Just when we thought we’d seen just about everything there is to see from 30-year-old Dodgers utility infielder Max Muncy, he pulled yet another rabbit out of his magic hat – this time against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park and this time just in the nick of time … literally.

After Dodgers left fielder AJ Pollock led off the top of the fifth inning with a solo home run to tie the game at 2-2, Nationals left-hander Patrick Corbin gave up a single to Dodgers pinch-hitter Steven Souza Jr., struck out struggling right fielder Mookie Betts, walked shortstop Chris Taylor, and gave up a single to third baseman Justin Turner to load the bases for… yep, Dodgers second baseman Max Muncy.

But here’s the thing. While all of this was happening, a major thunderstorm was approaching Nationals Park very quickly; but not before Muncy absolutely crushed an 80.9-MPH slider from Corbin that landed 410 feet into the seats in right-center field for a grand slam home run. It was Muncy’s team-leading 18th home run of the season and the second grand slam of his six-year MLB career.

The Nationals managed to escape the rest of the fifth inning without further damage, and after Dodgers left-hander Garrett Cleavinger, who entered the game in relief of right-hander Tony Gonsolin in the bottom half of that crucial fifth inning, issued a leadoff walk to Nationals left fielder Kyle Schwarber, he got Nationals third baseman Josh Harrison to ground into a 6-4-3 double play and then right fielder Juan Soto to ground out to short to end the inning.

And then that major thunderstorm arrived … and we’re talk major major here.

After (approximately) an hour of torrential rain, thunder, and lightening, the game was called. However, because it had gone the requisite five innings, it was an official game, with the Dodgers winning by a score of 6-2; the result of some Muncy Magic … again.

“We knew there was a storm coming in,” Muncy said after the game had officially been called. “You know, there was a little urgency in the dugout, but we were mostly just trying to play our game, trying to go out there and put good at-bats together, and thankfully the timing was right on that.”

Right indeed.

With their rain-shortened win on Thursday night, coupled with losses by both the NL West first-place San Francisco Giants and third-place San Diego Padres, the Dodgers are now a half-game behind the Giants and two games ahead of the Padres, and could take over the division lead as early as Friday night.

Thanks for the Magic, Max.

…again.

Play Ball!

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