The third game of the World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays will be remembered not only for being the longest in the history of the ‘Fall Classic’ in terms of innings played, but also for being the second longest in duration. Although Freddie Freeman sent the ball out of the ballpark in the 18th inning to give the reigning champions a 6-5 victory and a 2-1 lead in the series, once again Shohei Ohtani shone with an offensive game that broke records in Major League Baseball.
The excitement surrounding Ohtani, who already put in a stratospheric performance in the first game of the World Series, is such that the summit between US President Donald Trump and Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Tokyo was delayed because they both watched the game between the Dodgers and the Blue Jays.
The Japanese player recorded his sixth consecutive game with a hit (hitting the ball and reaching at least one base safely), the longest streak for a Dodgers leadoff hitter since Carl Crawford did so in 10 straight games during the 2013 postseason.
With his two home runs, he became the only leadoff hitter in MLB history with eight home runs (hits the ball and runs all the bases without being eliminated) in a single postseason ahead of Kyle Schwarber (2022), George Springer (2017) and Lenny Dykstra (1996), who hit six. Ohtani is the fourth player to have a multi-extra-base postseason game against Max Scherzer, the first since Eric Thames in 2019.
Ohtani became the first player in World Series history to reach base nine times and joined Frank Isbell (Chicago White Sox) as the only players in history to produce four extra-base hits in a World Series game. Isbell accomplished the feat in 1906.
“Recently, I’ve been feeling better at the plate. I do my best to make sure I’m as prepared as possible and hitting with the right mindset,” Ohtani said.
Ohtani is also the third player in MLB history with multiple games of at least three extra-base hits in the same postseason, joining Albert Pujols (three in 2011) and Enrique Hernandez (two in 2021). In addition, he became the only player in history with three multi-home run games in the same postseason, and the fifth to record at least 12 total bases in a World Series game.
His seven consecutive extra-base hits at Dodger Stadium is the longest streak by any player in MLB postseason history. His eight home runs in the current postseason tie the mark for a Dodgers player in the same finals, equaling Corey Seager (2020). A mark also signed by Adolis Garcia (Texas Rangers, 2023), Dominican Nelson Cruz (Texas Rangers, 2011), Barry Bonds (San Francisco Giants, 2002) and Puerto Rican Carlos Beltran (Houston Astros, 2004). The record is held by Cuban Randy Arozarena (Tampa Bay Rays) with 10 in 2020.
Ohtani also joined Hideki Matsui (2004) and Daulton Varsho (2025) as the only players to achieve a game with at least two doubles and two home runs in the postseason; however, he is the
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