Dodger fans who were hoping for a rematch of the verbal exchange between San Francisco Giants hotheaded left-hander Madison Bumgarner and (normally) extremely quiet Dodgers utility infielder Max Muncy for his now-famous (or infamous) ‘Go get it out of the ocean’ homerun back on June 9 will have to wait at least until next season, or perhaps never again if the excentric left-hander elects free agency this off-season.

If you recall, and what Dodger fan worth their salt doesn’t, Muncy hit a monster 426-foot solo home run off of Bumgarner that splashed down into McCovey Cove just outside of San Francisco’s Oracle Park (formerly AT&T Park, formerly SBC Park, formerly Pac Bell Park). As Muncy began his home run trot towards first base, MadBum yelled to him “Don’t watch the ball, you run,” to which Muncy yelled back his now immortal words “If you don’t want me to watch the ball, you can go get it out of the ocean.”

A star was born.

As you would expect in this day of instant T-shirt gratification, the following day every Dodger player was sporting a Dodger blue ‘Go Get It Out of the Ocean’ T-shirt on the field at Oracle Park during batting practice – and beyond.

But only hours before to Friday’s series opener between the Dodgers and Giants at Oracle Park, the final series of the 2019 regular season for both teams, retiring future Hall of Fame Giants manager Bruce Bochy told reporters that Bumgarner would not be pitching during the three-game series, much to the disappointment of Dodger fans craving a Muncy / Bumgarner rematch.

Although Bumgarner didn’t keep up his side of the deal, Muncy most certainly did. In the top of the sixth inning and with the Dodgers holding onto a precarious 1-0 lead, Muncy led off the inning with a solo home run on a 3-2 count off of Giants right-handed starter Logan Webb. And although this one didn’t splash down in ‘The Ocean,’ it actually traveled farther than the one that did – three feet farther, to be exact. But because it wasn’t down the right-field line and was more towards center field, it landed (high) in the seats as opposed to in the water.

Muncy’s home run made it a 2-0 ballgame and final score, but not without drama.

With no outs in the bottom of the ninth, oft-struggling Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen hit the first batter he faced – longtime Dodgers nemesis Evan Longoria – with a pitch on a 2-2 count. He then gave up a single to Giants center fielder Kevin Pillar to bring the potential winning run to the plate in the form of Giants pinch-hitter Stephen Vogt. Fortunately, Jansen struck out Vogt, Giants right fielder Jaylin Davis, and pinch-hitter Alex Dickerson to end the threat and the game. It was Jansen’s 33 save of the season to give Dodgers left-hander (and 2019 NL Cy Young Award candidate) Hyun-Jin Ryu his 14th win of the season with a MLB-best 2.32 ERA.

Final tally: Muncy – 2 / Bumgarner – 0

Play Ball!

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