Recap: Dodgers defeat Giants on Max Muncy’s grand slam, three-run blast

Max Muncy is congratulated by third base coach Dino Ebel after hitting a grand slam in the seventh inning of the Dodgers’ 9-1 win Monday over the San Francisco Giants.

(Jeff Chiu / Associated Press)

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.

Read more >>>

⚾ 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 UrĂ­as 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 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.

⚾ Dodgers 9, Giants 1 — End of the seventh inning

Alex Vesia took over for Dodgers starter Julio UrĂ­as 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.

UrĂ­as 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 against the Giants in the seventh inning.

(Jeff Chiu / Associated Press)

⚾ 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 third baseman Max Muncy can’t corral a single hit by San Francisco’s J.D. Davis during the sixth inning.

(Jeff Chiu / Associated Press)

⚾ 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 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.

San Francisco’s Wilmer Flores, right, is congratulated by third base coach Mark Hallberg after hitting a solo home run in the fourth inning.

(Jeff Chiu / Associated Press)

⚾ Dodgers 4, Giants 1 — End of the fourth

With the fog rolling into Oracle Park, the Giants put Julio UrĂ­as 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.

UrĂ­as 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.

Max Muncy, center, celebrates with Freddie Freeman, left, and Mookie Betts after hitting a three-run home run in the third inning.

(Jeff Chiu / Associated Press)

⚾ 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 UrĂ­as, who has allowed hit and struck out four over 52 pitches.

⚾ Dodgers 1, Giants 0 — End of the second

David Villar drew a one-out walk and promptly stole second before Julio UrĂ­as 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, right, is congratulated by Freddie Freeman after leading off the game with a home run Monday.

(Jeff Chiu / Associated Press)

⚾ 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 UrĂ­as struck out Thairo Estrada and Wilmer Flores. Mike Yastrzemski singled but was picked off by UrĂ­as, ending an impressive first inning for the Dodgers ace.

Tony Gonsolin remains slowed by a sprained ankle he suffered in spring training. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

(Ross D. Franklin / Associated Press)

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.

James Outman, left, is congratulated by Dodgers teammate David Peralta after scoring a run against the Arizona Diamondbacks on March 30.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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.

Read more >>>

×

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.”

Read more >>>

Here’s a look at the Dodgers TV schedule for the 2023 regular season. All times and broadcast/streaming options are subject to change.