With the Los Angeles Dodgers returning home after a six-game road trip, it meant an opportunity for Adrian Gonzalez and Chase Utley to take a breather. Both veterans were out of Monday’s lineup with the Miami Marlins starting left-hander Wei-Yin Chen.
For Gonzalez, it was his first game not in the lineup this season. Monday also marked the return of former Dodgers manager Don Mattingly. A brief tribute video was played prior to first pitch, with the response primarily positive.
As for on-field action, Ross Stripling issued a pair of walks and needed 28 pitches to get through a scoreless first inning. Chen followed suit in the bottom half, but was more economical as he set down Kiké Hernandez, Howie Kendrick and Yasiel Puig in order.
J.T. Realmuto led off the second inning with a base hit, but he was later doubled up at second base to end the inning on an Adeiny Hechavarria liner that was snagged by Yasmani Grandal, who started at first base.
Chen worked around a Trace Thompson two-out single in the bottom of the second to throw another scoreless inning. Marcell Ozuna drew his second walk of the game in the third inning. It didn’t cost Stripling or the Dodgers as Christian Yelich flied to center for the third out.
Charlie Culberson led off the bottom of the third with base hit to left, and he moved into scoring position on a passed ball. Stripling advanced Culberson to third on a sacrifice bunt, where he was stranded by Hernandez and Kendrick.
Giancarlo Stanton hit a towering solo home run in the fourth to give the Marlins a 1-0 lead. The homer was the first Stripling allowed in his career. Realmuto and Derek Dietrich were stranded after hitting back-to-back singles with two outs.
CONTINUE READING: Yasiel Puig and Trayce Thompson go deep, Dodgers get tying run on in ninth
