As the wait for the 2020 Major League Baseball season continues, every game from 2018 and 2019 are available to stream for free on MLB.TV. Thus, DodgerBlue.com ranked the best Los Angeles Dodgers games from each of the two seasons, beginning with 2018.
The list continues with No. 2, when Max Muncy’s 18th inning walk-off home run propelled the Dodgers to victory over the Boston Red Sox in Game 3 of the 2018 World Series.
After dropping the first two contests at Fenway Park, Game 3 was essentially a must-win for the Dodgers. The series shifted to Dodger Stadium as Walker Buehler looked to stymie the Red Sox offense.
L.A. jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the third inning courtesy of Joc Pederson’s solo home run off Rick Porcello. It was the only run between the two teams until the top of the eighth.
Buehler had been pulled from the game at that point after tossing seven shutout innings with seven strikeouts. Kenley Jansen was tasked with recording the final six outs, but yielded a two-out, game-tying home run to Jackie Bradley Jr.
The score remained in a 1-1 deadlock until the 13th inning, when a throwing error by Scott Alexander allowed Brock Holt to advance home from second base. The Red Sox jumped back in front and were three outs away from taking a 3-0 lead over the Dodgers.
Muncy began the bottom half of the frame with a leadoff walk against Nathan Eovaldi. Manny Machado and Cody Bellinger were promptly retired in order, leaving things up to Yasiel Puig.
Puig hit a routine ground ball to second base, but a throwing error by Ian Kinsler allowed Muncy to cross home plate and even up the score for the Dodgers in a wild turn of events.
The game eventually extended to an 18th inning, as Eovaldi and the Dodgers bullpen settled down from there. The contest ultimately set a World Series record in both frames and time.
Stepping up to the plate against Eovaldi was Muncy, who nearly hit a walk-off home run in the 15th inning that just went foul. Looking to redeem himself, he drilled an opposite-field home run off the right-hander to secure a 3-2 for the Dodgers.
“This whole year has been a surreal experience that it’s hard to put into words,” Muncy said in his postgame interview. “But just getting a chance to play in the World Series has kind of capped it off.
“And then getting a chance to hit a walk-off home run, obviously there’s not many words I can use to describe that. The feeling was just pure joy and incredible excitement. That’s about all I can think of because it’s hard to describe how good a feeling it is.”
L.A., however, dropped the next two games in the Fall Classic, allowing the Red Sox to capture their fourth World Series championship in 14 years.
Best Dodgers games of 2018
No. 4: Cody Bellinger shines in Game 4 of 2018 National League Championship Series
No. 5: Walker Buehler, Tony Cingrani, Yimi Garcia and Adam Liberatore combine for no-hitter
No. 6: Game 163 to decide National League West
No. 7: Matt Kemp delivers clutch pinch-hit home run against Arizona Diamondbacks
No. 8: Yasiel Puig hits three home runs against St. Louis Cardinals
No. 9: Rout of San Francisco Giants to complete sweep and set stage for Game 163 to decide NL West
No. 10: Record seven home runs hit in extra-innings win against New York Mets
Make sure to follow us on Instagram! It’s the best way to see exclusive coverage from games and events, get your questions answered, and more!
