The Los Angeles Dodgers secured a series victory over the Atlanta Braves on Saturday with an 11-2 win that was propelled by Max Muncy’s three-home run performance.
Muncy started the scoring in the second inning with a two-run homer off Bryce Elder to give the Dodgers a 2-0 lead.
The 33-year-old added his second long ball in the seventh with a solo shot off Tyler Matzek. He then capped off his night with his third homer in the eighth off Jackson Stephens, finishing with a season-high four hits and four RBI in five at-bats.
After the game, Muncy explained that he has been feeling good at the plate as of late, via Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
“I’ve felt good at the plate last couple weeks,” Muncy said. “I know the results aren’t always there but I feel like I’ve put together some decent at-bats and sometimes you get tough pitches. Tonight I feel like I was able to just get the barrel to the ball a little bit better.”
After getting off to somewhat of a slow start this season, Muncy has found a new gear in recent weeks. Over the last 14 days, he is hitting a scorching .313/.463/.750 with two doubles, four home runs and eight RBI in nine games.
For the season, Muncy is batting .262/.369/.551 with seven doubles, eight home runs and 22 RBI in 130 plate appearances across 31 games. Muncy entered play Sunday with a 157 wRC+, which ranks 20th in baseball.
Mookie Betts (203; first), Shohei Ohtani (195; second) and Will Smith (161; 18th) are other Dodgers players in the top 20 for wRC+.
Max Muncy becomes first Dodgers player to hit three home runs since Trayce Thompson
Muncy’s three-home run performance was the first by a Dodgers player since Trayce Thompson went deep three times in a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on April 1, 2023.
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