“Go get it out of the ocean.”
With those seven words, Max Muncy became a viral sensation and added another chapter to the long rivalry between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants.
Muncy uttered the phrase when asked what he said to Giants ace Madison Bumgarner when the left-hander yelled at him for briefly admiring his first-inning home run on June 9.
Muncy’s long solo shot, which landed in McCovey Cove, became the difference in the game as Walker Buehler outdueled Bumgarner in a 1-0 Dodgers win.
The response to Bumgarner sparked numerous headlines and launched several new t-shirt designs, including one that Muncy has enjoyed wearing in batting practice during the current four-game series between the Dodgers and the Giants at Dodger Stadium.
That series ends Thursday night but a potential rematch between Buehler and Bumgarner was changed when the Dodgers tabbed Julio Urias for a spot start. Thus, the stage will be set for Bumgarner and Muncy to go head-to-head.
Bumgarner took plenty of heat for his actions on the mound and his pleas after the game to just “let me be myself” while evoking Major League Baseball’s “Let the Kids Play” campaign — something that promotes the very actions that have angered him in the past and again when facing Muncy.
Still, the longtime Giants ace has been solid in his career against the Dodgers, though not quite as dominant as Clayton Kershaw has been against San Francisco. Bumgarner holds a 2.52 career ERA in 221.2 innings versus the Dodgers to go with a 15-13 record.
His 15 wins against the Dodgers are tied for most in his career against a single opponent, as Bumgarner also has 15 against the Colorado Rockies.
Thursday’s game also marks the last time the Dodgers and Giants play each other until September, well after the midseason trade deadline. With San Francisco in a full rebuild under former Dodgers general manager Farhan Zaidi and Bumgarner’s name swirling in trade rumors, this may be the final time the former World Series MVP faces the Dodgers while wearing orange and black.
Meanwhile, Urias makes his first start since April 18. He went 1-1 with a 3.66 ERA in his first four outings to begin the season. In 12 relief appearances since, Urias is 2-1 with three saves and a 2.49 ERA.
Dodgers lineup:
CF: Kiké Hernandez
3B: Justin Turner
1B: David Freese
2B: Max Muncy
SS: Chris Taylor
LF: Kyle Garlick
RF: Alex Verdugo
C: Austin Barnes
P: Julio Urias
Giants lineup:
2B: Joe Panik
LF: Tyler Austin
C: Buster Posey
1B: Brandon Belt
3B: Evan Longoria
CF: Kevin Pillar
SS: Brandon Crawford
RF: Mike Yastrzemski
P: Madison Bumgarner
