After dropping the first two games, the Los Angeles Dodgers needed a win Wednesday night to avoid their first three-game losing streak this season, and prevent the Miami Marlins from winning their first series at Dodger Stadium since July 2010.
Scott Kazmir immediately found himself in trouble as Dee Gordon and Martin Prado combined for back-to-back singles to give the Marlins runners on first and second base with none out in the first inning. Christian Yelich made solid contact, but caught a bad break as he hit a liner right to Yasiel Puig.
Giancarlo Stanton extended his success at Dodger Stadium, though only with a broken-bat RBI single into left field. Marcell Ozuna also singled to left, pushing the Marlins lead to 2-0 before Kazmir could get out of the inning.
Justin Nicolino, making his first start this season and 13th of his career, retired Kiké Hernandez, Puig and Adrian Gonzalez in order in the bottom of the first. Kazmir bounced back in the second, throwing a 1-2-3 inning and collecting his strikeout of the game in the process.
Corey Seager drove a one-out base hit into center in the bottom of the second, only to be stranded by Howie Kendrick and A.J. Ellis. Kazmir hit Yelich with a pitch and walked Stanton to put two on with one out in the third inning.
He got out of the small brush with trouble unscathed on a fly out and strikeout. Hernandez was stranded after drawing a two-out walk in the bottom of the third, and the Dodgers’ deficit remained 2-0.
The Dodgers endured a scare after Gonzalez drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the fourth as Seager fouled a pitch off his right shin. The young shortstop was checked on and remained in the game. Seager nearly tied the game on the next pitch, but his drive to center was caught in front of the fence.
CONTINUE READING: Don Mattingly gets ejected in eighth inning
