Even before the start of World Series Game 3 at Dodger Stadium, those in attendance might have been struck with a bit of déjà vu.
Country singer/songwriter -- and avid Dodgers fan -- Brad Paisley performed the U.S. national anthem before Monday night’s game against the Blue Jays. Just like seemingly every time Paisley performs during the postseason, the Dodgers were in for a long night.
For the fourth time, a night at Chavez Ravine beginning with the first notes of “The Star-Spangled Banner” on Paisley’s guitar ended in extra innings -- this time, on a walk-off home run by Freddie Freeman in the bottom of the 18th inning for a 6-5 Dodgers victory.
That’s right: It was Paisley who performed the anthem for three memorable (and long) World Series contests in Los Angeles: 11 innings in Game 2 in 2017, 18 innings in Game 3 in 2018 and 10 innings in Game 1 in 2024.
Paisley has been the pregame performer for both of the longest games in World Series history -- the two 18-inning marathons.
In three of those four games performing the anthem, Paisley and the Dodgers faithful went home happy thanks to some late heroics.
In 2018, Max Muncy’s walk-off homer in the 18th gave L.A. its only win of the Series against the Red Sox. And in 2024, Freeman crushed the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history in the 10th before the Dodgers beat the Yankees in a five-game Fall Classic.
While Game 2 of the 2017 World Series, featuring a Paisley pregame performance, didn’t end well for the Dodgers -- the Astros won it in 11 en route to a seven-game Series victory -- having the country star in attendance seems to pay off more often than not for L.A.
It just might take a while.