Chapter 1: What made Game 3 of the World Series historic?
made even more history by getting on base nine times in Game 3 of the World Series. Freddie Freeman, the man who supplied the Dodgers with one of the most iconic walk-off homers last season, remarkably does it again, this time giving the Dodgers a Game 3 win with another walk-off homer on this one in the 18th inning. And yes, there was the matter of actually playing 18 innings.
But, but, but, because it's baseball, and there are a million different things we can talk about, and not just talk about, but talk about for days upon days upon days, we identify this game as the William Boone-Klein game. He is the Dodgers' relief pitcher. who most of the baseball world had no knowledge of before he served as the team's last resort.
Chapter 2: How did Shohei Ohtani perform during the game?
Just admit it, you didn't know who he was. He was the guy who was designated for assignment by the Mariners after posting an ERA of over 7 in AAA. He's the guy who made the efforts of all those aforementioned high-priced guys stick. So... In this podcast, I want to give you the comments from Dave Roberts, Freeman, and Klein after the Dodgers Game 3 win. But before I do, let's soak it all in.
Take a breath and soak it all in. Was this maybe the best World Series game ever? It's in the conversation, and for me, it's in large part because the unbelievably clutch defensive plays, the amount of them was insane. Probably more than I've ever seen in this sort of setting. World Series, postseason, big game, whatever it is. I mean, just pinpoint unbelievable plays.
Anyway, I put this question out on social media. I don't know when it was. It was like the 10th or 11th inning. And, you know, some people said, yeah. Other people, people like to identify as like, oh, this is the best ever. Everyone says you're reactionary.
Chapter 3: What significance does Freddie Freeman's walk-off homer hold?
They don't like to do that. They like to have sort of revisionist history a little bit. I'll give you a for instance. The other 18 inning game at Dodger Stadium, the other World Series 18 inning game in 2018, I was there for. That wasn't a great game.
Chapter 4: Who is Will Klein and why is he considered a hero in this game?
It wasn't a great, it was a long game. But it felt sort of like, just get this over with, man. It was a good game. It wasn't a great game. Anyway, this is why social media is good sometimes. Because it gives me some options, educates a little bit. Some other options for best World Series game ever. Game 5, 2017. Game 6, the Carlton Fisk game, 1975. Game 7, the Jack Morris game, 1991.
Decisive game 7 in 2016, of course, Cleveland and Chicago. And then game 7, 2011. Got a lot of that one. Also game 6 in 2011. All fair, all fair. But maybe it's a debate worthy of an entire separate podcast. I love it. I love talking about this. I mean, this is what we come across as we talk about there's a million things to get to.
And just the big picture of was this the best World Series game ever? I don't know. But anyway, for the time being, why I keep shoving five-hour energies down my throat. Let's soak in the here and the now. All right, for help with that, we turn to the always excellent MLB PR, who allowed us the following factoids. All right, brace yourself. Ready? Dig in.
The team winning game three has gone on to win the World Series 78 times, 65% of the time. That's 77 times under the current seven-game format. That's 60.3. So, again, 65% of the time, 60.3. In other words, Dodgers have the upper hand. Freeman is the second player in World Series history with multiple walk-off hits, joining Hall of Famer Goose Gosling.
who had a walk-off single in the bottom of the 12th in Game 2 of the 1934 World Series and a walk-off single in the bottom of the 9th inning in Game 6 of the 1935 World Series. Freeman is just the second player in World Series history with multiple walk-off hits. Well, I'm sorry, I already told you that. Disregard that. I just wanted to say Goose Gosling's name one more time.
Okay, this one was tied for the longest postseason game by inning and the second longest postseason game by time. Overall, it was the fifth World Series game of at least 14 innings, joining Game 3 in 2018. That was the 18-inning game. Game 1 in 2015, 14 innings. Game 3 in 2005, 14 innings. Game 2 in 1916, of course, 14 innings. It was the 15th postseason game...
of at least 14 innings in baseball history. All right. Earmuffs, Blue Jays, if you don't want to hear bad news. The Blue Jays stranded 19 runners, making it the most ever by a single club in a World Series game, surpassing the previous mark of 15, which was done six times. Combined, the team stranded 37 runners, marking obviously the most in a World Series game, passing the previous mark of 32.
