Koehler Helps Marlins Beat Kershaw, Dodgers 3-2
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MIAMI (AP) — Tom Koehler gave the Miami Marlins a big lift in their first game since Giancarlo Stanton was sidelined by a hand injury.
Koehler pitched seven innings, and Miami stopped a five-game slide with a 3-2 victory over Clayton Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday
"In lieu of what happened last night this team could have came in today and been very deflated after the injury to 'G' and you couldn't have had a better person to take the ball in an outing like this in Tom Koehler," Marlins manager Dan Jennings said.
Christian Yelich tied a career high with four hits for the Marlins, who snapped a five-game losing streak. Koehler (6-4) allowed two runs and six hits.
Stanton broke his left hand during Friday night's 7-1 loss to Los Angeles. The slugger is expected to miss four to six weeks.
"To get a win on a day where we lose arguably the front-runner for the MVP is big and it shows the character of the guys and hopefully it's a momentum-builder," Koehler said.
Kershaw (5-6) allowed three runs, one earned, and seven hits in seven innings. The left-hander struck out nine and walked none.
"You really can't ask Clayton to pitch a whole lot better," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "He gives up one earned run and goes seven innings. We weren't able to put any runs on the board to overcome our mistakes."
Miami scored each of its runs without an RBI. Dodgers outfielders Andre Ethier and Joc Pederson each committed a run-scoring error, and a wild pitch by Kershaw allowed another run to come home.
"It's being opportunistic and when those situations present themselves, if you're doing things the right way and execute, then sometimes the breaks go your way," Jennings said.
A day after striking out a season-high 16 times, the Marlins struck out 12 times, but found a way to score more than one run for the first time in four games. They had just eight runs during their losing streak.
Carter Capps pitched the eighth and A.J. Ramos got three outs for his 10th save in 13 chances.
Justin Turner hit his 11th homer in the first for Los Angeles, but the Marlins got two runs in the bottom half.
Yelich singled and scored on a throwing error by right fielder Ethier. Adeiny Hechavarria also singled and came around to score on a wild pitch.
"A couple of balls that weren't hit that hard," Kershaw said. "The wild pitch ... I threw that one really short and gave up the second run, which you never want to do."
J.T. Realmuto doubled and scored in the second on a dropped fly ball by Pederson, pushing the Marlins' lead to 3-1.
"I messed up and I lost the game for us," Pederson said.
Adrian Gonzalez had an RBI single in the fourth for Los Angeles, but the inning ended on an impressive double play turned by Hechavarria and Dee Gordon.
"The double play that was turned was phenomenal," Jennings said. "They find a way it seems every game to come up with something huge to help us get out of a situation that could turn bad."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Dodgers: RF Yasiel Puig (callus) is expected to return to the starting lineup for Sunday's series finale for the first time in five games. Puig entered in the seventh inning as a pinch hitter and finished the game. ... LHP Paco Rodriguez (elbow tendinitis) was expected to return to the team on Monday, but will miss the next eight to 10 weeks following a setback, which will require surgery.
NEXT UP
Dodgers: RHP Zack Greinke (5-2, 1.70 ERA) will take his major league-leading 1.70 ERA to the mound on Sunday. He is 3-0 with a 3.51 ERA in seven starts against the Marlins.
Marlins: RHP Jose Urena (1-3, 4.34 ERA) will make his seventh career start. Urena is 1-1 with a 2.66 ERA over his last four starts.
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