The Los Angeles Dodgers overcame an early 3-0 lead in Game 7 of the World Series to eventually win 5-4 and capture their second consecutive World Series title.
The Dodgers were largely held in check by Toronto Blue Jays starter Max Scherzer, who retired nine batters in a row after Shohei Ohtani singled to lead off the game.
Their first big opportunity of the game came in the fourth inning with the bases loaded and just one out, but the Dodgers only managed to score one run thanks to some excellent defense from the Blue Jays.
The Dodgers couldn’t put together a big inning, but to their credit, they clawed back to within a run in the sixth inning on their second sacrifice fly of the game. Toronto responded with another run of their own in the bottom half of the frame, erasing the progress the Dodgers had just made.
Things were looking bleak before Max Muncy gave the Dodgers new life in the eighth inning with a solo home run off Game 5 hero Trey Yesavage to bring L.A. back to within one.
Muncy discussed his approach against Yesavage during an appearance on the “On Base With Mookie Betts” podcast and explained what adjustments he made:
“The splitter and slider did the exact same thing, one was just slower and they were spinning a little different. To me, and I said this in one of the hitters’ meetings, I said, ‘I want to treat him like I’m facing a left-handed pitcher that’s just throwing down sliders.’ So that was my whole approach. If I’m facing a lefty, this has got to start at me and it’s got to be up.
“Because usually when you’re facing a righty and the ball starts at you, you’re jumping out of the way. And the first couple of times I did face him, I did jump out of the way. I was like, ‘Ooh, I don’t know what I’m looking at right here.’”
Muncy was 1-for-4 against Yesavage in the World Series heading into Game 7.
The Blue Jays’ pitcher had just dominated the Dodgers’ offense in Game 5 with excellent use of his splitter and slider. But because Muncy stayed true to his keys and game plan, he was able to take advantage of a splitter hanging over the middle of the plate.
With the solo homer, Muncy paved the way for Miguel Rojas to tie the game in the ninth inning and for Will Smith to give the Dodgers a decided lead in the 11th inning.
Max Muncy’s big Game 7 performance
Muncy had struggled to contribute much during the World Series heading into Game 7, with just three hits in 24 at-bats. But he reached base four times in the winner-take-all matchup behind three hits and a walk.
Overall this postseason, he hit .214/.353/.411 with two doubles, three home runs and 11 walks.
The Dodgers exercised their team option on Muncy to keep him under contract for the 2026 season at a $10 million salary.
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