The month of June has been a turning point for the Los Angeles Dodgers’ offense. The club, as a whole, ranks first in numerous statistical categories, including home runs (34), slugging percentage (.553) and on-base plus slugging (.899).
The Dodgers have additionally made some history along the way, recently setting an MLB record for most consecutive games in which a club’s No. 2 batter homered in. The streak began on June 8 when Max Muncy slugged his then-10th home run of the season against Atlanta Braves left-hander Sam Freeman.
Muncy followed up in the ensuing contest with his 11th home run of the season — a solo shot off Braves right-hander Anibal Sanchez in the first inning — extending the Dodgers’ streak to two games with a home run from their No. 2 hitter.
Then in the finale of the three-game matchup last week, Muncy provided another home run out of the No. 2 slot against Braves southpaw Sean Newcomb.
The streak was extended last Tuesday when Muncy, for the fourth consecutive game, slugged his 13th home run of the season against Texas Rangers starter Bartolo Colon.
Muncy received a day off in the following game, but Justin Turner kept the streak alive by hitting his second home run of the season out of the No. 2 spot against Rangers left-hander Cole Hamels.
Over the weekend against the San Francisco Giants saw Kiké Hernandez provide the power against a duo of left-handed starters. On Friday, he extended the Dodgers’ streak to six games with a home run against Derek Holland.
Hernandez, still in the No. 2 spot, delivered again on Saturday with a homer off Giants southpaw Madison Bumgarner. It was just the second time in Hernandez’s career going deep in back-to-back contests (Aug. 8-9, 2015).
Muncy returned to his usual No. 2 spot in the finale of the three-game series on Sunday, but failed to homer in the contest. He went 0-for-3 with a walk, and thus, ending the Dodgers’ Major League record at seven consecutive games.
