SAN FRANCISCO -- There’s just something about facing the Giants that brings out the best in Max Muncy.
After blasting a pair of home runs in Monday’s series opener, the Dodgers’ slugger launched two more on Wednesday night as Los Angeles beat San Francisco 10-5 to earn a series victory.
“You’re happy for the player and the person because three days ago, it wasn’t like this,” manager Dave Roberts said. “It was a huge series, and I’m just happy to see him smile and help us win some ballgames.”
To Roberts’ point, Muncy entered the series just 4-for-33 with one home run and three RBIs. In the three games in San Francisco, he went 5-for-9 with four homers and 11 RBIs, and he didn’t even start Tuesday’s game.
“I made some adjustments to the swing, and I just felt like I was in a much better position to hit than I had been the last week or so,” Muncy explained. “I got a couple of mistakes, and I didn’t miss them.”
Muncy’s total of 11 RBIs in a three-game series was tied for second-most in franchise history, behind only Frank Howard’s 12 RBIs way back in 1962. He’s also the first player to record 11 RBIs in a three-game series against the Giants since Rockies outfielder Jeffrey Hammonds in 2000.
Since the start of the 2020 season, Muncy has hit 21 homers against the Giants, the second-most of any player against any opposing team, behind only Aaron Judge’s 22 against the Orioles.
“Very impressive,” said Wednesday’s starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw, who limited the Giants to three runs (two earned) in six innings for his 199th career win. “It is really hard to hit a home run off of Scott Alexander. Left on left makes it that much harder. So for Munce to take that swing and put it in left-center off that good of a sinker is really, really impressive.”
Muncy moved into a tie for second place in the Majors with five home runs this season. His 14 RBIs are tied for the National League lead.
“The way I was taking pitches and how my body was reacting on the takes, to me, that gave me all the confidence in the world that I needed right there that I knew I was doing the right things,” Muncy said. “Once I was able to do that, then it was alright, let’s just let your swing take over. You worked hard on it. It’s in a really good spot. Now that your body is in a good spot, just let the swing take over, and that’s what I was doing."
Trayce Thompson also homered for the Dodgers on Wednesday, his fourth in just 19 at-bats this season, and Freddie Freeman sparked a five-run rally in the sixth inning with an epic 15-pitch, bases-loaded walk where he fouled off 11 pitches, including nine in a row with a 3-2 count.
“It’s amazing how one at-bat can change the outlook of a game, but that definitely did it tonight,” Kershaw said.
Added Roberts: “He’s relentless in the batter’s box. Obviously, it goes without saying [that] it’s the best at-bat we’ve had this year. What it did for the dugout and the team, we just kind of fed off that momentum."
But once again, Muncy was the center of attention in San Francisco. The rival fans’ boos and jeers got louder and more intense with each at-bat.
Muncy couldn’t care less.
“What excites me is being in a position to win and being in a position to help the team win,” he said. “It’s a really fun group. This is one of the [most fun] groups I’ve been a part of so far. We’re still finding out who we are and it’s going to be fun down the stretch."