3 home runs for Muncy, 3 wins in a row for the Dodgers
LOS ANGELES — Max Muncy hit three of the Dodgers’ five home runs in a romp over the Braves, 11-2 on Saturday night in the middle game of a weekend series at Dodger Stadium.
Muncy hit a two-run shot to open the scoring in the second inning, and then added solo blasts in the seventh and eighth innings. It’s his first three-homer game of Muncy’s career and the 15th multi-homer of his career, all with the Dodgers.
MAX IS UNSTOPPABL3. pic.twitter.com/6mnHduyIBP
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 5, 2024
“I think he’s getting back to being a better hitter, and not just a one-dimensional slugger,” manager Dave Roberts said. “We haven’t seen a backside home run like that in a long time (the third home run). When you can go the other way, you’re spinning the ball the right way, and it carries out of the ballpark versus a swing that’s cutting it, your swing is in a really good spot.”
It was the first three-homer game by a Dodger since Trayce Thompson on April 1, 2023. No fooling.
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t,” Muncy said of wanting a home run in his final at-bat. “When you go up there in that last at-bat, the third one is always in your head.”
Shohei Ohtani hit a solo shot in the third inning, his eighth homer surpassing Dave Roberts for most in Dodgers history by a player born in Japan. It came after Ohtani gave Roberts a (toy) Porsche to commemorate the milestone.
Andy Pages had two more hits, adding another log on the fire of his red-hot first few weeks in the majors, including a solo home run in the fourth inning.
It’s not that the Dodgers have been lacking in home runs — they are tied for second in the majors, with 44 — but it’s been more of a steady trickle of late, at least until Saturday. Their five home runs against the Braves were just their fourth multi-homer effort in the last 19 games, and were their most hit in a single game this season.
The Dodgers had two other four-homer games (March 29 vs. Cardinals and April 12 vs. Padres) were also at Dodger Stadium, where the Dodgers have hit 27 home runs in 18 games, compared to 17 homers in 17 games everywhere else.
That was more than enough for Tyler Glasnow, who has been the horse of the pitching staff. He struck out 10 in his seven innings, the third time he’s had a double-digit strikeout game this season and the third time he’s lasted at least seven innings. On the season, Glasnow leads the majors with both 50 innings and 63 strikeouts.
“I think there is something to a guy like Tyler to be able to go deep into the game, because as the summer continues and you get into more meaningful games, he’s gotta have that history and that feeling of being able to go deep into games, because at times we’re going to have to push him.”
Glasnow’s ERA is down to 2.70 after allowing a pair of runs on Saturday, one each in the fourth and seventh. Each time Atlanta scored, the Dodgers answered with a crooked number in the bottom of the frame — four runs in the fourth, and three in the seventh.
“I’m just trying to piece them all together, and having good start after good start is kind of all I’m focusing on,” Glasnow said. “I think a lot of the other stuff that comes with it is awesome, but each start I’m just trying to pitch well every turn.”
Saturday particulars
Home runs: Max Muncy 3 (8), Shohei Ohtani (8), Andy Pages (6)
WP — Tyler Glasnow (6-1): 7 IP, 5 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk, 10 strikeouts
LP — Bryce Elder (1-1): 3⅓ IP, 7 hits, 7 runs, 4 hits, 4 strikeouts
Up next
The series finale is under the sun on Sunday (1:10 p.m., SportsNet LA) with a battle of southpaws. James Paxton starts for the Dodgers, with Max Fried on the mound for Atlanta.