Dodgers’ largest comeback isn’t enough to avoid last place

On a night when the Dodgers made their largest comeback of the season, it wasn’t enough to avoid yet another loss, this time 6-5 to the Marlins in the second game of their three-game series in Miami.

The Dodgers’ sixth straight loss assured them of a fourth straight series loss to a last place team, and moved Los Angeles into last place in the National League West. They are in a virtual tie with the Padres (17-27) at the bottom of the division, but the Dodgers (16-26) have the worst winning percentage in the division.

Walker Buehler struck out seven in his first four innings but still trailed thanks to a pair of scratch runs driven in on ground ball singles to center field, including one cashed-in error.

But Miami got to Buehler in the fifth with Justin Bour hitting an opposite field home run, and a two-run shot to boot, something the Dodgers haven’t been able to do themselves since May 1. Bour’s shot was the first home run allowed by Buehler this season. Two singles and a sacrifice fly followed to give the Marlins a 5-1 advantage.

In the top of the sixth the Dodgers offense showed life for the first time in a week, stringing together five hits in an inning, including three doubles. Three of those hits were with runners in scoring position, which knotted the game up at 5-5. The four-run deficit is the largest erased by the Dodgers this season.

With Buehler done after five innings and 97 pitches, the Dodgers were tasked to get 12 outs from a bullpen that has been the least reliable aspect of their team this season. Pedro Baez got the first two of those outs, in the bottom of the sixth, but then J.T. Realmuto followed with a solo home run to provide the winning margin.

Rule 5 pick Elieser Hernandez made his first major league start on Wednesday, and proved Rule 1 against the Dodgers this season, that no matter who starts on the mound against them good things will happen.

The Dodgers scored a single run in five innings against Hernandez, the 15th time in the last 16 games they have failed to score more than three times against a starting pitcher. Opposing starters in that span have a 2.73 ERA with 71 strikeouts and 36 walks in 82⅓ innings.

Up next

It’s breakfast and baseball on Thursday with a 9:10 a.m. PT start on getaway day. Kenta Maeda starts for the Dodgers trying to avoid a sweep, with left-hander Caleb Smith starting for Miami.

Wednesday particulars

Home runs: Yasmani Grandal (7); Justin Bour (9), J.T. Realmuto (6)

WP - Drew Steckenrider (2-1): 1⅔ IP, 3 hits, 1 run, 4 strikeouts

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

Sv - Brad Ziegler (7): 1 IP, 1 hit