History at Dodger Stadium: 18-Inning Marathon Ties Record as Dodgers Edge Blue Jays 6-5 in Epic World Series Game 3

Baseball purists often say the sport's beauty lies in its timelessness—no clock governs the action, allowing drama to unfold until a winner emerges. Monday night at Dodger Stadium, that principle was tested to its absolute limit as the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays battled through 18 grueling innings in Game 3 of the 2025 World Series. In an 18-inning thriller at Dodger Stadium, L.A. outlasted Toronto 6-5 to take a 2-1 Fall Classic lead Premier League. After the Dodgers were unable to cash in on a scoring opportunity in the bottom of the 17th inning, this game was now tied for the longest-ever in World Series history, matching Game 3 of the 2018 World Series between the Red Sox and the Dodgers NBC Sports. What unfolded was a marathon of endurance, strategy, and sheer willpower that will be remembered as one of the most remarkable games in Fall Classic history. A Game That Started Normally Enough Monday's starting pitching matchup pits future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer for the visiting Jays against right-hander Tyler Glasnow of the Dodgers. The 41-year-old Scherzer this postseason has made one start, ALCS Game 4 against the Seattle Mariners, and in that start he allowed two runs in 5 ⅔ innings with five strikeouts and four walks ESPN. The game began predictably enough, with both aces trading blows in the early innings. Teoscar Hernandez and Shohei Ohtani added solo homers in the second and third innings, but Alejandro Kirk just snuck a three-run homer in the fourth NBC Sports. Alejandro Kirk hit a three-run shot waaaay back in the fourth inning Football Web Pages, giving Toronto a 4-2 advantage. LA trailed 4-2 in the fifth, but Max Scherzer's exit opened the door as the Dodgers tied it up against reliever Mason Fluharty. The game went to extra innings after both teams exchanged runs, ultimately settling at 5-5 entering the 10th NBC Sports. Shohei Ohtani's Historic Performance If there was one transcendent individual performance in this marathon, it belonged to Shohei Ohtani. Ohtani drew his fourth intentional walk of the night, which is a postseason record. He has also reached base eight times (two home runs, two doubles, four walks), which is also a postseason record. In fact, his reaching base seven times was a record, so he just broke his previous record Wikipedia. As the game progressed into the deepest extra innings, Ohtani's night became even more remarkable. Shohei Ohtani was eventually walked, letting him get on base for the ninth time tonight, tying an MLB record Sky Sports. The two-way superstar was essentially unstoppable, finishing 4-for-4 with two home runs, two doubles, and an MLB-record nine times reaching base. The Blue Jays' strategy of intentionally walking Ohtani became almost comical as the game wore on, with Toronto refusing to pitch to him in virtually any situation that mattered. It was a testament to both his dominance and the fear he instilled in the opposing dugout. The Bullpen Battle: A Test of Endurance What made this game truly historic wasn't just its length but the extraordinary pitching that extended it. Both teams last scored in the seventh inning. The bullpens have collectively thrown 20 scoreless frames since then Football Web Pages. Whatever happens from here on out, Will Klein just made his mark in World Series history. As did Eric Lauer before him. Two shaky bullpens in this series and both have have dominated so much we're heading into the bottom of the 18th inning Football Web Pages. Will Klein's performance for the Dodgers was nothing short of heroic. Will Klein capped off three scoreless innings of relief with this quick-reflexes catch on a comebacker from Davis Schneider NBC Sports. By the end of his outing, Klein's 70th pitch was 98.1 mph Football Web Pages, demonstrating remarkable stamina and determination. According to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, he plans to stick with Klein for a third inning of work, but beyond that he's just not sure where to go just yet. It sounds like we could see a position player for L.A. if it gets that far. The Blue Jays have gotten 4 2/3 scoreless frames with Eric Lauer and still have Brendon Little and potentially Game 4 starter Shane Bieber waiting in the wings NBC Sports. Clayton Kershaw's Dramatic Cameo In one of the game's most compelling subplots, legendary Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw made an appearance. The Dodgers brought in legendary left-handed pitcher Clayton Kershaw, who is due to retire after the World