Muncy powers Dodgers past Red Sox
Los Angeles manage to trim Boston’s lead to 2-1 in the longest World Series game ever
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Max Muncy slammed an 18th inning walkoff solo home run as the Los Angeles Dodgers outlasted the Boston Red Sox 3-2 on Friday in a tension-packed marathon that entered the record books as the longest World Series game ever.
After two losses in chilly Boston battling Fenway Park’s quirky features, the Dodgers were back home in warmer, friendlier surroundings trimming the Red Sox lead in the best-of-seven series to 2-1.
But the Dodgers, chasing their first World Series title in 30 years, needed a record 18 innings and a record seven hours 20 minutes to avoid being pushed into a 0-3 series hole from which only one team — the 2004 Red Sox in the American League Championship Series — have ever escaped.
As Muncy’s towering shot off Boston reliever Nathan Eovaldi sailed into the left field bleachers the capacity crowd let out a mighty roar but the Dodgers will have little time to savour the hard-fought victory with Game Four set yesterday.
Almost lost amid Muncy’s late inning fireworks was a superb performance from Dodgers rookie starter Walker Buehler who pitched a seven inning gem.
Buehler was the man in the spotlight tossing seven shutout innings. The 24-year-old delivered a nerveless effort to silence the Boston bats allowing just two hits — both singles — while striking out seven without a walk.