2024 NLDS: Max Muncy Believes Dodgers Need To 'Play Our Game' Against Padres
Today at 12:10 PM
The Los Angeles Dodgers couldn’t build on their comeback victory and fell to the San Diego Padres, 10-2, in Game 2 of the National League Division Series.
The best-of-five now shifts to Petco Park for Games 3 and 4, which is an all-too-familiar situation in the Dodgers clubhouse. They found themselves in the same position two years ago and dropped both games to lose the series.
Max Muncy believes the Dodgers need to stick to their game plan against the Padres in order to avoid a repeat of the 2022 NLDS.
“We’ve got to play our game,” he explained. “I say it all the time, we’re not playing the opponent, we’re not playing the stadium, we’re not playing anything else other than ourselves. If we go out there and do what we need to do, I feel confident in us.”
Muncy expressed hope that the Dodgers will use Monday’s off day to turn the page. “You flush it and move on,” he said. “Like I said, we were [expletive] tonight, but that’s not us as a group. We’ve been really good all year. We’ve come back from games before.
“We’ve got another off day to regroup and hopefully a couple guys get some bruises healed up and be ready to go on Tuesday.”
Muncy went 0-for-4 in the Dodgers’ Game 1 win, but bounced back with a 2-for-4 showing that included a home run on Sunday. Though, his homer came in the ninth inning when the game was well in hand.
Gavin Lux: Dodgers ‘want to change the narrative’
With the Dodgers facing the possibility of a third consecutive postseason exit, Gavin Lux said the team wants to prove their doubters wrong. "The last couple years haven't ended how we wanted, so you use it for motivation," he said after the Game 2 loss.
"We hear what people say and we want to change the narrative. I think the edge comes from that. We want to prove people wrong. We know we've got a really good group. It's just about playing our brand of baseball. I think the edge is good."
The Dodgers have faced adversity all season long and hope to quickly turn the page. "We're all really close in here and a lot of us have been in this situation before," Lux explained.
"Playoff baseball, we know what to expect. It's just about fighting back and moving onto the next one. That's the big key, moving onto the next one. Just take it at-bat by at-bat, pitch by pitch, and I think at the end you're going to be where you want."
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