About Time! Dodgers Win In Longest Postseason Game Ever
The Dodgers needed a hero or a miracle, anything to assure them that an 0-3 deficit was not in their near future in the 2018 World Series.
Max Muncy gave them one with most of America tucked away in their beds.
The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Boston Red Sox 3-2 in the 18th inning on Friday night at Dodger Stadium to make it a 2-1 series.
Max Muncy, who hit a near home run in the 15th inning but the ball just went foul down the right field foul pole, delivered a walk-off home run in a historic marathon contest to breath life into the Dodgers in the World Series.
Muncy took a 3-2 pitch from Nathan Eovaldi in his eighth plate appearance of the night and took it to opposite field to end the game where a Gatorade bath would ensue after rounding the bases.
It was a game that hurt the eyes as people at Dodger Stadium fought to stay awake at the ball park, but Dodgers fans were sent home happy.
The Los Angeles Dodgers got an early lead in Game 3 with a home run by Joc Pederson in the third inning and it would be their only run until 13th inning as a error by Red Sox second baseman Ian Kinsler tied the game at 2-2 with two outs as Yasiel Puig beat out a throw at first.
The Los Angeles Dodgers rookie right-hander Walker Buehler brought his A-game in his first World Series start of his career.
Buehler dominated the Boston Red Sox offense over seven shutout innings as he allowed only two hits while striking out seven.
Buehler threw 72 of his 108 pitches for strikes on the night, good for 67 percent as he pounded the strike-zone with high 90s fastball all night long.
With the Game 3 victory, the Los Angeles Dodgers avoided having their season fall into the darkest of times as no team in MLB history has ever come back from a 0-3 deficit.
The game on Friday night that went into Saturday morning was the longest postseason game in MLB history as it lasted seven hours and 23 minutes.
It was easily their worst hitting performance here in the postseason, but the Boston Red Sox won’t be deflated by losing a wildly long and wacky Game 3 to the Dodgers.
The length of the game forced red-hot right-hander Nathan Eovaldi into playing what amounted to a start in extra innings.
Eovaldi was outstanding despite taking the loss on the walk-off blast by Muncy. The flamethrower went six innings allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits and a walk while striking out five in a 93 pitch effort.
Rick Porcello, who got the start, would allow one run on three hits and a walk while striking out five over four and two-thirds innings.
Boston lost their first game on the road in the postseason as they had went 5-0 in their first five in the playoffs.
Boston hit .122 as a team and went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
Jackie Bradley Jr.’s home run on a 2-0 fastball by Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen tied the game with two outs in the eighth inning.
In the 13th inning, they took the lead on a error by Dodgers reliever Scott Alexander on a throw to first base, but it was not meant to be.
Ian Kinsler found himself on the wrong side of MLB history twice as he was gunned down by Cody Bellinger from center field on a throw to home and then committed the crucial error in the 13th to allow Max Muncy to score from third base.
Because of it, the Boston Red Sox now have work to do in order to keep this World Series from going back to Boston, and there’s great uncertainty as to who will start Game 4 for Boston.
For the Los Angeles Dodgers, it’s their most triumphant win of the postseason to date as this one puts them in a precarious situation of now needing to win four straight games to win the World Series.
The look on Dave Roberts’ face as he watched one of the few opportunities go by the wayside for the Dodgers offense in the game during the ninth inning said it all about the heightened level of importance in this game.
From Cody Bellinger getting caught stealing on a 3-2 count with one out in the ninth inning, Manny Machado coming up small in big moments and Kenley Jansen being able to hold a late lead, all of Los Angeles’ nightmares were formed into one in a edge of your seat affair.
Luckily for the Dodgers, the power of their bullpen and power of their bats continued to surface here as their bullpen shut down the Red Sox sans a home run allowed by Kenley Jansen in the eighth inning.
Now, after a wild Game 3, the question is this: Can the Dodgers tie the series?
Left-hander Rich Hill will take the mound for Los Angeles on Saturday night vs a pitcher yet to be named for the Boston Red Sox in Game 4.
What are your thoughts on the Dodgers Game 3 victory? Leave your comments below!