In the world of baseball, the World Series is the ultimate test of skill, strategy, and endurance. We expect drama, but sometimes the game delivers a marathon that pushes players and fans to their absolute limit. The record for the longest World Series game by time and innings belongs to an epic battle between the Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2018.
This was not just a game; it was a test of will that stretched deep into the night.
Game 3 of the 2018 World Series
The scene was set at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. The series was tied 1-1, making Game 3 a critical turning point. No one knew they were about to witness a piece of baseball history.
The game began like any other, but as the innings ticked by, the zeroes on the scoreboard remained. Both starting pitchers were brilliant, and the bullpens were even better. The tension mounted with every pitch, every out, and every stranded runner.
The game stretched into extra innings, and then it kept going. The 7-hour and 20-minute contest broke the previous records for the longest World Series game by both time and innings. It was a grueling battle of attrition.
A Night of Unforgettable Moments
What makes a game this long so memorable are the moments that define it.
- A Home Run to Start: Joc Pederson hit a solo home run for the Dodgers in the third inning.
- A Home Run to Tie: Jackie Bradley Jr. answered for the Red Sox with a solo shot in the eighth, tying the game 1-1.
- The Marathon Middle: For seven more innings, neither team could break the deadlock. Both teams used a combined 18 pitchers, exhausting their bullpens.
- The Deciding Blow: Finally, in the top of the 18th inning, at nearly 1:30 AM local time, Nathan Eovaldi—a starting pitcher forced into relief—gave up a solo home run to Red Sox infielder Max Muncy. It was a moment of pure exhaustion and elation.
The Red Sox held on in the bottom of the inning, winning the game 3-2 and taking a 2-1 series lead, which they would not relinquish.
Why This Game Was So Grueling
The length of this game was not just a statistic. It was a physical and mental challenge.
- Pitcher Usage: Teams were forced to use pitchers in unfamiliar roles. Nathan Eovaldi, for the Red Sox, delivered a heroic 6-inning, 97-pitch relief performance in a losing effort, a testament to his grit.
- Player Fatigue: Position players were pushed to their absolute limit, with the game ending just minutes short of being the first World Series game to span two calendar days.
- Strategic Moves: Managers had to make desperate decisions, including using pitchers as pinch-runners and saving their last available pitchers for a potential Game 4 that was only hours away.
A Lasting Legacy
Game 3 of the 2018 World Series is more than a record in a book. It is a story of resilience, a testament to the depth of modern baseball rosters, and a reminder of why we love the sport. It proves that in baseball, there is no clock, and the game is never over until the final out is made—no matter how long it takes.