Max Muncy's 3-homer night fuels Dodgers' comeback win

Veteran third baseman's historic performance lifts LA to thrilling victory over Rangers

Apr. 15, 2026 at 5:18am

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A cubist-style painting featuring fragmented, geometric shapes in Dodger blue, red, and white, capturing the dynamic motion and energy of a baseball game or home run celebration.Muncy's three-homer outburst showcases the Dodgers' explosive offensive potential this season.Los Angeles Today

Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy hit three home runs, including a walk-off solo blast in the ninth inning, to lead his team to an 8-7 win over the Texas Rangers on Friday night. Muncy's big night moved him past Steve Garvey for the third-most home runs in the Dodgers' Los Angeles era.

Why it matters

Muncy's performance highlighted his resurgence this season after making some key offseason adjustments, including losing 17 pounds to improve his mobility at third base. His hot start has been a major boost for the Dodgers as they look to return to the playoffs.

The details

Muncy cranked three home runs on Friday night, including the game-winning solo shot in the ninth inning. The hat trick gave Muncy 213 career home runs with the Dodgers, moving him past franchise legend Steve Garvey for third-most in the team's Los Angeles era. Muncy's offseason weight loss has improved his defensive range at third base and allowed him to run the bases more effectively.

  • Muncy reported to spring training 17 pounds lighter than he was when the Dodgers won the World Series in November.
  • A few days before spring training, the Dodgers rewarded Muncy with a contract extension that could keep him with the team through the 2028 season.

The players

Max Muncy

A 36-year-old third baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers who is in his 11th MLB season. Muncy hit three home runs in Friday's game against the Texas Rangers, including a walk-off blast in the ninth inning.

Steve Garvey

A former Dodgers first baseman who holds the franchise record for most home runs in the Los Angeles era, a mark that Muncy surpassed with his three-homer performance.

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What they’re saying

“Most importantly, I feel like my feet are moving on every ground ball. That's something I've always struggled with in the past. I just get stuck a little bit, and that puts me in bad positions on certain hops, but I feel like everything is moving fluidly and I just feel healthy.”

— Max Muncy, Dodgers third baseman

“He knows that we believe in him and we've shown that many times over, and so I think there's some peace with that. That's kind of the thought behind what (president of baseball operations) Andrew (Friedman) and (general manager Brandon Gomes) did, to free his mind up, and just let him play baseball.”

— Dave Roberts, Dodgers manager

What’s next

Dodgers left-hander Blake Snell, who has been sidelined with a shoulder issue, is expected to progress to live batting practice and a minor-league rehab assignment in the coming weeks as he works his way back to the major-league roster.

The takeaway

Muncy's resurgence, fueled by his offseason conditioning work, has been a major boost for the Dodgers as they look to return to the playoffs. His historic performance highlighted how the veteran third baseman has adapted his approach to extend his career and remain a key contributor for the perennial contenders.