Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy was the difference in the Boys in Blue’s 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies Tuesday night.
Not only did he hit the two-run homer that provided the Dodgers’ only offense, but he started the game-ending double play by nabbing a grounder and firing it to catcher Dalton Rushing at home.
Along the way, he also made some Dodgers history.
Max Muncy climbs higher in Dodgers record books
Muncy’s homer in the top of the fourth inning was the 228th of his Dodgers career, tying him with Ron Cey for second-most in LA Dodgers history.
After the game, Muncy admitted he wasn’t sure he’d hit the ball well enough to get over the fence, a funny thought considering the blast went 421 feet.
“I didn’t think I got it. I thought I hit it a little bit too low,” he told reporters.
Despite that, the ball did indeed clear the fence, and Muncy moved up in the record books.
“I knew I was getting close to Cey, but I didn’t know that one did it,” he told reporters. “It’s really, really cool. I always say anytime you’re on any type of leaderboard when it comes to this organization, you’ve done something right. For me, that means a lot.”
Muncy celebrates defense most of all
But more than anything, Muncy said he enjoyed starting the game-ending double play.
With the Dodgers clinging to a one-run lead in the bottom of the ninth and runners on second and third, Muncy grabbed the grounder and threw it to Rushing, forcing Justin Crawford, who’d been on third, to turn back toward third base.
After a brief rundown, Mookie Betts tagged Crawford and threw a dart to second, where J.T. Realmuto had inexplicably retreated during the rundown.
Betts’ throw led to Tommy Edman’s game-ending tag of Realmuto, but it all began with Muncy’s grab and throw home.
“For me, the work I’ve been putting in on defense, anytime I can make an impact on defense, those are always way more important to me,” Muncy said. “I want to keep growing over there and keep getting better, and tonight was a good opportunity for it.”
