On-base machine: Muncy reaches 12 straight times, breaking PS record

NEW YORK -- A Sean Manaea sinker left Max Muncy’s bat at a loud 105.1 mph in the second inning of Game 2 of the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium and settled into the glove of Mets center fielder Tyrone Taylor.

It was memorable because it was the last time the Mets would retire Muncy for a good, long while.

The longtime Dodger homered in his subsequent at-bat and kept on going, reaching safely his next 12 times up to the plate to set an all-time record for a single postseason and match the all-time mark if you include stretches that spanned multiple postseasons, according to Elias. Muncy matched Mr. October himself, Reggie Jackson, who reached in 12 straight postseason plate appearances for the Yankees from 1977-78.

“I definitely wasn't aware of it, but it's obviously really cool for me,” Muncy said. “The most important thing is that it means I’m getting on base, giving my teammates a chance to drive me in, creating havoc, doing anything I can. To me, that's just the important thing, is that I’m having good at-bats and helping get on base for guys.”

Muncy's streak stretched from his second plate appearance of Game 2 through his first four plate appearances of Game 4, a 10-2 Dodgers win on Thursday night at Citi Field that gave Los Angeles a 3-1 lead in the NLCS. Finally, Mets left-hander Danny Young put a stop to it by retiring Muncy on a swinging strikeout in the eighth inning of Game 4.

Here’s what Muncy’s streak looked like:

Home run
Walk
Walk
Walk
Single
Walk
Walk
Home run
Walk
Walk
Walk
Single

Muncy’s third walk of Game 4 snapped a tie for the record for a single postseason which he’d held with David Ortiz (2007) and Billy Hatcher (1990), who each reached safely in 10 straight postseason plate appearances. Ortiz, who is commenting on this NLCS for FS1, did it for the Red Sox. Hatcher did it for the Reds.

“[Game 3] was a clinic in how you conduct at-bats,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Muncy’s run. “I don't think he swung at a ball all night, which is pretty remarkable.”

Game 4 was even better. Determined not to chase pitches outside the strike zone from Mets starter Jose Quintana, Muncy worked the first of the Dodgers’ nine walks in the game. They have 31 walks so far in the series, a record for any four-game span in the postseason.

“It's remarkable, and leading the way is Max Muncy,” Roberts said.

Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández was asked whether he was surprised to see Muncy make an out. He smiled.

“Muncy is having a series,” Hernández said. “He’s that guy.”