Max Muncy hit a go-ahead two-run home run in the seventh inning to propel the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 2-1 victory over the New York Yankees on Friday night. The decisive blast came after Yankees manager Aaron Boone acceded to pitcher Gerrit Cole's request to face one more batter.
Cole, who had pitched six scoreless innings, was on the mound with a 1-0 lead when Mookie Betts led off the seventh with a walk. With left-handed batter Max Muncy due up, the Yankees had a left-handed reliever, Brent Headrick, warming in the bullpen. Despite this, Cole convinced Boone to allow him to pitch to Muncy. Cole got Muncy into an 0-2 count before a slider hung in the middle of the plate, which Muncy capitalized on, sending his 18th home run of the season 416 feet into the second deck.
The win marked a strong start to the second half of the season for the Dodgers, who were swept before the All-Star break. Los Angeles (62-36) continues to hold the best record in Major League Baseball and improved to 31-23 against opponents with winning records.
Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki delivered an impressive performance, allowing only one unearned run over 5 2/3 innings. Sasaki struck out five batters and reached new career highs in velocity, throwing 21 fastballs at 100 mph or harder. His only blemish came in the fourth inning when a two-out double by Jasson Domínguez was followed by a defensive miscue and a passed ball that allowed a run to score.
The Dodgers' defense, which had contributed to the lone run, redeemed itself in the eighth inning. After a walk and a double put a runner on third, a relay throw from Andy Pages to Mookie Betts and then to catcher Dalton Rushing successfully threw out the runner at the plate, preserving the 2-1 lead.
The Dodgers and Yankees are scheduled to continue their series on Saturday, with Emmet Sheehan (4-6, 4.81 ERA) expected to start for Los Angeles against Yankees left-hander Ryan Weathers (3-7, 4.15 ERA).