One of the greatest baseball play-by-play announcers of all-time, Vin Scully, 88, will be calling his final games at Dodger Stadium this week. Scully has been broadcasting Dodger games since 1950, when he joined another legend, Red Barber, along with Connie Desmond, behind the microphone. In those days the Dodgers played in Brooklyn, not Los Angeles. The Dodgers moved to California in 1958.

Scully's final regular season game broadcast from Dodger Stadium is set for September 25. His final game is expected to be broadcast from San Francisco's AT&T Park on October 2, 2016. </s> Members of the Los Angeles Dodgers, including Dave Roberts, explain what it meant to send Vin Scully, in his last home game, off with a walk-off win to clinch the NL West title. (1:01)

LOS ANGELES -- After 67 years, Los Angeles wasn't ready to say goodbye to Vin Scully.

With the Colorado Rockies holding a 3-2 lead with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, Corey Seager, the Los Angeles Dodgers' 22-year-old shortstop, hit a home run to right field to tie the game and extend the final home game for the 88-year-old announcer one more inning.

Sunday was the final game Scully will broadcast from Dodger Stadium as he nears the end of a 67-year career that began in 1950, when the Dodgers were in Brooklyn, and spanned nearly seven decades.

"And wouldn't you know we'd go extra innings," Scully said after Seager's home run. "Of course, you didn't have anything better to do, anyway."

With two outs in the bottom of the 10th inning, Charlie Culberson homered on a fly ball to left field to give the Dodgers a 4-3 victory and their fourth straight National League West title, a franchise first, in Scully's final game behind the microphone at Dodger Stadium.

"The Dodgers have clinched the division," Scully said on the call. "And will celebrate on schedule."

It was a storybook moment in a storybook career for Scully, who was given a standing ovation after the game from the crowd and the players, who took off their championship hats and waved them at a smiling Scully up in the broadcast booth.

"Vin, we love," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said on the field after the game as he looked up at Scully. "This is for you, my friend."

Scully will retire after finishing a three-game series in San Francisco next weekend.

During Sunday's game, Dodgers players tipped their helmets toward Scully before stepping into the batter's box -- an idea that was hatched by Adrian Gonzalez and Justin Turner while the two were texting the night before the game.

After Roberts' on-field interview, Scully got on the microphone and addressed the crowd from the press box named after him.

"I'm terribly embarrassed," he said, standing up from his chair with his wife, Sandra, seated behind him. "I was hoping the team would win the game 10 to nothing, and there would be no tension, and it would be a nice, easy day because I have a very, very small, modest contribution on my last day. I have always felt you folks in the stands have been far, far more important to me. You have given me enthusiasm. You have given me young at heart.

"Believe me when I tell you I've needed you far more than you've needed me. Anyway, I wanted to try and express my appreciation to all the players. God bless them, and to all you folks at the ballpark. It's a very, very modest thing, but I sang this for my wife -- it was a loving gesture. You know the song, the 'Wind Beneath My Wings,' and that's what you are. You are the wind beneath the team's wings, and you are the wind beneath my wings. I know it's modest, I know it's an amateur, but do you mind listening?"

With that, Scully sat down as the players on the field and the crowd erupted in applause while a recording of Scully singing "Wind Beneath My Wings" played at Dodger Stadium.

When the song had finished, the players began jumping and celebrating their win in the division on the field before heading to the clubhouse. Meanwhile, Scully said goodbye to his friends in the broadcast booth before exiting the Vin Scully Press Box for the final time.

"Thank you," Scully said as he walked out. "Thank you so very much." </s> From there, the final day of work for the iconic baseball voice went into routine mode on a day that was anything but routine. The 88-year-old hunkered down and prepared to announce the regular-season finale between the Giants he grew up loving and the Dodgers he spent his entire adult life bringing to millions of fans through his golden, friendly tones. And when it was over, his sign-off was purely and simply Scully.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Vin Scully arrived for his last day at the office Sunday morning wearing a blue sport coat with a red, white and blue tie, and of course his ever-present smile. He and his wife, Sandi, boarded a golf cart that took them to the press elevators and up to Booth 7, the visiting TV booth at AT&T Park, where a microphone awaited the last broadcast of his storied career.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Vin Scully arrived for his last day at the office Sunday morning wearing a blue sport coat with a red, white and blue tie, and of course his ever-present smile. He and his wife, Sandi, boarded a golf cart that took them to the press elevators and up to Booth 7, the visiting TV booth at AT&T Park, where a microphone awaited the last broadcast of his storied career.

