Dodgers News: Ohtani and Freeman Create MLB History with Game Three Performances
LOS ANGELES, CA—The Los Angeles Dodgers are coming off a historic night at Chavez Ravine after pulling off a thrilling 6-5 extra-inning walk-off win to put themselves up 2-1 in the best-of-seven World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays.
And while the night was, as in the words of Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, a team effort, it also was an impressive showcase by first baseman Freddie Freeman and two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani.
Freeman First MLB Player to Hit Multiple Walk-Off HR in World Series
While Game Three of the World Series entered the bottom of the 18th inning, Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman stepped up to the plate almost a year to the day of last year’s dramatic walk-off grand slam in Game One of the 2024 World Series against the New York Yankees.
Freeman, who was 1-for-6 on the night, hit yet another dramatic home run in extra innings, giving the Dodgers the win and ending what was the second-longest game in World Series history.
Freeman’s game-winning hit versus the Blue Jays made him the first player in MLB history to hit more than one walk-off home run in the World Series.
“Yeah, I mean, no, I don’t think you ever come up with a scenario twice,” Freeman answered when asked if he ever envisioned hitting a second walk-off home run in the Fall Classic. “But you just kept getting the opportunities over and over again.
Freeman ended the night going 2-for-7 at the plate, driving in two runs, including the game-winning home run, and collecting two walks.
Ohtani Reaches New Heights with Game Three Performance
While Freddie Freeman delivered the final blow in the game —a solo home run in the 18th inning to give the Dodgers the win— it was primarily because the Blue Jays didn’t pitch to Shohei Ohtani, and for good reason.
From innings one through seven, Ohtani was a combined 4-for-4 with four extra base hits, including two home runs.
Ohtani’s second home run of the game was his eighth this postseason, matching Corey Seager‘s record for the most in a single postseason for the Dodgers. It also leveled the score at five. Seager set this record with his eight homers during their 2020 World Series run, which ended with him being named World Series MVP.
Ohtani also set a record as the first player in MLB history to achieve three multi-homer games in a single postseason.
Additionally, Ohtani made history as the first player in postseason to reach base seven times in one game, eventually increasing his total to nine, thereby extending his record. This also tied an MLB record for the most times a player has reached base in a single game, whether regular season or postseason.
The only players to reach base nine times in a single game besides these are Max Carey (July 7th, 1922), Johnny Burnett (July 10th, 1932), and Stan Hack (August 9th, 1942).
Ohtani was the first player to be intentionally walked four times in a single postseason game. He is also one of only two players in postseason history to be intentionally walked with the bases empty, along with Albert Pujols in 2011. Ohtani was intentionally walked three times with the bases empty, whereas Pujols was walked only once.
Now, after all that, Ohtani will take the mound in Game Four, aiming to set the Dodgers just one win from securing back-to-back World Series titles.
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