Steve Webb
LOS ANGELES, CA — Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy set the tone early with a key defensive play in the first inning, helping the Dodgers bounce back in a hard-fought win. Muncy emphasized the team’s need to respond after a tough loss the previous night and praised their renewed energy.
“We needed to bounce back after last night, and I thought we played with a lot more energy tonight,” Muncy said. “We were facing one of the best pitchers in baseball, so we had to come in with the right mindset and put together some good at-bats. We still missed a couple of opportunities, but overall, we were much better.”
Facing one of the league’s top pitchers, Dylan Cease, Muncy highlighted the importance of getting him out of the game after five innings. “It was huge,” he said. “He’s striking out the world this year, and for us to not strike out too much, get his pitch count up, and have some quality at-bats, that was big for us. Getting into their bullpen in a series like this is always a key.”
Muncy also spoke about the emotional lift the team received from key plays throughout the game, particularly late-inning moments that charged up the dugout. “You see the emotion in the guys, especially those who haven’t been in big postseason spots before, and it fires you up. We’ve got a lot of guys with postseason experience, and when you see everyone playing with that kind of energy, it’s contagious.”
When asked if there was any change in routine after the previous night’s loss, Muncy emphasized consistency. “You show up every day ready to play; you don’t try to change things from day to day. Obviously, last night wasn’t good, but we stuck to our routine, talked about our approach, and just focused on executing our game plan.”
A pivotal moment in the game came in the sixth inning, with the score tied and a chance for the Dodgers to take the lead. Muncy praised Shohei Ohtani‘s clutch performance in that situation. “He’s the best player in baseball. When he steps into the box, you never think he’s going to get out. You’re just waiting for something incredible to happen, and he doesn’t disappoint.”
Muncy’s defensive and offensive contributions, paired with the team’s energy, helped the Dodgers secure a much-needed win and continue their pursuit of postseason success.
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