Brett Anderson records 10 K as Dodgers run circles around Marlins

Brett Anderson did it all, striking out 10 as the Dodgers cruised to a 7-1 win over the Marlins on Friday night at Marlins Park in Miami.

The 10 strikeouts matched a career high for Anderson, who did the same with Oakland on two occasions - April 7, 2013 vs. Houston, and Sept. 18, 2009 vs. Cleveland.

Anderson allowed a run in the first inning that was essentially the platonic ideal of Dee Gordon. The former Dodger reached base on an infield chopper hit maybe 65 feet up the first base line, then stole second base and scored on two ground balls.

But that 1-0 Marlins lead was quickly wiped out, when Adrian Gonzalez singled to open the top of the second inning, followed by a two-run home run by Scott Van Slyke, 4-for-15 (.267) with two home runs and two doubles since his return from the disabled list.

Anderson lasted seven innings for the fourth time in his last seven starts, allowing just the one run. He allowed five hits, walked one, and got eight ground ball outs. He allowed one fly ball to the outfield, a deep drive by Marcell Ozuna in the sixth inning that was ran down by Joc Pederson in center field, then proceeded to strikeout the final four batters he faced.

The left-hander even helped himself thwart a potential third-inning rally by picking off both catcher J.T. Realmuto and Gordon, after each had singled.

It was the second game this season for Anderson with two pickoffs, the first Dodger to do that dating back to at least 1914. Anderson is also the only Dodgers pitcher in at least 102 years with two pickoffs in the same inning.

Anderson leads the majors with five pickoffs on the season.

But that wasn't all for Anderson, who singled home a run in the fifth inning to cap a three-run rally. It was the fourth career hit for Anderson (in 39 at-bats) and his fourth career RBI, but it was his first single. His first three career hits were doubles, including one earlier this season.

Anderson got the win, the first time he won back-to-back starts since September 2-8, 2012. With his seven innings on Friday Anderson has 89 innings on the season, surpassing his total for 2013-2014 combined (88 innings), and his most innings in a single season since pitching 112⅓ innings in 2010.

In his last 11 starts, Anderson has allowed two or fewer runs nine times, with a 2.47 ERA during that span, with 51 strikeouts and 20 walks in 69⅓ innings.

Notes

Howie Kendrick was 4-for-5 with an RBI, tying his season high with four hits. Kendrick's other four-hit game came at Dodger Stadium on May 12, also against the Marlins, against whom he is 10-for-18 (.556).

Alex Guerrero was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored, his first multi-hit game since May 19.

Gonzalez was 2-for-3 with a walk, his fifth straight start with at least one hit, hitting 8-for-20 (.400) during that span (including his pinch-hit appearance on Thursday).

Pedro Baez, activated from the disabled list earlier in the day, pitched a scoreless ninth in his first major league appearance since May 13. Baez struck out three, and Adam Liberatore struck out three, giving the Dodgers 16 strikeouts on the night, tied for their second-most in a game this season.

The last 10 outs of the game recorded by Dodgers pitchers were strikeouts.

The Marlins have lost five straight games and eight of their last nine.

Up next

The Dodgers have turned those frowns upside down, now winners of three straight, heading into the weekend with their best two pitchers on the mound against a team that is circling the drain. Clayton Kershaw starts on Saturday afternoon, a 1:10 p.m. PT start, with Tom Koehler on the mound for Miami.

Friday particulars

Home run: Scott Van Slyke (4)

WP - Brett Anderson (4-4): 7 IP, 5 hits 1 run, 1 walk, 10 strikeouts

LP - Justin Nicolino (1-1): 4 IP, 6 hits, 5 runs, 1 walk, 2 streikouts