Dodgers’ patience with Max Muncy paid off in game-changing performance vs. Mets

The Dodgers were down to their last three outs against the Mets on Tuesday night, on the verge of losing this year's NLCS rematch after a mortifying blowup by Tanner Scott on Monday.

Max Muncy was the first man up, and he'd already hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the first to cap off a four-run inning for LA. Mets reliever Huascar Brazobán, who had a 1.30 ERA going into the game, got to a 1-2 count against Muncy before he threw an actually pretty decent pitch — a 97 MPH fastball dotted up in the zone.

But Muncy, who had every reason to be feeling himself that night, swung.

He belted it 408 feet into right field at nearly 110 MPH off the bat to tie the game.

Andy Pages, Kiké Hernández, and Tommy Edman all went down swinging to end the inning, but Freddie Freeman got to play the hero in the bottom of the 10th, with Edman on second as the ghost runner. Freeman, who already led the Dodgers in doubles, tacked on another to score Edman and walk it off for the Dodgers.

Max Muncy's two-homer game in Dodgers' comeback win over Mets is another step in his redemption arc

After the win, Muncy was asked about the key adjustment he's made at the plate — wearing glasses — and downplayed their importance. "I think I'm not selling out to them because it's not like I was really terrible for several years," he said. "It's just one of those things where maybe it is because of the glasses, but for me, I want to trust in the work that I've been doing and I want to trust in myself that I didn't just bring in something random and that's what's helping me."

But the numbers are pretty clear cut. Before he started wearing glasses on April 30, he was batting .180 with a .531 OPS; ever since, .277 with a 1.015 OPS.

Tuesday's game offered some redemption for Scott as well. He took over in the top of the 10th and induced two swinging strikeouts on Juan Soto and Pete Alonso, and then got Brandon Nimmo to groundout to end the frame and set the table for the Freeman walk-off.

The Dodgers, who are .500 over their last 10 games, haven't totally looked like themselves lately. But Muncy clicking and Scott starting to right the ship could be key elements to a stronger showing going forward.