Muncy Secures Dodgers Win
Max Muncy's Two-Run Homer and Phillies' Blunder Secure Dodgers' 2-1 Victory
Anonymous
Key Points
1
In the ninth inning, the Phillies staged a baserunning blunder that doomed their comeback: pinch-runner Justin Crawford attempted to score on a Brandon Marsh squibber and was tagged out in a rundown, and then J.T. Realmuto, who had reached third, tried to retreat to second and was thrown out, wrapping up a game-ending double play for the Dodgers.
2
The game was delayed by rain for 1 hour and 20 minutes before first pitch and played in persistent drizzle thereafter, creating soggy conditions at Citizens Bank Park.
3
After Muncy’s 228th career homer, outlets differed on where it ranks in Dodgers lore: AP reported it moved him into a tie for second with Ron Cey, while MLB.com listed it as tying for the fifth-most in franchise history, highlighting a discrepancy across outlets.
4
Shohei Ohtani contributed one of the Dodgers’ five hits and later was thrown out trying to stretch a third-inning single into a double, a notable baserunning moment in a tight pitchers’ duel.
Max Muncy hit a two-run homer off Zack Wheeler in the fourth inning Tuesday night, lifting the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. The victory snapped a two-game skid and gave the Dodgers a 2-0 series lead heading into Wednesday's rubber match at Citizens Bank Park, according to The Score.
The game was delayed 1 hour and 20 minutes by rain before first pitch and played in a persistent drizzle throughout, per Fresno Bee. Muncy's blast — his 19th of the season — was all Justin Wrobleski needed, as the young starter went 6 1/3 innings of one-run ball to improve to 11-2 on the year.
Muncy Blast Moves Him Up Dodgers History
Muncy crushed his 228th career homer as a Dodger in the fourth inning, a two-run shot that put Los Angeles up 2-0. The Score reported the homer tied him with Ron Cey for second on the Dodgers' all-time list. However, Sacramento Bee listed it as tying for fifth-most in franchise history — a discrepancy between outlets covering the same record.
Either way, the shot was the game's decisive moment. Wheeler, who skipped an All-Star invitation to stay sharp, struck out nine over seven innings and walked nobody. He allowed just five hits and both of the Dodgers' runs — with Muncy's homer accounting for all the damage, per San Luis Obispo Tribune.
Wrobleski Shines in a Soggy Pitcher's Duel
Justin Wrobleski was the story on the mound. The 25-year-old lefty threw 6 1/3 innings and gave up just one run. He struck out five and kept the Phillies off-balance all night in wet, slippery conditions. His record now stands at 11-2, one of the best marks in baseball, according to Fresno Bee.
Shohei Ohtani contributed one of the Dodgers' five total hits. But Ohtani was thrown out in the third inning trying to stretch a single into a double — a rare baserunning slip for the star. The Dodgers did not need the extra base. Their two runs in the fourth were enough, per The Score.
Phillies' Ninth-Inning Blunder Ends the Game
Philadelphia made a serious push in the ninth inning. The Phillies got runners to second and third with one out, putting the tying run 90 feet away. That's when things fell apart. Pinch-runner Justin Crawford broke for home on a Brandon Marsh squibber and got caught in a rundown. He was tagged out, according to NBC Sports.
With Crawford out, J.T. Realmuto — who had been at third — tried to retreat to second base. He was thrown out to end the game on a 5-2-6-4 double play. Tanner Scott recorded the save. The Phillies' baserunning mistake turned a potential rally into a deflating final out, per The Score.
Dodgers Take Series Lead Into Wednesday Finale
With the win, the Dodgers have taken the first two games of the three-game set in Philadelphia. They avoided a third straight loss and arrive at the rubber match with momentum. The Phillies must now win Wednesday to avoid a series loss at home, per Sacramento Bee.
Muncy's power surge has been a bright spot for Los Angeles all season. His 19th homer ties him near the top of the Dodgers' historical leaderboard. For a team built on star power, it was a journeyman slugger who delivered when it mattered most — in the rain, in enemy territory.
Sentiment
Mostly NegativeNEGATIVENEUTRALPOSITIVE
Publishers
11
Articles
54
Reach
65
A
AnonymousAuthor