Muncy Splash Hit Spurs Dodgers to Second Win Over Giants – 5/22/21

The first game of the series against the Giants was a good one. We saw a pitching matchup and minimal offense. Today’s game felt like it was going to be the same then the later innings rolled around. Scott Kazmir, who hasn’t pitched in a big league game since 2016 for the Dodgers, was getting the start for the Giants. Buehler, who was magnificent in his last outing, took the mound for the Dodgers. Muncy’s splash down hit put them ahead in the first and the Dodgers never looked back.

Muncy Splashes Down  Again

With two outs in the 1st inning, Muncy took an 81 MPH changeup and launched it into McCovey’s Cove at 108.2 MPH off the bat. His first home run in over a week put the Dodgers up 1-0 before Buehler ever took the mound. Muncy’s third Splash Hit ties him with two other players for the most home runs from an opposing player. Of all people, Barnes added onto the Dodgers 1-0 lead with his first home run of the season in the 5th. 

Go get it out of where? pic.twitter.com/b45fCWmNBY

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 22, 2021

Dodgers did do what they do best and add onto their lead in the later innings. Lux led off the 7th with a base hit and came around to score on Beaty’s double. Yastrzemski bobbled the ball when he got to it in right, allowing Beaty to take third. Peters, who had already doubled in the game, singled with one out in the inning, driving home Beaty and putting the Dodgers on top 4-0. Peters knocked in his third RBI of the season and had his first multi-hit game of his young career.

Bue-tane

Buehler was locked into this one from the 1st inning. He found the leadoff guy on in two innings and then induced the ground ball immediately after to face the minimum. Buehler wasn’t a strikeout machine like we’re used to seeing, but it worked for him today. He did allow seven hard-hit balls against him, but the defense was there to make the plays needed for the most part. While he did give up a run in the 7th inning, it felt like a run that could’ve been avoided. Some very weak contact and a ball dropping in between three fielders was the only run he allowed in this one. On his season-high 105th pitch of the game, he struck out Ruf to end his day. 

The Dodgers did get the run right back and more in the 8th inning. Turner got the inning started when he hit one to center that Duggar botched, and he was on second with nobody out. Muncy singled, putting runners on the corners for Pujols, who singled to left-center, giving the Dodgers a 5-1 lead. Lux hit into a force out but beat the throw to first and moving the runner over to third. Setting up the perfect opportunity for Barnes to lay down a squeeze bunt. Barnes laid down a beauty and made this a 6-1 lead.

Giants Rally But Fall Short

With a 6-1 lead, Vesia came into pitch, and this game quickly got much closer. He walked Yastrzemski and then gave up a two-run bomb to Buster Posey. The Giants had cut the lead in half to 6-3. He made it through the 8th, and it was up to Jansen to shut things down in the 9th. Jansen set the Giants down in order and picked up his fourth save in the last week and sixth save in a row.

With yet another series win under their belt, the Dodgers could sweep the Giants with a win tomorrow. Now 9-1 in their last 10, the Dodgers have been one of the best teams in baseball as of late. Another quality start from the starting pitcher and some more late-inning offense were the keys to another good Dodgers’ win. Urías gets the mound tomorrow at 1:05 PM PDT.

For the recap from the first game of the series, click here.

Photo Credit – Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images