Max Muncy had a hand in the Los Angeles Dodgers falling into a deficit due to three unearned runs, and he also played a bit part in their 8-3 comeback win against the San Diego Padres. The victory clinched the series and extended the Dodgers’ winning streak to seven games.
They additionally added to a season-best lead in the National League West standings that now is at 14.5 games.
The Dodgers took a 2-0 lead behind a home run and RBI single from Will Smith within the first three innings. It added to what’s been a torrid stretch for Smith, who was coming off a three-hit game.
“He’s swinging the bat really well,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Friday. “I think he’s been swinging the bat well for the last five weeks. He’s always taking good at-bats, using the entire field, he’s on the fastball. He’s just doing it on both sides, playing fantastic baseball.”
The lead Smith provided the Dodgers evaporated in the fourth inning due in large part to errors by Muncy and Gavin Lux. The Padres also began to make solid contact off Andrew Heaney and scored three unearned runs to pull ahead.
That was all Heaney allowed over 4.2 innings of work. He threw 81 pitches — his second-highest total of the season. The Dodgers intend to keep Heaney on a pitch limit for the remainder of the season in effort to avoid more shoulder trouble.
Muncy atoned for his defensive miscue in the fifth inning with a three-run home run that put the Dodgers up 5-3. The homer was Muncy’s second of the week as he continues to benefit from recent batting stance and swing changes.
Sacrifice flies by Freddie Freeman and Smith provided the Dodgers with insurance in the seventh inning. Cody Bellinger then added onto the lead with an RBI double in the eighth.
Dodgers downplaying Padres series
both dismissed that as having any potential motivation for the Dodgers this weekend.Soto, Manny Machado and Bell are a combined 5-for-20 with one walk and five strikeouts in the series thus far.
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