From there, the final day of work for the iconic baseball voice went into routine mode on a day that was anything but routine. The 88-year-old hunkered down and prepared to announce the regular-season finale between the Giants he grew up loving and the Dodgers he spent his entire adult life bringing to millions of fans through his golden, friendly tones. And when it was over, his sign-off was purely and simply Scully.

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"I have said enough for a lifetime, and for the last time I wish you all a very pleasant good afternoon," Scully said at the end of the Giants' 7-1 victory to clinch a National League Wild Card spot.

Video: LAD@SF: Scully montage starts his final broadcast

All around him all day long, the tributes from the Giants and their fans included signs saying "Thank You, Vin" handed out to fans and "THX VIN" plugged into one of the spots on the out-of-town scoreboard. He waved and smiled when a pregame ceremony had fans on their feet, but he was in his seat and ready to go for the first pitch, as he had been for 67 years and more than 9,000 broadcasts.

:: Farewell, Vin Scully ::

This time, he recorded a special rendition of his trademark opening that played on the big screen at AT&T Park to get the game started.

"It's time for Dodger-Giant baseball, the greatest rivalry in all of professional sports," said Scully, who was not available for media interviews, choosing to focus on the job at hand and sharing the moment with his family.

Charley Steiner, who along with partner Rick Monday normally would share the broadcasting duties with Scully, had one job Sunday, and that was to introduce Scully's final broadcast. Steiner has had a front-row seat for eight days of amazing tributes to Scully, and really an entire season dedicated to honoring the venerable voice. On Sunday, Steiner knew one thing to a certainty.

"I think he's the happiest guy at the ballpark," Steiner said.

Video: LAD@SF: Giants fans, Willie Mays salute Scully

The joy came through as usual in the way Scully described the action. A few examples:

• The Giants opened the scoring with a two-run single by Buster Posey: "The sun has broken through the clouds and it is shining on the Giants for the moment."

• Matt Moore's attempt at a suicide squeeze: "So the Giants, with a poor-hitting pitcher, decided to try and squeeze, and he was a poor bunter."

• The Dodgers' starter was struggling: "It's gray overhead, but for Kenta Maeda, it feels like the sky is falling. He doesn't need Chicken Little to tell him that."

• Giants third baseman Conor Gillaspie made a spectacular catch of a foul ball: "Gillaspie went head-first into the photographers' well, and all's well that ends well."

• After his family joined him in the booth: "It has been a party, a retirement party, and it has been marvelous."

Video: LAD@SF: Picture montage from Scully's early years

And baseball fans around the world sighed and laughed and savored every last moment of a friendly voice's depiction of the game for the final time.

"He's going out on top of his game, doing something he's done better than anybody else and done longer than anybody else," said Steiner, who called being part of the whole Scully farewell the "highlight of my career."

In a special presentation in the middle of the fourth inning, Giants president Larry Baer and Hall of Famer Willie Mays were in the booth with Scully as he waved to the adoring Giants crowd with Frank Sinatra's "My Way" playing and a video presentation of old photos on the video board. At its conclusion, Scully looked into the camera and shared a perfect bit of perspective on this day for this man:

"I was sitting here thinking, talking to Willie: Who would ever have thought that little red-headed kid with a tear in his pants and his shirt tail hanging out playing stick ball with a tennis ball and a broom handle would wind up sitting here after 67 years of broadcasting and with my arm around one of the greatest players I ever saw, the great Willie Mays? There are miracles, aren't there, right? Let's go back to this one. I've had enough spotlight for 10 years, 10 lives."

But for one last time, the spotlight and the eyes and ears of baseball fans everywhere were transfixed on Vin Scully, his rare and gifted voice finally uttering its last words at a baseball game.

