MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:
In Los Angeles, Game 3 of the World Series between the Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays was an instant classic. The game went 18 innings, tying it for the longest in series history. And it ended on a dramatic walk-off home run, giving LA a 2 to 1 lead. Steve Futterman was there.
STEVE FUTTERMAN, BYLINE: This is how the game finished.
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UNIDENTIFIED SPORTSCASTER: 11:50 in Los Angeles. Freeman sends a fly ball to center field. Varsho is going back before the clock strikes midnight. Freddie Freeman has ended it.
FUTTERMAN: The call on Fox Sports says the Dodgers' Freddie Freeman hit a home run in the 18th inning to give LA the victory after nearly seven hours, setting off a wild celebration among Dodger fans.
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UNIDENTIFIED CROWD: (Chanting) Freddie, Freddie, Freddie.
FUTTERMAN: There were moments last night when it seemed the game would never end. Early on, the lead went back and forth. After seven innings, the two teams were tied 5 to 5. Then the scoring just stopped. The game was only around four hours old when I spoke with John Livette (ph).
JOHN LIVETTE: Well, I got here about 3. So for me, it's seven hours, eight hours. So the game has been going on for six...
FUTTERMAN: And you're still OK, you're still OK?
LIVETTE: Yeah. Yeah, do I look like I'm fading (laughter)?
FUTTERMAN: No, no. You're looking fine, you're looking fine. And what about work tomorrow?
LIVETTE: I'll show up when I show up.
FUTTERMAN: But as it got later, some fans did begin to leave, like Jeff McGee (ph), who was with his young son.
JEFF MCGEE: Yeah, we have to pull the plug.
FUTTERMAN: Why?
MCGEE: Because he has school tomorrow morning.
FUTTERMAN: Oh, skip school tomorrow.
MCGEE: You know, it's not a bad idea.
FUTTERMAN: (Laughter).
MCGEE: I don't know. We're going to go stand by the exit and see what happens.
FUTTERMAN: He actually did stick around. Now, let's get back to last night's Dodger hero, Freddie Freeman. And if that name sounds familiar, last year, Freeman did the same thing, a walk-off home run against the New York Yankees. Freeman's the only player with two World Series walk-offs.
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FREDDIE FREEMAN: I don't think we're physically tired. I think you're just mentally tired because you're in it every pitch. And every pitch means something in the World Series and in the playoffs. So I think we're all emotionally and mentally drained.
FUTTERMAN: Among the records set last night, Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani reached base a World Series record nine times. He had four hits, including two home runs, and was walked five times. Tonight, the two teams, almost certainly exhausted, will be back on the field for Game 4.
For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman at the World Series in Los Angeles.
(SOUNDBITE OF LUPE FIASCO SONG, "THE SHOW GOES ON") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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