Last night felt like everything and nothing all at once. The Toronto Blue Jays went toe-to-toe with the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 3 in L.A., and what we witnessed was one of those October baseball nights you’ll remember forever. Unfortunately, it ended 6-5 in favour of the Dodgers and with a 2-1 series lead now, the pressure ratchets up huge.
What Went Down
From start to finish, this felt like war:
- Shohei Ohtani stole the show as he reached the bases nine times, hit two homers, doubled twice, and set several postseason records in the process.
- Every bullpen in both dugouts got used. Every starter, reliever, match-up thing you could imagine. The Jays emptied their bag, and still it lasted 18 innings (tied for the longest World Series game ever by innings, and around six hours and 39 minutes of baseball).
- George Springer, one of our stalwarts, left the game in the seventh with right-side discomfort after fouling a pitch off. Ty France replaced him. It was a hit-and-hope moment.
- There were calls, there were challenges, there were moments where Toronto looked poised but the juggernaut that is Ohtani and the Dodgers still made the difference.
- There were also those questionable inside pitches and what felt like a couple of throws that flirted with “too close for comfort.” We all saw it; the dugout saw it; the fans felt it.
What It Means for the Series
The Dodgers now lead this best-of-seven series 2-1. Toronto still holds home-field advantage (Games 1, 2, 6 & 7 are in Toronto). The next two (Games 4 and maybe 5) are in L.A. That means the Jays need to win at least one on the road if they want to bring it back home for a shot.
The start now has to come quickly. The guys need to recover from that grind, shake off the loss, and come back strong. Game 4 will test both stamina and mental strength.
If Toronto can steal a game in L.A., imagine what returning home to Rogers Centre for Game 6 with momentum would feel like. But if they falter and drop another, they’ll be facing an uphill battle.
The injury to Springer adds a layer of concern. Losing him (or even his groove) would sting a lot. Keeping him healthy and effective is as big a part of the next few games as any pitcher or batter.
From a Long-Time Fan’s Heart
I’m still buzzing but I’m also angry and frustrated because we almost had it. We almost took control. We’ve seen this team rise before in big moments and I genuinely believed last night they could. They fought like hell for 18 innings. That counts. That matters.
Marching through a loss like this means two things: we’ve got belief, and we’ve got work to do. The Dodgers played like a veteran team under pressure. The Jays showed flashes of the same. Next steps: More of the same fire, but cleaner execution, sharper decisions, and no leftover regrets.
Toronto, this is your team, Canada’s team, and we’re right in the thick of it. So let’s ditch the gloom for one second. Put on your cap, pack the stadium noise, and get ready for Game 4. Because even after an 18-inning beast, we’re still alive. We’re still in it, and yes I still believe we can bring it home.
Let’s see what we’re made of (as tired as we may all be today)…
👏 Go Jays Go 👏