The Dodgers used 10 pitchers in the game, setting a World Series record. Of course, we're going to highlight the last one they used. And by the way, another storyline. Only macro Yamamoto, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, warming up when the game ends. Then everyone running out and hugging him with a scene.
Shohei Itani reached base, as we said, nine times, setting a postseason record, surpassing the mark of six points. Get that. Nine times the previous record was six. That was held by Kerry Carpenter, 2025, ALDS Game 5, Kenny Lofton, 1995 World Series Game 3, and Stan Hack. What a name. Stan Hack, 1945 World Series Game 6.
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Chapter 5: What were the standout defensive plays in Game 3?
All right, we go from Shohei Itani to Will Klein. This was, as we said, the William Boone Klein game. Why? Because Will Klein came in as the Dodgers' last pitcher, not counting Yamamoto, who they obviously didn't want to pitch. Will Klein came in, and he pitched four innings, gave up one hit, and threw 72 pitches. 72 pitches. He hadn't thrown 72 pitches since college at Eastern Illinois.
This is a guy who wasn't on the postseason roster any of the previous rounds and only pitched 15 and a third innings during the regular season for the Dodgers. A little background on Klein. He was taken in the fifth round in the 2020 draft by the Royals and signed for $200,000. Now, why is that interesting to me? Because I'm fascinated by the 2020 draft.
If you remember, that was only five rounds and... If you were not taken in the five rounds, you could sign with any team, but you could not make more than a $20,000 signing bonus. So he came very close from going to getting the $200,000 that he did if he lasts just a few more picks to having to settle for $20,000.
All right, as we said, he was designated for assignment after having a 7.17 ERA for Tacoma. And then, after being DFA'd, he was traded for Joe Jakes on June 2nd to the Dodgers. All right. Well, nobody could have imagined that Kline would be joining Dave Roberts and Freddie Freeman and getting postseason podium treatment. Nobody. That is until about 3 a.m. Eastern time. But he did.
So, while we get ready to look forward to a pivotal Game 4 with Otani, looking to build on his legend while getting the start for the Dodgers against Toronto's Shane Bieber, let's hear from the key participants in a game we should absolutely not forget. Roberts, Freeman, and then Will Kline.
Skipper, first of all, congratulations. But can you put into words the range of emotions that you and your team have just gone through in playing in probably one of the greatest World Series games ever?
Yeah, it's one of the greatest World Series games of all time. Emotional. I'm spent emotionally. We got a ball game later tonight, which is crazy. Yeah, there's just a lot of heroes tonight. Obviously, Freddie put the exclamation mark on the game. But you see what Will Klein did. You know, saw what Edgardo, Robleski, Clayton comes in.
He was up for three innings and comes in and gets a huge out for us. You know, just across the board, everyone just had huge nights. Big nights, just kept kind of fighting, kept fighting. And, you know, those guys over there, they gave it everything they had. And, you know, unfortunately, somebody's got to win that game.
And, you know, fortunately for the Dodgers, we got Freddie Freeman on our team. And yeah, I'm just so proud of this group of men.
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Chapter 6: Why is this game considered one of the best World Series games ever?
And, you know, he was on the heels of a huge offensive night and You know, John smelled that and wasn't going to let Shohei beat him at all. Obviously, and even when nobody's on base and putting him on to make the other guys beat him and respect it. And fortunately, we have other guys behind Shohei that can still do some things. And, yeah, I mean, a hard-fought game.
And same spot, Steve. Dave, congratulations. Can you just talk and describe how you viewed it? How exhausted were the players as you sensed it? The batters were swinging wildly. Am I misinterpreting it or were they exhausted?
