Dodgers Dial In At Plate, Overwhelm Marlins 11-1
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LOS ANGELES (AP) - Andre Ethier and the Los Angeles Dodgers were simply dialed in at the plate Tuesday night, and there wasn't much Miami could do about it.
Ethier went 5 for 5 with a homer and three RBIs, and the Dodgers easily overcame a mammoth home run by Giancarlo Stanton that left the stadium to beat the Marlins 11-1 for their fifth straight victory.
Howie Kendrick had four hits and also went deep as the Dodgers roughed up recent teammate Dan Haren in his return to Los Angeles. The two-time defending NL West champions (22-10) pounded out a season-high 21 hits and improved to 15-2 at home.
Every starting position player for the Dodgers had a hit by the sixth inning.
"We just got some pitches to hit and didn't miss," Kendrick said. "Different guys at different times have been swinging the bat well all year and tonight it was everybody at the same time."
Just recalled from the minors, Mike Bolsinger (1-0) pitched 5 2-3 effective innings for the win. He allowed five hits and one run.
"I just tried to put myself in a good position to stay up here," Bolsinger said. "I didn't have my fastball command that I wanted so I just threw a lot of curveballs and sliders and was able to get some groundouts."
Haren, acquired from the Dodgers in an offseason trade, was tagged for 11 hits and six runs in 4 1-3 innings.
Stanton launched the longest home run in the majors this season, a 478-foot drive in the first inning that hit the back of the canopy above the left-field pavilion and bounced out of Dodger Stadium. It was Stanton's eighth of the year and it surpassed Alex Rodriguez's 477-foot shot April 17 at Tropicana Field.
"He's hit a couple like that in batting practice and man, he hammered that thing," Marlins manager Mike Redmond said. "I just wish we could've tacked on a few more."
The Dodgers quickly recovered. Kendrick led off the third with an opposite-field homer to tie it, and one inning later Ethier led off with a long home run to center that put them in front.
Los Angeles broke it open with a four-run fifth. Alex Guerrero doubled off the left-field wall to bring home a run, Yasmani Grandal laced a two-run single, and Haren (4-2) was pulled. Scott Van Slyke greeted reliever Brad Hand with an RBI single to cap the surge.
Adrian Gonzalez added an RBI double in the sixth to extend his hitting streak to 11 games and start a five-run inning for the Dodgers.
"It's definitely fun to go out and have nights like tonight," Kendrick said. "They're not going to happen like this all the time, so it feels good when they do."
HOT CORNER OPEN
Manager Don Mattingly announced Juan Uribe is no longer the Dodgers' set starter at third base. Uribe, who didn't start for the third straight day, will share time with Guerrero and Justin Turner.
CLOSER CHANGE FOR MARLINS
Steve Cishek was removed from the closer's role in Miami after blowing back-to-back saves Sunday and Monday.
Redmond said the team will use a combination of A.J. Ramos, Bryan Morris and Mike Dunn to close for now. Cishek has blown four of seven save opportunities and posted a 10.32 ERA.
Media reports indicated the Marlins have interest in free-agent closer Rafael Soriano, who was 4-1 with a 3.19 ERA and 32 saves for Washington last season.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Marlins: RHP Henderson Alvarez (right shoulder and elbow inflammation) pitched six scoreless innings in a rehab game with Class A Jupiter. He's been on the 15-day disabled list since April 13.
Dodgers: OF Yasiel Puig (strained hamstring) is on hold after re-aggravating his injury last Friday in the second game of his stint with Class A Rancho Cucamonga. No timetable was given for him to resume his rehab assignment. ... Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen (foot surgery) fielded grounders off the Dodger Stadium mound before the game and will make the last of his six rehab appearances with Rancho Cucamonga on Wednesday.
UP NEXT
Marlins: Jarred Cosart (1-3, 3.67 ERA) makes his first appearance against the Dodgers and will try to bounce back from a rough outing in his last start against San Francisco. Cosart got tagged for six hits and four runs in four innings, his shortest outing in 31 starts dating to April 18, 2014.
Dodgers: Carlos Frias (3-0, 2.13) makes his third start of the season and will try to last longer than 5 1-3 innings for the first time this year. The 25-year-old was moved from the bullpen to the rotation this month due to injuries and has allowed 12 hits and three runs in 12 2-3 innings with 11 strikeouts and three walks.
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