Video: LAD@SF: Scully's grandchildren join him in the booth

With the game over and the microphone turned off, Scully headed to the press elevator with Sandi alongside him, got on the golf cart and headed out of the ballpark, waving to Dodgers and Giants fans all cheering his exit.

But before he left, he had some final words for the fans in his last postgame wrap, words that tell the tale about Vin Scully and the love he has for baseball and its fans.

"You and I have been friends for a long time," Scully said, looking into the camera, "but I know in my heart that I've always needed you more than you ever needed me. I'll miss our time together more than I can say. But you know what? There will be a new day and eventually a new year, and when the upcoming winter gives way to spring, rest assured once again it will be time for Dodger baseball.

"So this is Vin Scully, wishing you a very pleasant afternoon, wherever you may be." </s> Vin Scully’s iconic voice on the videoboard welcomed a sellout crowd to Game No. 162, the regular-season finale, yes, and – more notably – the last of his decorated, Hall of Fame broadcasting career.

“It’s time for Giant-Dodger baseball, the greatest rivalry in all of professional sports,” Scully declared.

Scully attended morning mass in the ballpark as is his usual Sunday routine and then headed for his booth to work as he has done for an astounding 67 years – exactly 80 years after he became a Giants fan at age 8 in the Bronx.

“It was as if it was ordained,” Scully said during San Francisco’s 7-1 win that secured the Giants the second NL wild card. “I hope you’re enjoying it and I hope I’m not interrupting it too much.”

San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy cherished his chance to visit with Scully last week at Dodger Stadium, and to be part of Scully’s special farewell Sunday.

“This is his last game, and we’re honoured to think he’d come up here, 80 years to the day that he became a Giants fan,” Bochy said. “That’s pretty amazing, isn’t it? Not just a tremendous body of work but how long he’s been doing it and how great he still is. So it’s pretty cool.”

Fans in the sellout crowd turned to look up at Scully with their standing ovation and held signs as a Scully video welcomed fans on the scoreboard shortly before first pitch at AT&T Park, where he has been riding in and out of the ballpark on Hall of Famer Willie Mays’s golf cart and had some time to reminisce with the Say Hey Kid on Saturday.

The 88-year-old Scully politely declined any kind of on-field celebration offered by the Giants. San Francisco then jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first.

“Just as it has been for two years, the Dodgers are in trouble at AT&T Park,” Scully said. “The sun has broken through the clouds and it is shining on the Giants for the moment.”

Scully’s booth featured a special security detail all weekend, and Scully had several personal drivers to get around the city. He handled the Giants’ broadcast in the third inning, then said while San Francisco fans might consider it no big deal, it was for him, noting his appreciation of the thoughtful gesture.

Scully offered some memorable phrases early in his finale:

During Hunter Pence’s first-inning at-bat, Scully noted, “He would make coffee nervous. … He’s just been a wild man swinging the bat this series.” Scully noted later in the broadcast Pence is one of his favourite players because “he tries so hard,” but noted the right fielder is trying too hard right now.

“A room-service fly ball to Angel Pagan,” he called Adrian Gonzalez’s fly to left in the second. Later, Scully described Pagan’s “piercing eyes.”

Everybody involved seemed to appreciate the moment, being a tiny part of it or simply playing witness to the end of an era in baseball.

“It’s hard to repeat what happened last Sunday at Dodger Stadium, but the finality now, Dodgers-Giants, I know there might be a tear in Vin’s eye,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “To be a part of what he’s done in his last game, I’ll give him a little salute at some point.”

Afterward, Roberts called it a “huge honour” to be part of Scully’s finale and also “sad day, but it’s something that definitely should be rejoiced. He’s had an amazing career.”

Mike Krukow and the other Giants broadcasters told Scully how much they loved him and led Take Me Out to the Ball Game in the adjoining booth from Scully during the seventh-inning stretch.

How did Scully finish his career?

After pinch-hitter Rob Segedin flied out to left field to end the game in San Francisco, Scully spotted the umpires bidding him farewell from the field.

Scully closed his broadcast by telling viewers, “I have said enough for a lifetime and for the last time I wish you a very pleasant good afternoon.”

His work wasn’t done just yet.

