Ryan Pepiot put forth a strong effort for a perfect game and the Los Angeles Dodgers overcame their hitting woes in September behind a balanced effort from the lineup in a 10-0 win against the Miami Marlins. The Dodgers avoided being swept in the process and snapped the Marlins’ season-high-tying winning streak at six games.
While the Dodgers took a 1-0 lead in the third inning on Will Smith’s RBI single and added onto it with two runs in the fifth and four more in the sixth, Pepiot was in the midst of the best game of his career.
Pepiot was efficient through three innings and continued to inch closer to just the second perfect game in Dodgers franchise history.
He was aided by Miguel Rojas and Amed Rosario combining for back-to-back stellar defensive plays in the fourth inning. Rosario then delivered defensively again in the seventh inning on a leaping grab to rob Luis Arraez of a leadoff single.
Unfortunately for the rookie, that was followed two batters later by Josh Bell getting a clean single through the middle of the infield to break up the perfect game.
Pepiot’s body language allowed for some disappointment with losing his bid for history, but that didn’t cause the right-hander to lose focus. He retired the next batter to get through seven innings for the first time in his Major League career.
Pepiot was in position to make the start because MLB put Julio Urías on administrative leave while they investigate his arrest for suspected domestic violence.
Already with two hits in the game, Chris Taylor added onto the Dodgers’ commanding lead with a three-run home run in the eighth inning.
Smith, Rosario, Taylor, Kiké Hernández and Rojas each had at least two hits in the win. Freddie Freeman finished with one hit, but it tied him with Johnny Frederick for most doubles in Dodgers franchise history with 52 this season.
Caleb Ferguson and Evan Phillips each pitched one scoreless inning.
Ryan Pepiot’s near perfect games
Thursday’s performance was reminiscent of his performance for Triple-A Oklahoma City on August 13. He didn’t allow a baserunner until a leadoff single in the seventh inning, which wound up being the only hit given up.
One drastic difference in that start was Pepiot finished with 11 strikeouts.
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