Muncy walks it off to send LA into break

59 minutes ago

LOS ANGELES — A three-run rally in the eighth inning laid the groundwork for the Dodgers to walk off the D-backs in the ninth at Dodger Stadium. While the offense was silent for much of the game, it roared back late, with Max Muncy’s three-run homer providing the final punch in the 7-4 win.

After winning nine in a row, the Dodgers hit a bit of a rough patch over the past week. They pieced together three wins in their final seven games heading into the All-Star break, but Sunday’s victory showed the Dodgers’ resilience — and kept them within striking distance of first place in the National League West.

“I think the hitting at times has been really good, at times it’s been not good, so I think that that’s been sort of inconsistent,” manager Dave Roberts said. “The pitching has been really good for us; the starters and the guys in the ‘pen have done a fantastic job.”

And in the club’s 91st game of the season, the pitching had its moments to shine. Kenley Jansen’s shutdown ninth inning in particular was key in setting the stage for the walk-off. But it was the six runs in the final two frames of the game that made it a memorable ending to the season’s first half.

After Mookie Betts’ 379-foot leadoff blast in the first inning, L.A.’s bats went quiet until the eighth. The comeback began with Zach McKinstry working a leadoff walk. Betts and Muncy followed with back-to-back singles to load the bases for Justin Turner. It was a familiar situation for Turner, who mashed his first career grand slam during the Dodgers’ 22-1 win on Saturday. This time, he hit a long single.

The next two runs came from Will Smith, who was hit by a pitch, and Chris Taylor, whose base hit tied the game.

Albert Pujols started the bottom of the ninth with a single up the middle, then Betts was intentionally walked two at-bats later.

“The guy [D-backs pitcher J.B. Bukauskas] has a good sinker and changeup, so he set up the double play,” Muncy said. “It was a logical move, but thankfully, I made him pay for it.”

Indeed, Muncy made Bukauskas pay by driving a 2-1 fastball to the right-center bleachers. Muncy’s 19th homer of the season was hit 403 feet with an exit velocity of 107.7 mph, per Statcast.

It was a loud sendoff into All-Star break, and one the Dodgers can build upon. Los Angeles remains two games behind the first-place Giants while holding the second-best record in baseball.

“Considering what all we’ve been through, I’d say it’s pretty good. I don’t know how many injuries we’ve had, but the fact that [is] we’re playing really good baseball,” Muncy said. “We have a really good record right now. We haven’t played anywhere near the caliber that we are capable of playing.”

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