Scully narrated a video of his own career highlights before he returned to the screen with a message that was taped before the game. He told viewers he’d “miss our time together more than I can say.”

Then he closed again, reciting a familiar and favourite line among Dodgers fans: “This is Vin Scully wishing you a very pleasant good afternoon wherever you may be.” </s> A look at what’s happening around the majors today:

San Francisco holds a one-game lead over St. Louis for the last NL playoff spot going into the final day of the regular season. Matt Moore starts at home for the Giants vs. the Dodgers, and a win gives them the second NL wild-card slot. In St. Louis, Adam Wainwright and the Cardinals need to beat Pittsburgh and hope for a Giants loss to force a one-game tiebreaker.

Baltimore, Toronto and Detroit all have a chance to win an AL wild-card berth going into the last day.

Adding to the final-day drama: Every game in the majors is scheduled to start within 10 minutes of each other.

Famed announcer Vin Scully calls his last game when the Los Angeles Dodgers wrap up the regular season in San Francisco. The 88-year-old Scully began doing Dodgers game in 1950 when he joined Red Barber and Connie Desmond in the Brooklyn radio and television booth. The Giants plan to simulcast his call of the third inning on their TV and radio affiliates.

The Atlanta Braves play their final game at Turner Field, called “the Ted” by fans in a nod to past owner Ted Turner. Chipper Jones got the first hit when the former Centennial Olympic Stadium opened for big league baseball in 1997. We’ll see who gets the last hit when Detroit visits Atlanta in the finale. Next year, the Braves will play in the suburbs at SunTrust Park.

Mark Teixeira will be honored with a pregame ceremony before winding up his big league career when the Yankees host Baltimore. A three-time All-Star and five-time Gold Glove first baseman, the 36-year-old has hit over 400 home runs with Texas, Atlanta, the Angels and Yankees. Popular with teammates and fans, Teixeira was among the most durable players in the majors until injuries took their toll in recent seasons.

David Ortiz, Ryan Howard and Matt Holliday will likely play for the last time in the regular season in the uniforms they’ve worn for so long. Ortiz is retiring after this year with the AL East champion Red Sox, the Phillies aren’t expected to bring back Howard and the Cardinals plan to buy out Holliday. All three stars are expected to get big ovations from home fans.

Several front-line starters around the majors will be prepping for their postseason assignments. David Price (17-9) pitches for AL East champion Boston against Toronto, while Kenta Maeda (16-10) goes for the Dodgers in San Francisco. Meanwhile, right-handers Kyle Hendricks (16-8, 1.99 ERA) of the Cubs and Max Scherzer of the Nationals (19-7, 2.82, MLB-best 277 strikeouts) make their closing arguments for the NL Cy Young Award.

In what will be Washington’s first — and last — entirely meaningless game of 2016, Max Scherzer is eyeing his second 20-win season and an NL Cy Young Award to add to the 2013 AL honor he won for Detroit while going 21-3. “That’s been the pinnacle for pitchers ever since I was in the game — and long before me. It would be forever: ‘He’s a 20-game winner,'” Nationals manager Dusty Baker said. Expounding on how he views pitchers’ stats, Baker said: “People put a lot of emphasis on ERA, which is good, but I put emphasis on wins for a guy that knows how to win, whether it’s 7-6 or whether it’s 2-1. Certain guys know how to win.”

In Tampa Bay’s finale at Texas, 27-year-old righty Chase Whitley is set to extend the Rays’ majors-leading streak of 398 straight starts by a pitcher under 30. Whitley hasn’t started a big league game since having Tommy John surgery in early 2015.

Versatile veteran Martin Prado is getting a new role with Miami for the final day of the regular season — player-manager . Prado will play third base and take managerial duties from Don Mattingly in the finale against Washington, something the Marlins can do because the game has no meaning to either team. Other players will fill the role of pitching and hitting coaches, though those appointments were yet to be made as of Saturday night. “He’s got have his crew,” though, Mattingly said. </s> Sprayed champagne and beer flooded the blue carpet in the Dodgers clubhouse. The stench of alcohol hung in the damp air. Wives, kids and a puppy were in on the party with music blaring.

