If you turned off the TV around the ninth inning because you had work the next morning, honestly, I don't blame you. But you missed one of the most absurd, exhausting, and statistically improbable nights in the history of baseball. The Los Angeles Dodgers won Game 3 of the 2025 World Series, outlasting the Toronto Blue Jays in an 18-inning saga that basically felt like watching two full games back-to-back.
The final score was 6-5. But the score barely tells the story.
This wasn't just a win; it was a survival test. When Freddie Freeman connected for that walk-off home run in the bottom of the 18th, it was past midnight in Los Angeles. Fans who stayed until the end looked like they’d just completed a deep-sea expedition. It was messy. It was long. And it shifted the entire momentum of the series.
Who Won Game 3 of the World Series? The Breakdown of an 18-Inning Epic
To understand how the Dodgers pulled this off, you have to look at the sheer volume of baseball played on October 27, 2025. This game tied the record for the longest World Series game ever, matching the 18-inning marathon from 2018. Ironically, the Dodgers won that one too.
Maybe they just have better snacks in their dugout for the late-night shifts?
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The hero, yet again, was Freddie Freeman. It’s starting to get a little ridiculous. After his legendary walk-off grand slam in the 2024 World Series, he decided to do it again—this time a solo shot off Toronto’s Brendan Little to finally put the Blue Jays out of their misery.
The Pitching Carousel
By the time the game ended, both teams had combined to use 19 different pitchers. Think about that. Most teams only carry 13 pitchers on their entire active roster. Managers Dave Roberts and John Schneider were basically looking into the stands to see if anyone had a decent fastball left.
- Max Scherzer started for the Dodgers, grinding through 4.1 innings.
- Tyler Glasnow went 4.2 for the Jays.
- By the 12th inning, both bullpens were essentially empty.
The most surreal moment? Clayton Kershaw coming out of the bullpen in the 12th. Seeing the future Hall of Famer enter a tie game with the bases loaded was enough to give any Dodgers fan a heart attack. He coaxed a groundout from Nathan Lukes that was so close at first base, the stadium held its breath for the entire replay review.
Why This Game Was Historically Weird
We see "instant classics" all the time in sports, but this one actually earned the tag. Shohei Ohtani didn't just play; he lived on the basepaths. Ohtani reached base nine times in a single game. That’s an individual World Series record. He had two home runs and was intentionally walked four times because the Blue Jays, quite frankly, were terrified of him.
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But Toronto wasn't just a spectator. They had the lead. They lost it. They took it back.
Alejandro Kirk hit a massive three-run homer earlier in the night that seemed like it might be the dagger. For hours, it felt like Toronto had the edge, especially when George Springer was flying around the outfield—until he tweaked an oblique and had to leave. That injury might actually be the most significant long-term takeaway for Toronto fans.
The Turning Points: How the Dodgers Survived
The Dodgers’ win in Game 3 of the World Series wasn't just about Freeman’s bat. It was about the "little" things that happened three hours before the game ended.
Tommy Edman, who has been a Swiss Army knife for LA, had a roller coaster of a night. He made a brutal error early on that led to Toronto runs. Most guys would crumble. Instead, he made two of the most ridiculous throws you’ll ever see—one to third to catch Isiah Kiner-Falefa and another perfect relay to the plate in the 10th to keep the game alive.
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Then there’s Will Klein. If you aren't a hardcore baseball nerd, you might not have known his name before this. He threw four scoreless innings of relief. In a game like this, the guy who keeps the score at 5-5 in the 15th inning is just as important as the guy who hits the home run in the 18th.
By the Numbers:
- Time of Game: 6 hours and 39 minutes.
- Total Pitches: Over 600.
- Innings: 18 (Tied for the all-time record).
- The Result: Dodgers lead the series 2-1.
What This Means for the Rest of the Series
Historically, the team that wins Game 3 when a series is tied 1-1 goes on to win the World Series about 70% of the time. It’s a massive psychological blow. The Blue Jays played nearly seven hours of high-stress baseball and came away with nothing but tired arms and a 2-1 deficit.
The real problem for both teams now is the "pitching hangover." When you burn through your entire bullpen in one night, the next two games become a nightmare. We’re likely going to see some high-scoring games in the coming days simply because the relief pitchers are going to be throwing on fumes.
If you're looking for the technical "winner," it's the Dodgers. But honestly? The real winners were the fans who stayed up until 1:00 AM to see a piece of history.
Actionable Insights for Fans
- Watch the Bullpen Usage: Keep an eye on the injury reports for Game 4 and 5. Both teams will likely need to make "roster gymnastics" moves to bring up fresh arms from their taxi squads.
- The Freeman Factor: Pitchers are going to be even more cautious with Freddie Freeman now. Expect his walk rate to skyrocket.
- Monitor George Springer: His oblique injury is the "X-factor" for Toronto. If he's out, their lineup loses its primary spark plug.
The Dodgers proved they can win the long game. Literally. Now, they just have to see if they have enough left in the tank to finish the job.