Series. With two out, Kershaw faced Nathan Lukes, who grounded out to second, taking them out of the inning Sky Sports. The 41-year-old Kershaw, in what could be his final postseason appearances, showed he still had the clutch gene that defined his Hall of Fame career. Managing a bases-loaded situation in the 12th inning of a World Series game requires ice in your veins, and Kershaw delivered. Yoshinobu Yamamoto's Remarkable Commitment Perhaps the most astonishing subplot involved Yoshinobu Yamamoto. How's this for intrigue? After throwing a complete game gem in Game 2 on Saturday against the Blue Jays, Yoshinobu Yamamoto is getting warm in the Dodgers' bullpen in case he's needed in this game. Yamamoto has thrown complete games in each of his last two postseason starts. He threw 105 pitches in his complete game effort on Saturday NBC Sports. The sight of Yamamoto warming up just 48 hours after throwing 105 pitches in a complete game demonstrated the do-or-die mentality that defines October baseball. Manager Dave Roberts was preparing to use his ace in relief if necessary—a decision that would have sparked endless debate but showed the stakes of this pivotal Game 3. Near Misses and Agonizing Opportunities Both teams had multiple chances to end the marathon. Tommy Edman led off the bottom of the 13th with a double and was moved over to third base on a sacrifice bunt from Miguel Rojas. However, the Dodgers failed to get him home. Alex Call appeared as a pinch hitter and failed to hit the ball out of the infield, so the Blue Jays walked Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts intentionally to load the bases. Freeman, who is no stranger to walk-off hits in the World Series, hit a drive to deep left-center field, but it just didn't have enough distance to send the crowd home happy Wikipedia. This fly ball from Will Smith fooled just about everyone by staying in the ballpark. The Dodgers were unable to cash in despite more chances against Eric Lauer, so the game continues Wikipedia. The Blue Jays also had their opportunities. The Blue Jays pushed the envelope with Vlad Guerrero Jr. on deck, and Davis Schneider was thrown out at the plate to end the tenth inning. Great relays from Teoscar Hernández and Tommy Edman TNT Sports. The aggressive baserunning decision backfired, as Toronto sent a runner home with their best hitter waiting on deck. Historical Context and Comparisons The marathon spanned over parts of two separate days as Game 3 began at Dodger Stadium on Oct. 26, only to finish in the early morning hours of Oct. 27 Sky Sports of 2018, when the original record was set. The Dodgers were also involved in that historic contest. The blast capped off the longest game in World Series history, both by time (7 hours, 20 minutes) and number of innings played (18). The walk-off homer was only the second in Dodgers franchise history in the World Series, with the first being Kirk Gibson's in Game 1 in 1988 Sky Sports. That 2018 game provided the template for Monday's epic. The longest World Series game by both innings and time occurred on October 26-27, 2018, when the Dodgers defeated the Boston Red Sox 3-2 in 18 innings over seven hours and 20 minutes NBC Sports. Monday's game matched the innings but fell slightly short of the time record, finishing in approximately seven hours. Other notable World Series marathons include the 2005 Game 3 between the Chicago White Sox and Houston Astros (14 innings, five hours and 41 minutes) and the 1916 Game 2 between the Red Sox and Brooklyn Robins (14 innings) NBC Sports. Resource Management and Strategic Decisions According to MLB, the teams used a combined 18 pitchers and 46 players over the course of the seven-hour, twenty-minute game NBC Sports in 2018. Monday's game saw similar wholesale roster usage as both managers burned through their bullpens. Will Klein is the only reliever remaining for Dave Roberts. Eric Lauer has the ability to pitch multiple innings for John Schneider, with Brendon Little sitting in reserve in the bullpen NBC Sports. By the 17th inning, the Dodgers were perilously close to having to use a position player on the mound. Clayton Kershaw's working on a complete game in the bullpen TNT Sports became a running joke as the legendary lefty warmed up repeatedly, prepared to enter if called upon despite being in the twilight of his career. The Impact on the Series With the series knotted up, Game 3 becomes even more essential. Indeed, across all of MLB postseason history, the team with a 2-1 lead in a best-of-seven playoff series goes on to win that series a bit more than 70% of the time ESPN. The Dodgers' victory gives them a crucial advantage, but