The Los Angeles Dodgers celebrated clinching their fourth straight NL West title with the kind of storybook ending this city was built on: winning the crown in Vin Scully’s final home game when Charlie Culberson homered with two outs in the 10th inning to beat the Colorado Rockies 4-3 on Sunday.

“It hasn’t really sunk in,” said Culberson, who made the opening day roster only to flip-flop between the majors and minors during the season.

Scully eluded the clubhouse chaos and the throng of fans waiting outside the press box named for him, having quietly exited after broadcasting his last game at Dodger Stadium.

The 88-year-old Hall of Famer who has just three games left, at San Francisco next weekend, before ending his 67-year career, bid a public farewell to the team and its 51,962 fans at the end of the game.

“I was hoping the team would win the game 10-0 and there would be no tension, and it would be a nice easy day,” Scully said, looking out at the sea of faces turned toward his booth. “Believe me when I tell you, I’ve needed you far more than you’ve needed me.”

At that, he asked the crowd to indulge what he called “a loving gesture” and listen to him singing “Wind Beneath My Wings” which he recorded for his wife, Sandi. As the song played, the couple stood with their arms around each other.

“A lot of history this weekend,” ace Clayton Kershaw said.

Under Dave Roberts, the Dodgers became the first NL West team to win four straight division titles, also a first in franchise history. Roberts joined Tommy Lasorda (1977) as the only rookie managers to lead the club to a division title.

“It was a work in progress all year,” said Roberts, his eyes burning from champagne. “We’re going to enjoy it.”

Culberson’s first homer of the season and just sixth of his career landed in the lower left-field seats, touching off wild cheers and a raucous celebration at home plate. The Dodgers charged out of their dugout and surrounded Culberson, jumping up and down. They donned championship T-shirts and hats from carts wheeled on the field.

“I wanted to see how they did it because everybody on this team believes and thinks that we’re going to do that next year,” Colorado starter Tyler Anderson said after his team’s 83rd defeat.

The Dodgers took off their caps, turned toward the broadcast booth and held them in a salute to Scully, nattily attired in his usual long-sleeved shirt and tie despite the 35-degree heat. He began with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1950 and is the longest-tenured broadcaster with a single team in professional sports.

“What a special day,” third baseman Justin Turner said. “It’s an incredible feeling.”

Catcher Yasmani Grandal partied with his puppy, Taz, after the players jogged around the warning track exchanging high-fives with fans.

In the end, the Dodgers provided plenty of drama for Scully to describe.

“Yeah, Vin has a lot of pull,” Colorado manager Walt Weiss said.

In San Diego, rookie Manuel Margot tripled in the seventh inning and scored the go-ahead run on Wil Myers’ single as the Padres dropped San Francisco to a game behind the New York Mets in the NL wild-card race.

In Chicago, David Ross homered and teamed with Jon Lester for another scoreless performance, and the Cubs hurt St. Louis’ wild-card chances.

The Cardinals remain a half-game back of San Francisco for the second NL wild card.

In New York, Asdrubal Cabrera hit a grand slam, Jose Reyes drove in four runs and the Mets got the largest shutout victory in team history to maintain their NL wild-card lead.

In Milwaukee, Brandon Finnegan pitched five scoreless innings in his final start of the season.

In Pittsburgh, Nationals star Bryce Harper injured his left thumb making an awkward slide to avoid a pretend tag by Pittsburgh third baseman Kang Jung-ho, and the teams later cleared the benches in Washington’s win.

In Baltimore, Kim Hyun-soo hit his fifth home run, a two-run shot in the second inning.

Baltimore leads Detroit by 1½ games for the second AL wild card and trails Toronto by 1½ games for the top spot.

In Cleveland, Carlos Rodon struck out a career-high 11 over eight dominant innings and Chicago kept the Indians from winning the AL Central title.

In Toronto, Ezequiel Carrera drove in the tying run with a squeeze bunt in the ninth, Edwin Encarnacion hit a winning single and Toronto kept its AL wild-card lead.

In Detroit, Salvador Perez homered to cap a cycle by Kansas City’s first four batters.

Dustin Pedroia used nifty baserunning to score from first base on David Ortiz’s double in the 10th inning.

