Max Muncy hit a game-ending home run in the 18th inning Friday as the Los Angeles Dodgers earned a dramatic 3-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox in the longest World Series game ever played.
It was the first game-ending home run in a World Series game at Dodger Stadium since 1988, when a hobbled Kirk Gibson won Game 1 in the ninth inning against the Oakland Athletics.
Game 3 was the longest World Series game by both innings and time, running at seven hours and 20 minutes.
The Red Sox now lead 2-1 in the best-of-seven series, with Game 4 set for Saturday. Boston were one out away from taking a commanding 3-0 lead, but an error by second baseman Ian Kinsler allowed the Dodgers to tie the game 2-2 in the 13th inning.
Seven hours and 20 minutes later, Max calls game. #WALKOFF pic.twitter.com/L4J2BFNSpd
— MLB (@MLB) October 27, 2018
The Red Sox took the lead in the top of the 13th when Brock Holt scored on an error by Dodgers pitcher Scott Alexander.
The Dodgers were also closing in on victory at one point. They were four outs away when the Red Sox's Jackie Bradley Jr hit a home run against closer Kenley Jansen for a 1-1 tie.
The blown save spoiled a brilliant outing from Dodgers rookie right-hander Walker Buehler, who gave up just two hits over seven scoreless innings. His 108 pitches were three more than he has thrown in a game during his brief major league career.
The Dodgers got a home run from Joc Pederson in the third inning but were held scoreless over the next 10 innings by Red Sox starter Rick Porcello, along with a string of eight relievers.
A celebration 18 innings in the making. #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/6uaOShLx8u
— MLB (@MLB) October 27, 2018
Porcello gave up a run on three hits over four, 2/3 innings. Nathan Eovaldi (0-1), who was expected to be Boston's Game 4 starter, gave up Muncy's game-winner after six innings of work. Eovaldi gave up two runs (one earned) on three hits over six innings with five strikeouts.
Alex Wood (1-0) pitched a scoreless 18th inning to earn the victory for the Dodgers.
The Dodgers were short on offense but did get some defensive heroics in the 10th inning when center fielder Cody Bellinger cut down the go-ahead run at home plate. Kinsler tried to score from third base on a fly ball to center by pinch hitter Eduardo Nunez, but Bellinger's throw was in time for the out.
Pederson's home run was his first of this World Series and his fourth home run in six career World Series starts. It was also the Dodgers' first extra-base hit in 74 plate appearances against the Red Sox in the series.
The top four hitters in the Red Sox's lineup went a combined 0-for-28.
