Max Muncy’s revised batting stance pays off in two-homer game vs. Giants
When Max Muncy was struggling last season, out of whack at the plate because of a lingering elbow injury that contributed to woeful inconsistency, the Dodgers’ slugger added a back step to his hitting mechanics.
It immediately worked wonders for his swing.
Amid another slow start during the first couple of weeks this season, Muncy brought back a smaller version of his left-foot plant in the Dodgers’ first meeting with the San Francisco Giants this season Monday night.
The result: a three-run homer in the third, a grand slam in the seventh and a career-high seven runs batted in to lead the Dodgers to a much-needed 9-1 win at Oracle Park.
Dodgers end three-game losing streak in dominant win over Giants
⚾ Dodgers 9, Giants 1 — FINAL
The Dodgers ended their three-game losing streak in a dominant showing spearheaded by Max Muncy’s two home run game.
Muncy hit a three-run home run in the third and a grand slam in the seventh as part of a three-hit, seven-RBI performance.
Julio Urías had another solid outing, improving to 3-0 after allowing four hits, one earned run and striking out eight over six innings.
The Dodgers and Giants continue their three-game series Tuesday at 6:45 p.m. PDT.
Dodgers hold commanding leading heading into the ninth
⚾ Dodgers 9, Giants 1 — End of the eighth inning
Dodgers relievers Yency Almonte and Andre Jackson held the Giants at bay, sending the game into the ninth. Dodgers center fielder Jason Heyward helped the cause, making a diving catch on a liner hit by Mike Yastrzemski.
Alex Vesia and Yency Almonte get out seventh-inning jam
⚾ Dodgers 9, Giants 1 — End of the seventh inning
Alex Vesia took over for Dodgers starter Julio Urías and immediately got into trouble, with the Giants loading the bases on three consecutive singles.
But Vesia struck out Bryce Johnson and Thairo Estrada before Yency Almonte got Wilmer Flores to fly out to right and end the inning.
Urías had another sharp outing. He allowed four hits, one run, walked two and struck out eight over six innings.
Max Muncy hits a grand slam for his second homer of the game
⚾ Dodgers 9, Giants 1 — Seventh inning
Max Muncy hit a grand slam home run — his second home run of the game — to give the Dodgers a commanding lead in the seventh inning.
Muncy blasted the ball 380 feet into left field off Giants reliever Sean Hjelle. Muncy hit a three-run blast in the third inning.
Muncy, who has 19 home runs against San Francisco since 2020, is three for three on the night.
Mookie Betts singled in James Outman earlier in the inning on his third hit of the night.
Dodgers still hold three-run lead heading into seventh
⚾ Dodgers 4, Giants 1 — End of the sixth
J.D. Davis singled under the glove of Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy but was left stranded when David Villar flied out to deep center.
In the top of the inning, Max Muncy singled off Giants starter Logan Webb before Jason Heyward grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to cap the frame.
Giants reliever Taylor Rogers will take over for Logan Webb in the seventh. Webb allowed six hits, four earned runs, walked one and struck out six over 94 pitches.
Dodgers lead Giants 4-1 heading into the sixth inning
⚾ Dodgers 4, Giants 1 — End of the fifth
The Dodgers and Giants both went down in order at the plate. Jason Heyward made a good running catch toward the right-field corner on a liner off the bat of Thairo Estrada to end the inning.
Wilmer Flores home run puts the Giants on the board
⚾ Dodgers 4, Giants 1 — End of the fourth
With the fog rolling into Oracle Park, the Giants put Julio Urías to work in the fourth.
San Francisco’s Wilmer Flores hit a solo home run to left off Urías’ first pitch of the inning before the Dodgers ace struck out Joey Brett on a 94-mph fastball third strike to leave a pair of runners stranded.
Urías has allowed three hits, walked two and struck out six over 74 pitches.
The Dodgers squandered a chance to tack on at least another run in the top frame after James Outman hit a one-out triple to the wall in center field.
Outman then got caught in a rundown on an infield grounder by David Peralta but avoided Giants catcher Joey Bart long enough for ‘Freight Train’ Peralta to slide into second. Chris Taylor then grounded out to pitcher Logan Webb.
Dodgers extend lead on Max Muncy’s three-run homer
⚾ Dodgers 4, Giants 0 — End of the third inning
Max Muncy hit a three-run home run off Giants starter Logan Webb to extend the Dodgers’ lead in the third inning.