In Houston, Joe Musgrove pitched seven strong innings, while Evan Gattis, Tony Kemp and Tyler White homered.

In Minneapolis, Nelson Cruz homered twice before leaving with left wrist soreness, Jesus Sucre homered for the first time in 14 months and Seattle beat Minnesota.

In Oakland, Jharel Cotton pitched seven crisp innings and the Athletics avoided a series sweep. </s> LOS ANGELES | David Dahl’s go-ahead home run in the ninth gave the Rockies hope.

The Dodgers took it away in the bottom of the inning, with a tying homer by Corey Seager.

Then former Rockies second baseman Charlie Culberson homered with two outs in the 10th inning, giving Los Angeles a 4-3 victory Sunday that clinched its fourth straight NL West title.

“I’m looking like I’m not going to give up a run and then a homer and then another homer to clinch the division and everything,” Colorado reliever Adam Ottavino said. “It’s just kind of amazing.”

The Rockies notched their 83rd defeat, having been swept in the four-game series. The finished 7-12 against the Dodgers this season.

“Tough loss any way you look at it,” manager Walt Weiss said.

Culberson’s first homer of the season and just sixth of his career landed in the lower left-field seats, touching off wild cheers and a raucous celebration at home plate. The Dodgers charged out of their dugout and surrounded Culberson, jumping up and down.

“I wanted to see how they did it because everybody on this team believes and thinks that we’re going to do that next year,” Rockies starter Tyler Anderson said. “I want them to enjoy it. They worked hard and earned it, but hope’s not too (far off).”

Anderson allowed two runs and 10 hits in 6 1/3 innings. The left-hander struck out one and walked two.

“A lot of the balls that were hits were groundballs that got through or balls that snuck down the line,” he said.

Colorado’s DJ LeMahieu recorded his NL-leading 59th multi-hit game with a pair of singles.

The Dodgers took off their caps, turned toward Vin Scully’s broadcasting booth and held them in a salute to the 88-year-old Hall of Famer, who has just three games at San Francisco next weekend before ending his 67-year career.

Under first-year manager Dave Roberts, the Dodgers became the first NL West team to win four straight division titles.

Scully began with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1950 and is the longest-tenured broadcaster with a single team in professional sports. He was nattily attired in his usual long-sleeved shirt and tie despite the 95-degree heat.

Joe Blanton (7-2) pitched the 10th to get the victory.

Boone Logan (2-5) took the loss in relief.

The Dodgers provided plenty of drama for Scully to describe.

Seager homered with two outs in the ninth off Adam Ottavino, tying the game 3-all. It was the rookie’s 190th hit of the season to go with a single in the first and triple in the seventh.

Dahl’s two-out homer snapped a 2-all tie in the ninth off closer Kenley Jansen.

Seager’s triple rolled into the right-field corner, tying the game 2-all and chasing Anderson.

The Dodgers trailed 2-1 after Yasiel Puig’s sacrifice fly in the third.

Colorado took a 2-0 lead in the third on Dustin Garneau’s RBI double in the right field corner and Charlie Blackmon’s sacrifice fly.

Brandon McCarthy came off the disabled list (right hip stiffness) earlier in the day to make his first start for the Dodgers since Aug. 13. He replaced Rich Hill, who skipped his scheduled start for precautionary reasons because of a recurrence of blisters on the index finger of his left pitching hand.

McCarthy gave up two runs and four hits in 5 1/3 innings, struck out six and walked one. He hasn’t won since July 9 against San Diego.

There was a moment of silence for Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez before the game. He was killed in a boating accident early Sunday in Miami. Fellow Cuban Yasiel Puig used pieces of white athletic tape to secure Fernandez’s jersey to the wall of the Dodgers’ dugout. The flags in center field were lowered to half-staff.

The announced attendance of 51,962 brought the Dodgers’ season total to 3,703,312, their fourth consecutive year leading the major leagues.

Rockies: They’re off Monday before opening a three-game series at San Francisco. RHP German Marquez (1-0, 3.48 ERA) makes his first major league start on the road, where he has a 6.23 ERA. He has yet to allow a homer.

