Pinch-hitter Max Muncy smacked a two-run homer to right field with one out in the eighth inning, helping the Los Angeles Dodgers come from behind to defeat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-4 on Sunday.
Teoscar Hernández contributed with two hits, including a home run, and drove in two runs as the Dodgers secured three wins out of four in the series.
St. Louis newcomer Victor Scott II reached base three times and scored two runs, while Paul Goldschmidt and Brendan Donovan both had two RBIs.
Initially trailing 4-2 heading into the bottom of the eighth, the Dodgers staged a comeback. Hernández narrowed the gap with his third homer of the season, a solo shot to left-center off Andre Pallante.
Following a walk by Chris Taylor, John King replaced Pallante on the mound. Muncy then capitalized on a hanging slider, sending it over the wall in right-center off King (0-1), who was brought up from Triple-A Memphis earlier in the day.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts commended the team’s resilience, emphasizing the impact players can make even when not starting a game. Los Angeles led the majors last season with eight wins when trailing by four runs or more, showcasing their ability to turn games around.
Muncy’s home run continues his strong start to the season, building confidence after struggling with a .204 batting average over the past two seasons. He has hit safely in all six Dodgers games, marking his longest hitting streak to begin a season.
Nabil Crismatt (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings to earn the win, while Daniel Hudson secured his first save by retiring the Cardinals in order in the ninth.
Scott recorded his first major league hit with an infield single in the third inning, showcasing his potential. Despite Cardinals starter Steven Matz’s solid performance, the Dodgers managed to chip away at the lead before securing the win.
