Bullpen embodies Dodgers' self-sacrifice theme

Klein's gutsy four- inning stint foils Blue Jays, gives L.A. a huge advantage

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DODGERS PITCHERS Roki Sasaki, right, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, center, join in a group hug after the Dodgers' Game 3 victory.

(GINA FERAZZI Los Angeles Times)

Shohei Ohtani stepped back from the party at home plate during which the Dodgers celebrated Freddie Freeman's latest World Series walk-off home run.

Ohtani set off for another destination.

With his left arm wrapped around Roki Sasaki, Ohtani ran toward his team's bullpen, from which Yoshinobu Yamamoto emerged. When Yamamoto intercepted his two countrymen on the left-field turf, Ohtani pulled him in with his free arm. Joined by their interpreters, the players embraced each other in celebration, jumping up and down.

How appropriate.

Freeman's 18th-inning blast in the 6-5 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays spared Yamamoto from making an emergency relief appearance only two days after pitching a complete game, but there was nonetheless something heroic about him warming up because the only alternative to him scaling the mound in the next inning would have been for a position player to do so.

This sprint of self-sacrifice is what vaulted the Dodgers to a victory in Game 3 of the World Series. This courage to push beyond known limits is why they now have a two-games-to-one edge in the best-of-seven series.

Nine Dodgers relievers followed starter Tyler Glasnow in this 6-hour and 39-minute marathon, and five of them pitched more than an inning.

Sasaki provided 1⅔ scoreless innings, but the true heroes on this night were the unexpected contributors.