Dodgers: After an off day Monday, RHP Jose De Leon (2-0, 5.52) starts the series opener at San Diego. He beat the Padres 7-4 in his major league debut on Sept. 4, allowing four runs (three earned) and five hits in six innings. He had nine strikeouts and no walks. </s> Boston Red Sox’s Eduardo Nunez is upended by Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes while Barnes tried to field a wild pitch during the 13th inning in Game 3 of the World Series baseball game on Friday, Oct. 26, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

LOS ANGELES — Exhausting and then exhilarating for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Max Muncy’s home run leading off the bottom of the 18th inning finally ended the longest World Series game in history early Saturday and gave Los Angeles a 3-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox that drew the Dodgers to 2-1 in the best-of-seven Series.

While the Dodgers mobbed Muncy at home plate, the Red Sox will rue one that got away.

They were oh-so-close in the 13th to taking a huge 3-0 lead. But second baseman Ian Kinsler’s wide throw on a two-out grounder by Yasiel Puig let Los Angeles score the tying run in a game that lasted 7 hours, 20 minutes.

Muncy later homered to left-centre off Nathan Eovaldi, jolting the remaining fans to their feet at 12:30 a.m. A grinning Muncy tossed his helmet in the air as he headed for third.

Recalling Kirk Gibson’s winning pinch-hit homer in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series, Muncy came within feet of ending it in the bottom of the 15th. But his shot to right sailed just foul and he ended up striking out.

The battle of attrition had a bit of everything, including 18 pitchers and 27 position players.

Long after rookie Walker Buehler dazzled over seven shutout innings for the Dodgers, things got interesting.

The Red Sox tied it 1-all in the eighth and took a 2-1 lead in the 13th.

The Dodgers answered with the tying run in the bottom of the inning.

After Dodgers centre fielder Cody Bellinger made the throw of his life in the 10th, both teams scored on bizarre errors in the 13th.

Boston manager Alex Cora used starter David Price in relief, rotated his outfielders in the middle of innings and even put catcher Christian Vazquez at first base for the first time in his big league career.

Out of position players, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts called on ace Clayton Kershaw to pinch-hit in the 17th. He flied out.

The stadium organist was busy, too, launching into “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” in the 14th inning — a second version of the seventh-inning stretch. Not many had left by then.

The crowd cheered when the stadium clock reached midnight.

Game 4 is Saturday at Dodger Stadium. Eovaldi was scheduled to start for the Red Sox, but he threw 97 pitches in relief as one of nine pitchers they used. Left-hander Rich Hill starts for the Dodgers.

The Red Sox had a wild 13th, with a walk, a steal, an infield hit and an error before taking a 2-1 lead.

Brock Holt drew a leadoff walk and stole second. Pinch-hitter Eduardo Nunez got flipped on his back by catcher Austin Barnes as he chased Scott Alexander’s wild pitch.

Nunez then reached on a nubber to the right side and Alexander botched the throw to first, allowing Holt to score. Nunez got knocked on his back again in the play at first, but stayed in the game since the Boston had no one left on its bench.

The Dodgers tied it 2-all in the bottom of the 13th. Muncy drew a leadoff walk and tagged up when Nunez tumbled into the third base stands after catching Cody Bellinger’s pop foul. Muncy scored when Kinsler botched the throw to first on Yasiel Puig’s infield single.

Boston’s Jackie Bradley Jr. tied it 1-all with a homer off closer Kenley Jansen in the eighth.

RELATED: Price is right for Red Sox in Game 2 win

The Dodgers led 1-0 on Joc Pederson’s two-out homer in the third.

Both teams squandered numerous chances. The Red Sox stranded runners in the 10th and 11th. The Dodgers left runners on in every inning from the fifth to the 11th.

Boston had runners at the corners in the 10th. Pedro Baez walked J.D. Martinez with one out and took third on Holt’s single to centre.

Bellinger started a sensational, inning-ending double play from centre field, catching Nunez’s pinch-hit fly and then firing to catcher Austin Barnes a few feet up the third-base line. Barnes made the tag as Kinsler came barrelling past and both players tumbled to the dirt.

