Unexpected Visitor: Snake Makes an Appearance During NLCS Playoff Game
During Game 2 of the National League Championship Series (NLCS) between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Mets, fans and players alike were shocked by an unexpected visitor: a snake! At the end of the fifth inning on October 14, 2024, Dodgers pitcher Brent Honeywell noticed the slithering intruder in the team’s dugout, which was caught on camera by Fox Sports.
Play-by-play announcer Joe Davis humorously remarked, “We’ve had Snakes on a Plane, Snakes on a Train, and the latest Hollywood hit, Snake in the Dugout.” The surprise visitor quickly became a talking point among fans, but despite the unsettling discovery, Honeywell remained surprisingly calm.
“It’s the playoffs,” Honeywell said after the game. “You’re bound to see anything.” He added that he hoped the snake would spark something positive for his team, jokingly calling it a “rally snake.”
Rallying After the Snake Sighting
Honeywell’s wish for a “rally snake” seemed to have some truth to it, at least for a brief moment. Moments after the snake was spotted, Max Muncy hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth inning, followed by two more runs in the sixth. However, despite the brief offensive surge, the Dodgers ultimately lost the game 7-3, evening the best-of-seven series at one game each.
A Familiar Experience for Honeywell
For Honeywell, the snake wasn’t the only unexpected creature he’s encountered in a dugout. Back in 2015, while playing for the Charlotte Knights in the minor leagues, Honeywell stumbled upon a 10-foot-long alligator in the dugout. He recalled the incident fondly, telling MiLB.com at the time that the alligator must have entered through an open gate in the outfield, making for quite a memorable moment in his early career.
“I don’t know if he came up from the pond behind left field, but I guess he walked the track and down the stairs and into the dugout,” Honeywell said, reflecting on his time in the Florida State League.
As the series moves forward, the Dodgers and Mets are set to face off again in Game 3, with the teams tied at 1-1. It seems that, for the Dodgers, anything can happen during the playoffs, even if it involves an unexpected animal guest in the dugout!