the third ever in any game.The five walks came after he was already 4-for-4. Freeman’s blast against Brendon Little evoked memories of his walk-off grand slam that gave the Dodgers a victory over the Yankees in Game 1 of last year’s World Series.

Freeman became the first player with multiple walkoff World Series homers. “It’s kind of amazing, crazy, and I am just glad we won,” Freeman said.The Dodgers moved within two victories of becoming MLB’s first repeat champions since the Yankees won three straight titles from 1998-2000.“The Dodgers didn’t win the World Series right here,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said.“They won a game.” Will Klein, the 10th Dodgers pitcher of the night, fired four scoreless innings for the win.

The Blue Jays used nine pitchers.If the game continued to the 19th inning, Roberts said he planned to use Yoshinobu Yamamoto, two days after he pitched a complete game in Toronto.“It took every single guy tonight and for Yamamoto to want to do that, it shows who we are as a group,” Freeman said.This one included a relief appearance from Cl...