During the Dodgers historic 2017 season during which they won a Los Angeles franchise record 104 games, they also established a new franchise record when they hit a combined 221 home runs.  They did so by shattering the previous record of 211 home runs in a season (set by the 2000 team) when Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal slugged number 212 on September 24, 2017 off of San Francisco Giants right-hander Chris Stratton at Dodger Stadium.

Well guess what?

On Saturday night in front of a sold out Dodger Stadium crown of 53,536, the Dodgers broke that (almost) year-old record when they slugged their 222nd home run of the 2018 regular season.

But wait… there’s more!

Who hit that record-setting home run on Saturday night, you ask?

Yep. Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal, and he did so batting right-handed off of San Diego Padres left-hander Brad Wieck – a monster 425-foot blast into the Loge Level (second deck) down the left field line. We’re talking a monster shot here, and from Grandal’s weaker side … if you can call a 425-footer weak.

Grandal’s 425-foot franchise-record-setting home run was an absolute no-doubter that landed in the second deck of a sold out Dodger Stadium. (Photo credit – Jill Weisleder)

Grandal’s record-setting home run was the third of three on the night in the Dodgers 7-2 win over the NL West last place Padres. The first was a solo shot to right by Dodgers left fielder Joc Pederson to leadoff the game. It was Pederson’s 10th career leadoff home run and his seventh of the season.

But the big blast of the night and overshadowing Grandal’s record-setter was a three-run shot to right-center field by Dodgers shortstop Manny Machado off of Padres rookie right-hander Jacob Nix … on Machado’s bobblehead night.

“I guess it took the bobblehead night and he came through with the big hit,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters after the game about Manny’s bobble-blast. “He’s trying like heck and he wants that signature moment, that big hit. Tonight, hopefully, it alleviates the anxiety or pressure for him.”

Machado said that he is more concerned about winning than he is about personal numbers … or a bobblehead.
(Photo credit – Jill Weisleder)

As for Machado himself, he completely dismissed the perceived mystique of a bobble-homer and debunked his manager’s belief that he has been pressing at the plate.

“I don’t look at numbers,” said Machado, who becomes a free agent at the end of the season. “It’s all about W’s for me. The numbers I put up, I’m going to keep putting up numbers, it don’t matter. What matters is the W’s for the team. I just play baseball. Whatever I do out there, I’m comfortable with. I’m confident with what I can do to provide for the ball club. No pressure on that point.”

The 40,000 fans lucky enough to get a Machado bobblehead could very well have a true collector’s item on their hands. By every indication, the 26-year-old All-Star shortstop’s three months with the Dodgers will most likely be his last. As noted above, Machado becomes a free agent at the end of the season, and by all appearances, the Dodgers will not be among the teams willing to give him what figures to be one of – if not the – biggest free agent contracts in MLB history; both in terms of salary and length.

With their win on Saturday night, the Dodgers remained 1.5 games ahead of the NL West second place Colorado Rockies, who also won on Saturday. They did, however, trim one game off of their so-called Magic Number to win their sixth consecutive NL West division title, which now sits at seven, with (wait for it…) seven games left to play in the 2018 regular season.

Strap in and hang on, it’s going to be intense from here on out.

Play Ball!