In brief
Freddie Freeman's dramatic 18th-inning walk-off home run secured the Los Angeles Dodgers a victory over the Toronto Blue Jays, giving them a 2-1 lead in the World Series. The game was marked by exceptional performances, including two home runs from Shohei Ohtani. The matchup, lasting over six hours, became one of the longest postseason games in MLB history. The series continues with more games scheduled at Dodger Stadium.
Freddie Freeman hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 18th inning as the Los Angeles Dodgers took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven World Series, beating the Toronto Blue Jays 6-5 in an epic game lasting more than six-and-a-half hours.
It was the joint longest postseason game in Major League Baseball history in terms of innings, with no runs scored between the seventh and 18th innings.
Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani also hit two home runs, but the night belonged to first baseman Freeman, who won the Most Valuable Player award as the Dodgers won last year's World Series.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had apologised earlier on Monday after complaining about travel delays while returning from the opening two games in Canada, but was finally able to enjoy home comforts as his side won the first of three games at Dodger Stadium.
MLB's longest postseason games (all 18 innings)
- 2005 NL Division Series - Houston Astros 7-6 Atlanta Braves
- 2014 NL Division Series - Washington Nationals 1-2 San Francisco Giants
- 2018 World Series - LA Dodgers 3-2 Boston Red Sox
- 2022 AL Division Series - Seattle Mariners 0-1 Houston Astros
- 2025: World Series - LA Dodgers 6-5 Toronto Blue Jays
Teoscar Hernandez opened the scoring for the Dodgers with a home run in the second inning, followed by Ohtani doubling the lead with a solo shot in the third. The Blue Jays responded in the fourth with Alejandro Kirk's three-run homer after a defensive error by the Dodgers, leading 4-2.
The Dodgers leveled the score at 4-4 in the fifth after Ohtani's third hit scored a run, and Freeman brought him home. Both teams traded leads with Ohtani's second homer tying the game once again at 5-5. The game was marked by strategic plays, including multiple stranded baserunners and elaborate defensive maneuvers.
Finally, in the 18th inning, Freeman launched a home run over center field to clinch the game for the Dodgers. The series continues with game four scheduled at Dodger Stadium, where Ohtani will take the mound as the starting pitcher.
World Series schedule, reports & results
Game 1: Blue Jays 11-4 Dodgers
Game 2: Blue Jays 1-5 Dodgers
Game 3: Dodgers 6-5 Blue Jays
Game 4 (in LA): Tuesday, 28 October
Game 5 (in LA): Wednesday, 29 October
Game 6* (in Toronto): Friday, 31 October
Game 7* (in Toronto): Saturday, 1 November
*if required. Matches start 20:00 Eastern Time (early next morning UK time), Home team listed first