The game began in 78-degree heat — 31 degrees warmer than at Fenway Park for the first two games.

Buehler stymied the Red Sox through seven scoreless innings. The right-hander retired his final 14 batters before leaving after 108 pitches. He allowed two hits, struck out seven and didn’t walk anyone.

Boston starter Rick Porcello gave up one run and three hits in 4 2/3 innings, struck out five and walked one.

Hill is 0-0 with a 2.61 ERA this post-season, starting once in the NLDS against Atlanta and once in the NLCS against Milwaukee. He also appeared in relief in Game 6 of the NLCS. </s> MILWAUKEE — Yasiel Puig and Cody Bellinger flexed their muscles. Chris Taylor flashed some leather.

Then the Los Angeles Dodgers got a lift from ace Clayton Kershaw out of the bullpen to finish off the Milwaukee Brewers and return to the World Series.

Puig broke open a tight game with a three-run homer in the sixth inning, Taylor robbed Christian Yelich with a super catch and the Dodgers took Game 7 of the NL Championship Series with a 5-1 win on Saturday night.

It’s off to Fenway Park for a showdown against the Boston Red Sox in Game 1 of the World Series on Tuesday.

Los Angeles hasn’t won the World Series since 1988. The Dodgers and Red Sox have met once before in the World Series, back in 1916 with Boston beating Brooklyn behind a big game from pitcher Babe Ruth.

Kenley Jansen tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings before yielding to Kershaw in the ninth. The three-time Cy Young Award winner, pitching on two days of rest after starting Game 5, tossed a perfect inning and finished off the Brewers by striking out Mike Moustakas.

Kershaw’s teammates mobbed Kershaw near the mound after the final out, and the celebration was just beginning for manager Dave Roberts and the Dodgers.

They’ve talked about having unfinished business after losing Game 7 of the World Series last year to the Houston Astros. Now the Dodgers have made baseball’s final series of the year in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1977-78.

The Brewers had their chances against rookie starter Walker Buehler, a 24-year-old right-hander who navigated through trouble over 4 2/3 innings. He allowed six hits, including a home run in the first by Yelich that made it 1-0.

Yelich looked like he would get to the Dodgers again in the fifth with Lorenzo Cain on second with two outs. The MVP candidate hit a high, hard liner to left that seemed destined to fall in for a double.

Running at full speed to his left, Taylor extended his glove hand high in the air just as the ball settled into the mitt to end the inning.

Taylor reversed course and ran excitedly back to the dugout, screaming “Let’s go!”

The Dodgers they waited for lights-out left-hander Josh Hader to leave the game to get their bats going again.

Brewers manager Craig Counsell inserted Hader into the game in the third after starter Jhoulys Chacin gave up a two-run homer to Cody Bellinger in the second for a 2-1 lead for the Dodgers. Hader tossed three shutout innings, striking out four being pulled after 31 pitches.

Puig’s three-run shot off reliever Jeremy Jeffress quieted the breathless, screaming Brewers fans at Miller Park.

The excitable outfielder raised both arms as he rounded second, wiggling his fingers skyward to mimic the Brewers’ trademark celebration move. Manny Machado, the object of nonstop boos from Milwaukee fans, obliged with the same gesture as he watched from the dugout steps.

Bellinger raised his right arm and pointing to his biceps as he rounded third after his homer.

The mighty Dodgers, who hit an NL-best 235 homers, outslugged the Brewers, who were second in the league with 218.

The loss ended a remarkable year for the Brewers. A late surge led by Yelich lifted Milwaukee from 5 1/2 games out of the NL Central lead on Aug. 28 to one win short of the franchise’s second World Series appearance.

An American League team in 1982, the Brewers lost the Series in seven games that year to the St. Louis Cardinals.

Game 7 against the Dodgers was the first at home for the franchise, coming 36 years to the day after losing the seventh game to the Cardinals in the Series.

But with Yelich and first baseman Jesus Aguilar emerging as offensive cornerstones, and a deep well of young pitching in the majors, the Brewers figure to be a team to beat again in the National League in 2019.

They’ll have to dethrone the Dodgers.
Vin Scully, broadcaster for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers since 1950, calls his final game.