LOS ANGELES — — Max Muncy took matters into his own hands with the Los Angeles Dodgers trailing 2-0. He beat the at-bat with a bunt, bringing Justin Turner to the plate, and Turner responded with a three-run homer.
Muncy added his own three-run homer in the eighth to help the Dodgers beat the San Francisco Giants 7-3 on Wednesday.
The leaders of the NL West reduced their magic number to six games. The Dodgers could clinch a postseason berth on Friday in San Diego.
“Obviously we’re winning a lot of baseball games, but we’ve still got some guys to get healthy, number one, and we’re still in the mode of trying to get some guys back on track,” manager Dave Roberts said.
Trea Turner doubled in the go-ahead run in the eighth after going hitless in her first four at-bats. Austin Barnes, who reached on an infield single, scored for a 4-3 lead.
Freddie Freeman walked and Trea Turner reached third on a wild pitch by Zack Littell (2-3) to set up Muncy, whose drive into the right-field pavilion made it 7-3. Muncy went 3-for-4 a day after hitting two home runs in a 6-3 win.
“I wanted to put the ball in the air on that. We’ve got the fastest guy in baseball at third base,” Muncy said, referring to Trea Turner.
The Dodgers took their first lead, 3-2, on Justin Turner’s three-run homer in the fifth.
Justin Turner has been as hot at the plate as the triple-digit temperatures that have gripped Southern California for more than a week. He extended his hitting streak to 16 games, with 10 multi-hit games in his last 18.
David Villar hit two home runs and drove in all of the runs for the Giants, who led 2-0 in the fifth. Villar’s second homer, a solo shot off Justin Bruihl, tied the score 3-3 in the seventh of a game that began in 99-degree heat.
The teams combined for 16 home runs in the three-game series.
“When the weather stays warm like this, it’s fun to hit here,” Muncy said. “With triple figures in the last couple of days, the ball was definitely flying and it showed.”
After leaving eight runners on for four innings, the Dodgers rallied in the fifth.
Freeman led off with a single, Muncy touched the third base line and Justin Turner followed with his 11th homer of the season to center for a 3-2 lead. Lewis Brinson jumped into the wall, but couldn’t make the play.
“It’s not that easy, especially when you don’t do it a lot,” Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw said of the bunt. “That was an amazing play by Max right there.”
Evan Phillips (6-3) earned the win in 1 1/3 innings of relief.
Kershaw allowed two runs on five hits in six innings and struck out eight in his third straight no-decision. He has made two starts since he came off the disabled list a week ago.
“Another good step forward for me. I’ve been recovering well,” Kershaw said. “Now you just want to pitch well before October.”
Giants starter Alex Cobb allowed three runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings. He struck out four and walked three.
COACHES ROOM
Dodgers: OF Joey Gallo left the game with a right elbow contusion after being hit by a pitch. He said he couldn’t feel his fingers, even though the X-rays came back negative.
UNTIL NEXT TIME
Giants: They haven’t announced a starter Thursday for Game 1 of the series in Milwaukee.
Dodgers: After a bad day, RHP Dustin May (1-2, 3.94) starts Friday at San Diego in the opener of a three-game series.
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