The Los Angeles Dodgers delivered a dominant offensive performance on Saturday night, defeating the New York Yankees 18-2 at Dodger Stadium in the second matchup of their three-game series. Max Muncy led the charge with two three-run home runs and a career-high-tying seven RBIs as the Dodgers set a franchise record for runs scored against the Yankees.
The Dodgers entered the game as modest favorites, with most sportsbooks placing them at -140 on the moneyline, while the Yankees were listed at +120. The over/under total runs line was set at 9.5, which the Dodgers nearly doubled on their own by the end of the game.
Muncy’s offensive production was the standout performance of the night. He delivered an RBI single in the first inning and a 400-foot three-run homer in the second, marking the 200th home run of his Major League career. He capped off his evening with another three-run blast, a 410-foot drive off Mark Leiter Jr. in the fifth inning, contributing to a decisive Dodgers lead.
Los Angeles scored four runs in the first inning alone, forcing Yankees starter Will Warren to throw 39 pitches. RBI singles by Will Smith and Muncy, a sacrifice fly by Michael Conforto, and an RBI double by Tommy Edman quickly put the Yankees on the defensive. Warren exited the game after allowing seven runs in just over an inning of work, falling to 3-3 on the season.
The Dodgers’ offensive onslaught continued in the second inning, with Hyeseong Kim adding a 412-foot two-run homer off reliever Brent Headrick. Kim’s display of power was complemented by a moment of sportsmanship with Shohei Ohtani, as the two bowed to each other after Kim crossed the plate.
Los Angeles added more runs as the game progressed. Andy Pages launched a solo home run in the seventh, and rookie catcher Dalton Rushing recorded his first Major League homer — a three-run shot off infielder-turned-pitcher Pablo Reyes, who took the mound in the eighth inning to save the Yankees’ bullpen in the blowout.
On the mound, Dodgers right-hander Landon Knack delivered a solid outing. He improved to 3-2 after allowing one run on five hits over six innings, striking out six without issuing a walk. Utility player Kiké Hernández pitched the ninth inning and allowed one hit, preserving the win in a game where the outcome was never in question.
The Yankees’ only runs came via Aaron Judge, who homered twice to bring his season total to 21. However, the offensive contributions from the rest of New York’s lineup were limited. The team committed defensive miscues, including baserunning errors, such as Judge being thrown out attempting to stretch a single into a double in the seventh inning.
Defensively, the Dodgers also impressed. In the third inning, Kim, starting at shortstop in place of the injured Mookie Betts, turned a sharp double play by catching a line drive and diving back to tag second base, a call confirmed on review.
Los Angeles has outscored New York 26-7 through the first two games of this high-profile rematch of last year’s World Series, which the Dodgers won in five games.
The series concludes on Sunday night with left-hander Ryan Yarbrough (2-0, 3.06 ERA) scheduled to start for New York, while right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto (6-3, 1.97 ERA) will take the mound for Los Angeles.