the cost may be significant. Both bullpens are decimated, with key relievers having thrown multiple innings on short rest. This is the first of three games in three days. This will impact availability/effectiveness the next two days TNT Sports. Injuries Add to the Drama Blue Jays designated hitter George Springer left Game 3 of the World Series after suffering an injury on a swing in the top of the seventh inning Monday night Premier League. The loss of Springer, a veteran presence and key contributor, further complicated Toronto's situation. Ohtani experienced some cramping while running the bases, per Tom Verducci. He's still in the game TNT Sports. Despite the cramping, Ohtani persevered through all 18 innings, a testament to his determination and toughness. The Atmosphere at Dodger Stadium As the game stretched past midnight and into the early morning hours of Tuesday, October 28th, the crowd at Dodger Stadium remained energized. Fans who had arrived expecting a three-hour game found themselves witnesses to history, many staying through the entire marathon despite work and school obligations the next morning. The Dodgers were also involved in the longest game in World Series history, as they went 18 innings against the Red Sox in Game 3 of the 2018 World Series. Max Muncy delivered a walk-off homer to give the Dodgers a 3-2 victory. Dodgers fans would be quite happy to see a repeat tonight. Or this morning. Whatever it takes NBC Sports. Postseason Rules and Extra Innings The absence of the regular-season "ghost runner" rule in postseason play—where extra innings begin with a runner on second base—contributes to these extensions, as innings commence with empty bases, demanding pure offensive breakthroughs NBC Sports. This fundamental difference between regular season and playoff baseball creates the possibility for these endurance contests. While the ghost runner rule has shortened regular-season extra-inning games significantly, the postseason maintains traditional baseball rules, leading to true tests of depth and strategy. What This Game Means for Baseball In an era of pitch clocks, shift restrictions, and constant rule changes designed to speed up play, Monday's 18-inning epic served as a reminder of baseball's timeless appeal. In the era of pitch clocks and other rule changes enacted to spur quicker matches, it's easy to forget how long and drawn out baseball can be. But when the Commissioner's Trophy is on the line, the past becomes the present NBC Sports. The game showcased everything that makes October baseball special: clutch pitching, strategic maneuvering, individual heroics, and the endurance test that reveals which team wants it more. Both the Dodgers and Blue Jays demonstrated championship mettle, even though only one could emerge victorious. Looking Ahead With Game 4 scheduled for Tuesday night—less than 24 hours after Game 3's conclusion—both teams face immediate challenges. Bullpen management becomes critical, with both managers needing to piece together innings from exhausted arms or turn to starters on short rest. The Dodgers hold a 2-1 series advantage, but the Blue Jays have shown they can compete at this level. Toronto's offense has proven capable of scoring in bunches, as evidenced by their 11-4 Game 1 victory. The question is whether their pitching staff can recover quickly enough to keep the series competitive. Conclusion: A Game for the Ages What a game. This is officially the second-longest World Series game in history Wikipedia—or more accurately, tied for the longest by innings while coming close by time. The final score of 6-5 in favor of the Dodgers barely captures the drama, tension, and sheer endurance required to complete this marathon. Shohei Ohtani's record-setting performance, the bullpens' combined brilliance, Clayton Kershaw's clutch appearance, and the countless near-misses created a tapestry of compelling baseball that will be discussed for generations. While both teams showed why they earned their place in the Fall Classic, the Dodgers' resilience in escaping with a victory gives them a commanding position in the series. For fans lucky enough to witness this game—whether in person at Dodger Stadium or watching from home—it was a reminder that in baseball, you truly never know what you're going to get. The sport's timeless nature allows for these epic contests that test the limits of human endurance and create memories that last forever. As the sun rose over Los Angeles on Tuesday morning, exhausted players, coaches, and fans could finally rest, knowing they had been part of something truly special: one of the longest, most dramatic World Series games ever played.