After seeing Chris Taylor miss more than one month because of a fractured left forearm that was a result of getting hit by a pitch, the Los Angeles Dodgers endured a similar scare with Max Muncy on Aug. 28.
Muncy was hit by a 94 mph fastball from San Diego Padres relief patcher Matt Strahm and immediately removed from the game after being checked on by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and a trainer. A series of tests ultimately discovered Muncy sustained a small fracture.
All things considered, he and the Dodgers were relieved by the prognosis. Muncy estimated he would return in two weeks and sure enough was back in the lineup a few days past his target date.
He missed two consecutive games because of tightness in his right quad but started in the series opener against the San Diego Padres. It was Muncy’s first time at Petco Park since his wrist injury, and sure enough he faced Strahm to lead off the seventh inning.
The at-bat ended in a strikeout, which Muncy said was an uncomfortable one and led to an adjustment to play matters safe, as seen on SportsNet LA:
“I’ll be honest, I wanted no part of that at-bat. I was standing about two feet further away than I normally do. I was trying to battle the best I could but it was definitely in the back of my head. Like I said, I really wanted no part of it, but that’s the game of baseball. It usually throws it right back at you.”
While he escaped without injury, Muncy did shake his head after a high fastball from Strahm, and he also fouled a pitch off his foot. He gained some relief in that being his final at-bat of the night, which was predetermined by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.
Muncy finished 1-for-4 with two runs scored, four RBI and a walk. His grand slam in the fourth inning proved to be the difference for the Dodgers in their 4-3 win. It was the team’s seventh grand slam this season and first of Muncy’s career.
