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LOS ANGELES — Freddie Freeman has carried out it once more.
One yr after hitting the primary walk-off grand slam in World Collection historical past, he got here via once more for the Dodgers with a success for the ages.
Freeman’s solo residence run within the 18th inning in opposition to the Toronto Blue Jays ended a recreation tied for the longest in World Collection historical past, propelling Los Angeles to a 6-5 win and a 2-1 sequence lead.
“It’s one of many best World Collection video games of all time,” Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts stated.
Freeman performed down the epic nature of his homer to seal a recreation that formally lasted six hours and 39 minutes.
“I used to be simply attempting to get on base in opposition to a troublesome lefty, sinkerballer,” Freeman stated after the marathon Sport 3. “I bought it to a 3-2 rely and put swing on it.”
He stated he felt “simply pure pleasure,” including: “That’s nearly as good because it will get.”
The one different World Collection matchup to go 18 innings was the Pink Sox at Dodgers in 2018.
Monday’s recreation was one of the distinctive in baseball historical past. There have been 609 pitches thrown, 19 completely different pitchers used, 25 place gamers used and 37 runners left on base.
The size was so unbelievable that Los Angeles starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto — who threw a masterful full recreation victory simply two nights in the past in Toronto — started warming up within the bullpen.
Whereas Freeman deserves credit score for the decisive blow, his teammate Shohei Ohtani was equally essential within the victory for the defending champions.
The Japanese celebrity hit two residence runs and two doubles early within the recreation — after which was deliberately walked 4 straight occasions by the Blue Jays, who most well-liked to face Mookie Betts and Freeman than Ohtani’s scorching bat.
Ohtani reached base 9 occasions, setting the postseason report and tying the all-time report with solely three different batters (the final in 1942).
“You simply don’t see that sort of habits from opposing managers,” Roberts stated of Ohtani being walked all through the sport. “That’s only a signal of respect.”
Ohtani, who can be among the many greatest pitchers in baseball, will begin on the mound for Los Angeles on Tuesday evening at 8 p.m. ET reverse Toronto’s Shane Bieber for Sport 4.
Ohtani gained each of his pitching matchups this postseason, permitting simply three earned runs over 12 innings.
“He’s a freak. I don’t know the way anyone can do what he does,” Dodgers pitcher Will Klein stated of Ohtani postgame. “Simply attending to be teammates with him is a good honor.”
The truth that each groups should swimsuit up mere hours after the final one ended feels unbelievable.
“I’m spent emotionally, Roberts stated. “We bought a ball recreation later tonight, which is loopy.”
Their opponent was decided to not let the gutting loss outline the sequence. “The Dodgers didn’t win a World Collection immediately,” stated Blue Jays supervisor John Schneider. “They gained a recreation.”
Now it is time, one way or the other, for one more.
The Related Press contributed.
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