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Recap: Max Muncy’s Home Run Turns Game Around For Dodgers In Win Over Padres

Matthew Moreno
2 Min Read
Gary A. Vasquez/USA TODAY Sports

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 seriesboth 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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Matthew Moreno is a journalist from Whittier, Calif., who is a credentialed reporter and is currently the Managing Editor of DodgerBlue.com and LakersNation.com. In addition to covering Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angels Lakers, Matthew has a strong passion for keeping up to date with the sneakerhead culture. It began with Michael Jordan and Air Jordan shoes, and has carried over to Kobe Bryant's signature line with Nike. Matthew previously was the lead editor and digital strategist at Dodgers Nation, and the co-editor and lead writer at Reign of Troy, where he covered USC Trojans Football. Matthew graduated from California State Long Beach University with a major in journalism and minor in communications. Contact: matt@mediumlargela.com