Nearly out of Series, Muncy's blast, Buehler's start breath new confidence into Dodgers

LOS ANGELES — If the Red Sox' intention was to bury the Dodgers as Game 3 of the World Series stretched into extra innings on Friday, it might have backfired when the game ultimately ended after an MLB-record 7 hours, 20 minutes on Max Muncy’s game-winning home run in the 18th inning.

That might have been a marathon of a game, but Muncy’s home run seemed to give the Dodgers an immediate charge.

"You know, it's big time," Muncy said, when asked how LA's win changed the series. "This was a gutwrenching game for both sides. This is one of those games that whoever came out on top is going to have a lot of momentum going into (tonight). This was an extremely long game, 18 innings. A lot of pitchers were used. Every position player was used. Injuries on both sides. Their guys are banged up, our guys are banged up. It's one of those things when you're able to come out on top from a game like this, you have to feel it gives you a little momentum going to the next one."

In a game like that, it's difficult to remember a lot of the key moments earlier. The Dodgers certainly had one with Joc Pederson's home run — he was one of the four top home-run hitters Dave Roberts left on the bench at Fenway against Boston's top two lefthanders — in the third inning.

It looked like it was going to be enough because rookie right-hander Walker Buehler was sensational in his seven innings of work. The 24-year-old allowed just three hits and struck out seven as he faced one over the minimum.

"I think that certain people can handle a moment like this and understand what was at stake tonight," Roberts said. "And we needed his best effort. And we needed him to go deeper than their starter, log some innings. And some guys run from it. Some guys can't answer the bell. But this guy, he's got an overt confidence, a quiet confidence, a little combo. But he's got tremendous stuff. And he lives for moments like this.

"So it's good to have obviously him on our side. And the age is really something we don't concern ourselves about. It's kind of what's in between the head and the heart. He's got what it takes to be that top-of-the-rotation guy."

As if pitching down 0-2 at home in the World Series wasn't enough, Buehler was doing it with former Dodgers postseason pitching heroes Sandy Koufax and Orel Hershiser in attendance.

"His stuff is amazing," said Alex Cora. "He made adjustments. We were putting good at-bats early on. He was throwing the four-seamer, and all of a sudden he started throwing cutters and changeups, and he was able to keep us off balance. For him to go seven at this stage, they needed it and he did an outstanding job."

After the game, Roberts moved the Game 4 starter from Rich Hill to "to be determined." What's definite is that the Dodgers think they're right back in this series.

"This is huge," said Manny Machado, who had another anti-Johnny Hustle moment in this game. "This was a must-win for us, 100 percent. That’s why we were grinding until the last out, until the last run came across the board. This was definitely a must-win for us. It’s how much heart we have in here. We want it and we’re not going to stop until we get it."

Said Roberts: "Well, all I know is we're feeling pretty good about ourselves right now, to have two more games at home, but right now our focus is tomorrow. Or today. Later today. I know it's a lot better feeling than we had after Game 1 and Game 2. We expect Richie to come out with some fire like he always has. Like I said, counting outs, looking at the pen, we're in good shape. Considering where we're at, down 2-1, home crowd behind us, I think there's a little bit of momentum on our side, yeah."