This past June, the Dodgers set a new franchise record when they slugged 55 home runs during the month, including a seven home run game on June 24 against the New York Mets at Citi Field. They haven’t come close to hitting that many in a single game since.

…until Friday night.

In what has been billed as the marquee matchup of the season for the Dodgers, they finally… finally hit five home runs in a single game on Friday night in a lopsided 11-1 win over the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field in front of a season-high crowd of 46,798, a very large percentage of which were Dodger fans.

Leading the way in the five home run hit parade was Dodgers newcomer Manny Machado, who slugged two home runs on the night. He was joined by Yasmani Grandal, Max Muncy and struggling Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp, whose seventh-inning two-run blast was his first since July 22.

“It felt longer,” Kemp kidded with reporters after the game.

With their five round-trippers on Friday night, the Dodgers now have 171 on the season to lead the National League.

Machado’s seventh-inning blast off of Mariners left-hander Wade LeBlanc, his second of the night, was his 28th of the season and fourth since joining the Dodgers on July 18. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Obviously, holding a powerful team like the Mariners to only one run requires great pitching, which they got from young right-hander Walker Buehler. In his six innings of work, the 24-year-old Lexington, Kentucky native and Dodgers 2015 first-round draft pick out of Vanderbilt University allowed only one run on three hits, while walking two and striking out eight.

“He’s good,” said Mariners All-Star second baseman Robinson Cano, who was 0-for-3 on the night with a walk.”They’ve got a good, young arm over there. He throws hard. You face some guys that throw 98, but you see it really good. But his fastball gets to you and everything is hard, the breaking ball, the slider or cutter. He’s got a bright future ahead.”

With the win on Friday night, Buehler is now 6-4 on the season with a 3.19 ERA. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

But while Friday night’s home-run-heavy 11-1 win over the Mariners was a very welcomed sight for Dodger fans, the Dodgers’ division rival Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies also won their respective games to keep the Dodgers in third place in the NL West 0.5 games behind Colorado and 2.0 games behind Arizona. They also remain 1.5 GB in the NL Wild Card race.

That being said, if what we saw on Friday night is any indication, they Dodgers month-long / team-wide slump may finally be coming to an end.

…and not a moment too soon.

Play Ball!