Dodgers: Zach McKinstry Hits the Team’s First Homerun of the Season, And It Was Incredibly Odd

The last time a Dodgers player hit an inside-the-park homerun, was way back in September of 2017 when Chris Taylor did it, per the club’s PR team. 

The Dodgers broke that dry spell in Saturday night’s game on yet another wild play. With 2 outs in a tied game in the 8th inning, Zach McKinstry hit a screaming line drive into deep left field. Raimel Tapia jumped over the fence trying to make the catch and launched the ball back into the field of play. 

Tapia, the same guy that was involved in Cody Bellinger’s odd play, thought the ball went out. He stayed on the ground at the warning track while McKinstry circled the bases. It was the Dodgers first homerun of the season and gave them the lead. 

THIS IS WILD ?

A crazy inside-the-park HR by Zach McKinstry gives the @dodgers the lead! pic.twitter.com/Gg1yuSKf48

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) April 4, 2021

We’ll just add this one to the typical “Coors Field is weird” checklist for the year. The Dodgers had that weird play on Thursday with Bellinger, a cat on the field on Friday night, and then this play tonight. They also had a water fountain delay at the stadium in Saturday’s game. 

Dodgers PR dropping heat tonight re: @ZachCMU:

"Per Elias – Last Player to record an inside the park homer as his first career homer was Dansby Swanson on 9/6/2016 at Washington"

— Clint Pasillas (@realFRG) April 4, 2021

For McKinstry, this is also the first homerun of his career. Zach also becomes the first Dodger to have his first career homerun come via inside the part variety since Hall of Famer Duke Snider. Considering that the ball came back into the field of play, one would assume they were able to hold onto it as well. The Dodgers went on to score another run that inning to expand their lead over Colorado. 

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