Dodgers Win 18-Inning Marathon

The Boston Red Sox came into Game 3 of the 2018 World Series with a 2-0 lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Rookie SP Walker Buehler took the ball for the Dodgers looking to help his team climb back into the series. He delivered with a deep outing, saving the bullpen for…extra innings in what turned out to be the longest World Series game ever in terms of time.

Dodgers 3, Red Sox 2 (Final/18)

W: Wood; L: Eovaldi

Player of the Game: Max Muncy (2-6, 2 H, 2 R, 1 RBI – walkoff HR)

Boston Leads Series 2-1

Buehler worked 7.0 IP, allowing no runs on 2 hits with 7 SO. He unfortunately did not end up in line for a win after RP Kenley Jansen blew his save opportunity by giving up Boston OF Jackie Bradley Jr.’s game-tying home run in the bottom of the 8th.

Los Angeles got on the board first with a Rick Porcello changeup crushed into the right field seats by OF Joc Pederson.

Boston later tied the game on the aforementioned solo homer by Bradley.

The Dodgers got the winning run aboard in the bottom of the 9th when OF Cody Bellinger led off the inning with a single. OF Yasiel Puig then hit a fly ball to right for the first out of the inning. With a full count to the next hitter, C Yasmani Grandal, Bellinger attempted to steal on David Price, who appeared in relief, but was frozen out by Price, who held on to the ball for an extra second instead of delivering home and picked off Bellinger when he took off toward second. Bellinger was tagged to make the second and key out of the inning in a rundown. Grandal walked, prompting a pitching change by Red Sox manager Alex Cora. Closer Craig Kimbrel walked the next hitter, OF Chris Taylor, but induced a popout by PH Brian Dozier to end the inning.

The Red Sox came close to scoring the go-ahead run in the top of the 10th following a 1-out walk by OF J.D. Martinez. Martinez was replaced by PR Ian Kinsler, who was nearly picked off first by Dodgers RP Pedro Báez. The safe call was upheld on review. INF/OF Brock Holt then singled to advance Kinsler to 3rd base. Kinsler almost TOOTBLANed for a second time in the inning after oversliding the base, but a lucky bounce saved him from being tagged out by INF Justin Turner. Red Sox manager decided to have role player Eduardo Núñez, who had previously come up big as a pinch hitter, bat for INF Rafael Devers. Núñez drove a fly ball to center field that was caught by OF Cody Bellinger. Bellinger made a strong throw up the third base line to C Yasmani Grandal, who tagged Kinsler out on the attempt to score on a sacrifice.

The Red Sox scored the go-ahead run in the top of the 13th thanks to defensive miscues by the Dodgers. Holt reached on a leadoff walk and advanced to second base on a wild pitch by Dodgers RP Scott Alexander. PH/INF Eduardo Núñez then hit an infield single to Alexander, who threw the ball away at first, allowing Holt to score.

The @RedSox are RUNNIN’ WILD. pic.twitter.com/HpBjUvPriP

â?? MLB (@MLB) October 27, 2018

In the bottom of the inning, INF Max Muncy led off with a walk. Nathan Eovaldi, working in relief for the Sawx in a third consecutive game, recorded two outs on fly balls hit by Machado and Bellinger. Núñez had an eventful catch of Bellinger’s popup after he had taken a beating in the top of the inning, falling into the seats along the 3rd base line to make the play, which allowed Muncy to advance to second. Puig then singled up the middle to the edge of the infield dirt, and a throwing error by Kinsler scored Muncy, tying the game, but the Dodgers were unable to plate an additional run to end it.

CAN’T PREDICT BASEBALL. pic.twitter.com/DlbW3xQipu

â?? MLB (@MLB) October 27, 2018

The Dodger Stadium crowd showed a good sense of humor about the length of the game by rising to sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” for a second time during the middle of the 14th inning.

In the bottom of the 15th, Muncy teased the home team fans by hitting a towering drive down the first base line that hooked foul just as it passed the pole in the right field corner. He struck out for the first out of a scoreless inning by Eovaldi.

SO close. pic.twitter.com/0Yjooz90bh

â?? MLB (@MLB) October 27, 2018

Eovaldi would end up with a longer outing than the Red Sox starter, working 6.0 IP with 2 runs allowed on 3 hits with 1 BB and 5 SO in a heroic effort for the visitors, but gave up a walkoff solo home run to Muncy to lead off the bottom of the 18th.

Seven hours and 20 minutes later, Max calls game. #WALKOFF pic.twitter.com/L4J2BFNSpd

â?? MLB (@MLB) October 27, 2018

This game could end up being very important in terms of momentum and bullpen management, as the Red Sox may be forced to start either RP Drew Pomeranz, who barely made the World Series roster, or use SP Chris Sale on short rest in Game 4. World Series Game 4 will kick off on Saturday night at 8:09 PM ET. Probable starters: TBD (BOS) vs. Hill (LAD) – 3.66 ERA.