Muncy’s second home run of the season drove in Mookie Betts, who reached base on a liner to center, and Freddie Freeman, who singled to second.
It was another 1-2-3 inning for Julio Urías, who has allowed hit and struck out four over 52 pitches.
Dodgers hold on to 1-0 lead heading into the third inning
⚾ Dodgers 1, Giants 0 — End of the second
David Villar drew a one-out walk and promptly stole second before Julio Urías struck out Brandon Crawford and got Joey Bart to fly out to center, ending the inning.
The Dodgers went down in order in the top of the frame.
Mookie Betts leads off with home run against Giants
⚾ Dodgers 1, Giants 0 — End of the first inning
Mookie Betts hit a leadoff home run — his second homer of the year — off Giants starter Logan Webb to give the Dodgers an early lead.
Betts sent the ball 393 feet into center field to get the Dodgers off to a flying start in their quest to end a three-game losing streak. Betts improved to 11 for 24 at the plate against Webb in his career.
In the bottom half of the inning, Julio Urías struck out Thairo Estrada and Wilmer Flores. Mike Yastrzemski singled but was picked off by Urías, ending an impressive first inning for the Dodgers ace.
Still slowed by sprained ankle, Tony Gonsolin unlikely to return before May
SAN FRANCISCO — Tony Gonsolin likely won’t be back by the end of April after all.
Instead, a sprained ankle that was originally ruled as day-to-day is becoming a longer-term injury, with the Dodgers now targeting a May return for right-handed starter.
“[It’s been] slow going,” Roberts said. “That ankle, the stability, the recovery, all of it. So no setback, just kind of managing the workload.”
Gonsolin faced hitters at the team’s Camelback Ranch facility on Monday, throwing two innings of live action and a third in the bullpen. Roberts said Gonsolin will stay in Arizona for the next 2-3 weeks — building up on a spring training-esque throwing program — before going out on a minor-league rehab assignment.
The longer Gonsolin remains out, the more the Dodgers might have to evaluate their options for the starting rotation.
Michael Grove has been filling in after Gonsolin’s original replacement, Ryan Pepiot, went on the injured list himself with a strained oblique (Pepiot has not even resumed throwing yet, Roberts said).
Grove, however, struggled mightily in his most recent start Sunday in Arizona, giving up nine runs in 3 1/3 innings.
“It is a performance league, but I also think that opportunities are still warranted,” Roberts said of Grove, confirming the young right-hander will get another turn through the rotation and face the Chicago Cubs this weekend. “Given what we have with the other two guys on the IL, I think that he deserves and will get more leash.”
If Grove’s performance doesn’t improve, though, the team could always consider calling up fellow right-handed prospect Gavin Stone, who was the opening day starter for triple-A Oklahoma City.
Two options unlikely to be part of the rotation equation currently: Bobby Miller, the Dodgers other highly-touted minor-league pitcher who is working through his own slow ramp-up for the season in Arizona following some shoulder soreness at the start of spring; and Andre Jackson, who Roberts said will stay in his long-relief role in the bullpen rather than being stretched out for a starter’s workload.
Dodgers embrace David Peralta’s ‘freight train’ energy, even as he battles slump
PHOENIX — As one of the more subtle side effects of their talent exodus over the winter, the Dodgers entered this season needing a new celebration for every time they got a hit.
With Trea Turner having departed in free agency, the helmet-tap ritual the club’s former shortstop inspired last season was voided. And leading up to opening day, players kicked around ideas in a team text message group chat about how to replace it.
“We talked about it before the season started,” outfielder David Peralta said. “Like, hey, what’s gonna be our sign for when we get hits?”
Peralta, one of several veterans the club signed this winter as part of its roster makeover, offered an idea.
Troubling sign? Dodgers get beat by Arizona ‘in every facet’ in ugly series loss
PHOENIX — They couldn’t stop the running game. They didn’t play clean defense. And they failed to string together enough big hits.
In a dreadful 11-6 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday, which sealed an ugly series defeat over four games at Chase Field, the Dodgers’ list of problems were numbered and varied.
“We got beat in every facet,” manager Dave Roberts acknowledged.
None, however, loomed larger than the Dodgers’ sudden, surprising and momentum-sucking inability to do the thing their organization has been best at over the last 10 years.
“The last couple of days, it’s easy to see,” Roberts said. “We didn’t pitch well.”
Dodgers TV schedule for the 2023 regular season
Here’s a look at the Dodgers TV schedule for the 2023 regular season. All times and broadcast/streaming options are subject to change.
