Dodgers Win 18‑Inning Game 3 on Freeman Walk-Off

The Toronto Blue Jays opened the World Series with an 11-4 Game 1 win at Rogers Centre, highlighted by a nine-run sixth that included Addison Barger's pinch-hit grand slam — the first pinch-hit grand slam in World Series history — and Alejandro Kirk’s homer, the first by a Mexican-born player in the Fall Classic. Los Angeles evened the series with a 5-1 Game 2 victory as Yoshinobu Yamamoto threw a complete game and Will Smith homered. Game 3 in Los Angeles became an 18‑inning, six‑hour marathon that the Dodgers won on a Freddie Freeman walk-off, shifting momentum to L.A. Shohei Ohtani carried much of the Dodgers’ offense in Game 3 (going 4‑for‑4 with two homers and three RBIs) and is slated to start Game 4. Max Scherzer started Game 3 for Toronto and became the first pitcher to start World Series games for four different franchises; Toronto will turn to Shane Bieber in Game 4 and has named rookie Trey Yesavage as its Game 5 starter if needed. Concerns have been raised after George Springer has been hit multiple times this postseason, prompting calls for better protection of Toronto’s star bat.