Dodgers Down Marlins 6-4
MIAMI (AP) — The Miami Marlins can blame their latest loss on a costly walk.
Jacob Turner walked the opposing pitcher with two outs, and the Los Angeles Dodgers went on to score four runs in the inning, which paved the way for their 6-4 victory Tuesday night.
Two errors by shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria also hurt, with each miscue leading to an unearned run.
"We aren't a team that can make a lot of mistakes and still win ballgames," Miami manager Mike Redmond said. "Our margin for error is very tiny. Against a great team we've got to play a great ballgame, and we made a couple mistakes, and they took advantage."
Yasiel Puig's latest big play was pivotal, too. The rookie sensation came off the bench to hit a tie-breaking home run in the eighth inning.
Puig was held out of the starting lineup after going hitless in his past 11 at-bats. He also drew a fine when he arrived late for pregame drills, raising more questions about the 22-year-old Cuban's maturity and comportment.
He entered the game in the sixth inning in a double switch, batted for the first time leading off the eighth and needed only one pitch to break a 4-all tie. Puig pulled a ball that landed on top of the wall before bouncing over for his 12th home run since breaking into the majors June 3.
"I'd like to have a guy like that coming off the bench," Redmond said with a wry smile.
Puig pointed to the sky with both hands as he crossed the plate and received a jubilant greeting in the dugout, where teammate Hanley Ramirez jumped on him for a piggyback ride.
"We're always expecting something great," Dodgers pitcher Chris Capuano said. "He's just got so much ability. He got a pitch and drove it, and what a spot to do it in. He doesn't seem like he feels too much pressure out there."
Manager Don Mattingly said Puig was animated as usual in dugout in the early innings, and didn't sulk about not starting.
"He's not a problem," Mattingly said with a chuckle. "Just a lot of stuff happens. He's not a guy I think about that much and worry about."
The Dodgers broke a two-game losing streak, their longest in two months. They won despite blowing a 4-1 lead and hitting into four double plays.
"It was kind of a weird one," Mattingly said.
Miami also had plenty of baserunners but went 2 for 14 with runners in scoring position. Turner remained winless in his past seven starts, and while he allowed 10 hits in five innings, it was the walk to the pitcher that left him stewing.
The Dodgers trailed 1-0 and had a runner at third with two out in the fourth when Tim Federowicz was intentionally walked. Turner then walked Capuano on a 3-1 pitch.
"That's really frustrating in that situation," Turner said. "You walk the eight-hole guy to bring up the pitcher, nine times out of 10 he makes an out, but I didn't do it. It kind of snowballed from there. Disappointing."
Carl Crawford then reached on an infield single to make it 1-all. Mark Ellis followed with another RBI infield single, and when Hechavarria made an errant throw to first, another run scored. Gonzalez singled home another run for a 4-1 lead.
Chris Withrow (2-0), the fourth of seven Los Angeles pitchers, threw 1 1-3 scoreless innings. Capuano allowed three runs in five innings, and Kenley Jansen pitched a perfect ninth for his 20th save in 23 chances.
Christian Yelich led off the Miami first with a double, took third on a groundout and scored on Giancarlo Stanton's groundout. The Marlins added two runs in the fourth, when Justin Ruggiano hit an RBI groundout and Hechavarria singled home a run.
Miami's Jeff Mathis singled home a run in the sixth for a 4-all tie.
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