Home Run Display At Dodger Stadium, Just Not By Dodgers

The Marlins swatted four home runs on Sunday en route to a 6-2 win over the Dodgers in the finale of their three-game series at Dodger Stadium, preventing a three-game Dodgers sweep.

Adrian Gonzalez, in just his second game as a Dodger, had his chance for another fairytale moment in the eighth inning with the bases loaded and two outs, down two runs. But his deep fly ball to right field fell just shy of the warning track for the third out of the inning.

The Marlins added two runs in the ninth inning on back-to-back home runs by Jose Reyes and Carlos Lee, putting the game away. Despite the outcome, the game did provide some rare, if not memorable moments:

• Gonzalez stole a base in the first inning, the third stolen base of his major league career.
• Juan Uribe delivered a pinch-hit single in the sixth inning, his first hit of August (now 1-for-13). Uribe had four hits in his last 58 at-bats and 13 hits in his last 100 at-bats before that base knock.
  
• Rob Brantly hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning, the first of his major league career.
  

What's not rare is a home run from Giancarlo Stanton. The imposing right fielder homered for the third straight day with his solo shot in the fourth inning off Aaron Harang. Stanton has hit a home run in seven of his last 11 games, with eight long balls during that span. Before the game, manager Don Mattingly said he enjoyed watching Stanton hit.

"There aren't too many guys like that, with that bat speed. He's pretty good," Mattingly said. "He's a guy that's fun to watch."

The Dodgers rallied for a run in the seventh inning, with Andre Ethier driving in the run with a single. Ethier was hitless in his first three at-bats, snapping his streak at 10 consecutive hits, but he is still hitting .647 (11-for-17) since manager Don Mattingly convinced him to choke up on the bat to relieve the pressure on the ruptured blister on his right hand.

What happened next was a bizarre play that took several minutes, an umpire conference, and two manager arguments to solve. With runners on first and second base, down 3-2 with one out, Luis Cruz popped a ball up in the infield about 60 feet up the first base line. The infield fly rule was called, but then the catcher Brantly did not catch the ball. Ethier, advancing at his own peril, ran to second base, but Gonzalez was waiting there. Gonzalez subsequently was tagged out in a run down trying to go to third base, and the inning appeared to be over.

However upon further review the inning continued, but not as first thought. Ethier actually ran into Lee at first base and was called out for interference, and the ball was deemed foul even though it may have hit Brantly's glove in fair territory. That meant Cruz got to bat again, this time with two outs and Gonzalez on second, but a fly ball to left field ended the inning.

Hanley Ramirez, who was 6-for-13 (.462) with five RBI against his old team from August 10-12 in Miami, was 1-for-12 in this three-game series, with his two-run home run Friday night his only hit of the weekend.

Up Next

The Dodgers head to Denver for a three-game series beginning Monday night at Coors Field. Josh Beckett will make his Dodgers debut in the series opener, facing Jeff Francis for Colorado.

Sunday's Particulars

Home Runs: Gioncarlo Stanton (29), Rob Brantly (1), Jose Reyes (11), Carlos Lee (8)

WP - Mark Buehrle (12-11): 5 2/3 IP, 6 hits, 1 run, 3 walks, 4 strikeouts

LP - Aaron Harang (9-8): 5 1/3 IP, 6 hits, 3 runs, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts