Max Muncy Makes History with Game-Winning Homer

Max Muncy didn’t start for the Dodgers on Thursday night, but he still managed to create a memorable moment.

Called up from the bench as a pinch hitter in the sixth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers, Muncy hit a crucial three-run homer off reliever Antonio Senzatela. Despite this impressive play, the Dodgers ultimately lost 5-4, with Edwin Diaz securing a three-run save in the ninth inning.

However, Muncy’s achievement had significant historical implications. His home run marked the 131st of his career at Dodger Stadium, allowing him to surpass retired star Eric Karros as the all-time leader in home runs at the stadium, which has been around for 65 years.

After his homer, Muncy was displayed on the scoreboard, where he received a warm ovation from the crowd at Chavez Ravine.

Throughout this season, Muncy has been vying for Karros’ record, and at 35, he’s earned an All-Star selection.

This year alone, Muncy has belted 23 home runs, ranking just behind Shohei Ohtani on the team. For the first time since 2019, his batting average is above .250, and he’s close to setting a new record for wins above replacement since 2021, entering Thursday with a mark of 3.4, based on Baseball-Reference data.

It hasn’t been an easy journey to break Karros’ record, though. Muncy was just one home run shy of tying it in July and finally reached that milestone on July 29.

Since then, he hit only one more home run during a recent trip to Wrigley Field, joining several Dodgers players who faced a slump during mid-summer. Yet things appear to have changed for him and the team during this current homestand.

In Thursday’s game, after narrowly missing a fly ball that went just outside the right-field foul pole on the sixth pitch, Muncy has gone 4-for-12 with seven RBIs this week, showing signs of a revival.