Freeman Hits Walk-Off HR to Give Dodgers 2-1 Series Lead in 18-Inning Epic

(Freddie Freeman hitting walk-off HR in Game 3 of 2025 World Series)

The Los Angeles Dodgers have taken a 2-1 lead in the World Series on a walk-off HR by Freddie Freeman to give the defending World Series champion a 6-5 win over the Toronto Blue Jays in an 18-inning epic.

Freeman becomes the first player in MLB history to hit two walk-off HRs in World Series competition. Over course, Freeman famously ended Game 1 of last year's World Series against the New York Yankees with a grand slam HR off Nestor Cortes.

Freeman also had a RBI single with former Blue Jay Teoscar Hernandez getting the party started with a solo HR in the 2nd inning. Despite Freeman's heroics, it was Shohei Ohtani who was the star of the game reaching base 9 times with 2 HR, 2 doubles and five walks (four of them intentional) knocking in three runs. 

The Blue Jays didn't roll over and play dead by any means. Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk gave Toronto a 3-2 lead with a 3-run HR in the 4th inning with another run added on a sac fly by Andrés Giménez. After the Dodgers tied the game, Bo Bichette gave the Jays a 5-4 lead in the 7th on a RBI single before Ohtani tied it in the bottom of the inning.

No runs would score for 11 innings.

If Yogi Berra were still alive, he might say it was déjà vu all over again. After all, the Dodgers won an 18-inning matchup in Game 3 of the 2018 World Series against the Boston Red Sox on a walk-off HR by Max Muncy. Alas, it was the only game the Dodgers would win during that Fall Classic as the Red Sox would win it all in five games.

I must admit that I kept my eye on the game online and then as happens far too often, I conked out. Upon awaking at 2:20 a.m., my curiosity got the better of me and was shocked to discover the game was in the 17th inning. Of course, I remembered the 18-inning game and kept in mind the Dodgers had homefield advantage in this situation. I must admit I thought Muncy might end up the hero yet again, but he went 0-for-7 in this contest. Under the circumstances, however, I'm sure he didn't mind that much.

Game 4 is set to take place in just over 14 hours from now with Ohtani on the mound for the Dodgers. However, the Jays have former Cy Young winner Shane Bieber toeing the rubber. Will the Dodgers take a 3-1 series lead, or can the Jay tie the Series and force a Game 6 in Toronto?