Dodgers can’t overcome late push by Marlins, lose 3-2

Dodger relievers allowed a run in the eighth and another in the ninth on a pair of RBI-doubles as the Marlins took a 3-2 win, robbing the Dodgers of their eighth win in nine games.

The go-ahead run in the ninth came home on back-to-back hits off Pedro Baez to start the frame. Kenley Jansen had been warming to come into the game but when the Dodgers failed to take a lead in the bottom of the eighth, the ninth belonged to Baez.

But it was the Marlins run in the eighth that will stick out for the Dodgers in this game. An unfortunate balk call allowed Miami to score the tying run, changing the outcome of the game.

Dodger reliever Tony Cingrani was called for the balk with a runner at first on what appeared to be a blown call. Umpire Joe West made the call that allowed Derek Dietrich to move into scoring position, coming home two batters later on a Starlin Castro double.

The Dodgers looked like they would break the game open when they loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh. Chase Utley was issued his second bases-loaded walk of the year to give the Dodgers a 2-1 lead and Cody Bellinger coming to the plate.

Bellinger would pop out to third, ending the Dodgers best opportunity to score all night.

Solid Start

Kenta Maeda turned in six solid innings on the mound for the Dodgers, holding the Marlins to just one run on four hits while striking out seven and walking one. The only run he would allow came on a solo homer from J.T. Realmuto when Maeda left a 93-mph fastball out over the plate.

With seven more strikeouts, Maeda has struck out 31 of the 92 batters he has faced. The 33.7 percent strikeout rate in April remains the highest for any month for the right-hander since he joined the Dodgers in 2016.

Up Next

The Dodgers give the ball to Clayton Kershaw (1-3, 2.45) with a chance to win their third straight series. The Marlins will start right-hander Trevor Richards (0-2, 6.16) who has given up 14 runs (13 earned) in the first 19 innings of his career over four starts.

Tuesday particulars

Home runs: J.T. Realmuto (2)

WP - Drew Steckenrider (1-0): 1 IP, 1 strikeout

LP - Pedro Baez (0-1): 1 IP, 2 hits, 1 run, 1 strikeout

Sv - Brad Ziegler (2): 1 IP