No, they were exhausted. You know, Will Smith caught 18 innings and, you know, just to continue to try to grind. And we took some good swings. The marine layer kicked in. And I thought Will's ball earlier was gone. Freddie hit another ball I thought was a homer. Tao hit a ball that could have been a homer. But we kept going. But you saw what Lauer did tonight. That guy, man, he laid it out there.
So just a heck of a ball game.
Fifth row on your right, Bill. Dave, two things quickly. To follow up on Maria's question, you played with Barry. Is Shohei at Bond's level now where you expect this every night to get that kind of treatment?
I think it's all relative. You know, Barry's the greatest hitter I've ever seen. But, you know, this day and age, there's just... you know, him or maybe judge. Uh, but yeah, you know, I, I think that we're just fortunate. We have Mookie and Freddie behind them, but, uh, you just don't see that type of, uh, behavior, uh, from opposing managers. And that's just the ultimate sign of respect.
And then how did you balance? Will hasn't gone this far at any point this year. And then all of a sudden Yama's throwing, how'd you balance when you were going to use each one if you had to?
Yeah, it was, uh, you don't ever plan on using, playing 18 innings and, um, You just kind of ask more from the player. And he delivered. He's through, I mean, probably three times as much as he's ever thrown before. And certainly with the adrenaline on this stage, what he did was incredible. That's not even enough of a credit to him on this outing.
And, you know, Yamamoto with a day off, potentially taking the baseball, he was in the next inning. And so it just speaks to, you know, guys will do anything to win a championship, and they're laying it out there.
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Chapter 7: What records were set during the 18-inning game?
Julian, on your right. Hey, Freddie. You kind of alluded to it a little bit, but just how do you describe Shohei reaching base nine times and then you look up and he's your starter for tomorrow? Yeah. Didn't he give a quote that he said he was feeling better at the plate before the game? I think he did. He definitely was. I mean, he's a unicorn. There's no more adjectives you can describe Shohei.
It's four for four, five walks. He finally got the pitch two in his last at bat, and he still had the patience to not be trying to do too much and get on base. He's just incredible. We've been talking about him since he got here in 2018. We're still running out of words to describe a once-in-a-10-generation role player. Taro, on your left. Congratulations. Thank you.
So it was about seven hours, almost Tuesday. Yeah. So did your lovely children get to see that moment? Did who? Your lovely children. I I didn't see him on the field, but I know they were here. I don't know if they got taken home. One of them one of them woke up at 730 this morning, so not so sure if he made it. I know Charlie is going to be here for sure.
I just don't know if the four year olds made it, but my whole family was on the field except for my kids. So they're on the so I would assume no one got taken home, so I would assume my kids are still here, but we'll see. I guess after I finish this, we'll see where they're at. We'll finish up in the second row.
Freddie, when you hit the walk-off last year, you said the sort of thing that you dream about in your backyard playing wiffle ball. Did you dream about doing it twice? Yeah, I mean, no, I don't think you ever come up with a scenario twice. But you just kept getting the opportunities over and over again.
The one I flew out to center field, I was just really trying to hit a single there and get a base hit and move on and get this game over with three hours ago. But it's just... When you're in those situations over and over again, that's what you're talking about as kids. Last year, it was always bases loaded, two outs, bottom of the ninth.
I know it happened at the tenth, but to have it happen again a year later to hit another walk-off, it's kind of amazing, crazy. I'm just glad we won, and we're up 2-1, and we got our Shohei on the mound tomorrow. All right, once in a lifetime moment twice. What's good, y'all? It's Von Miller, Super Bowl MVP, SAG Master, and now your host of Free Range.
This is where NFL meets real talk every week. I'm bringing you inside the game from locker room stories to league-wide headlines. You want football IQ, locker room insight, and real conversations with the people shaping the league? Welcome to Free Range with Von Miller, where nothing is off limits and every down counts. New episodes every Wednesday.
Listen and follow Free Range with me, Von Miller, wherever you get your podcasts. Yeah, thank you guys. Thanks, Freddie. Good night. Yep, good game. It was. Congratulations, Will. Thank you. Can you just tell me what was going through your mind during all of the innings coming back and being so effective tonight? Just keep going.
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