Dodgers blanked in finale with Marlins

The Dodgers offense was quieted by Jose Urena, dropping their series finale 3-0 to the Marlins on Sunday afternoon in Miami.

Los Angeles lost six of their seven games to the Marlins in 2016, and got a near-perfect game in the one victory against old friend Don Mattingly’s new team.

Urena had designs on a perfect game of his own, which was still in the realm of possibility until Joc Pederson singled with two outs in the fifth. The Dodgers’ best shot at a rally came with two singled in the seventh, during Urena’s third time through the order, but that threat was extinguished when Yasmani Grandal grounded into a double play, punctuated by Grandal slamming his helmet on the ground after getting thrown out at first base to end the inning.

The Marlins’ right-hander, who turns 25 on Monday, had a previous career-high of 6⅔ innings, but pitched into the ninth on Sunday. Urena was pulled after 8⅔ innings after giving up a single to Josh Reddick, Urena’s fourth hit allowed.

Urena struck out four and walked none, coming within one strike of the first complete game shutout by the Marlins since Henderson Alvarez on June 3, 2014.

Kenta Maeda pitched well on Sunday, retiring 10 straight after Dee Gordon opened the game with a single. But three straight singles for the Marlins in the fourth inning plated one run, followed by a sacrifice fly from Justin Bour for the second run.

Miami tacked on another run in the sixth inning with two more hits and two errors one one play by Josh Reddick and Corey Seager. But Maeda was able to strand Christian Yelich, who was at third base with nobody out, and get out of the frame with no further damage.

Maeda lasted six innings for the 15th time in 28 starts this season, and did so in back-to-back starts for the first time since June 3-8.

Up next

The Dodgers move on to New York to play three interleague games against the Yankees, sending Jose De Leon to the mound to start the series opener on Monday for his second major league start. Bryan Mitchell starts for the Yankees in the 4:05 p.m. PT game, his fifth major league start and second in 2016.

Sunday particulars

Home runs: none

WP - Jose Urena (4-6): 8⅔ IP, 4 hits, 4 strikeouts

LP - Kenta Maeda (14-9): 6 IP, 8 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), 1 walk, 3 strikeouts

Sv - A.J. Ramos (34): 1 up, 1 down