Dodgers ride huge second inning to win over Marlins

The last couple of starts, Clayton Kershaw has been the un-deGrom. Unlike the the Mets’ ace, whose lack of run support is legendary, Kershaw has been the recipient to back-to-back huge leads that held up the rest of the night for victories. On Friday night, it was Sandy Alcantara and the Marlins that felt the Dodgers’ wrath. The home team scored eight times in the second inning, and the Dodgers held off the Marlins late, winning 9-6 for their third straight victory.

Dodgers hitters on fire early

Alcantara came into the game with a 1.80 ERA over his last three outings. But, after a scoreless first, the Dodgers’ hitters really went to work in the second inning. The inning started with a Chris Taylor walk, which was followed three pitches later with a Gavin Lux double. Lux, who has been swinging a very hot bat in the last ten days, scorched a ball into the gap for the easy two-bagger. AJ Pollock continued the hit parade with a run scoring single and the Dodgers were on the board.

Unfortunately, Pollock re-tweaked his hammy going to third on an Austin Barnes double and had to leave the game in favor of Matt Beaty. Then, Clayton Kershaw came to bat and quickly found himself down 0-2 to the flame-throwing Alcantara. Bearing down and getting in his now-familiar crab crouch, Kersh was able to slap a hanging slider through the middle for another Dodgers run. In doing so, Kershaw raised his batting average to an impressive .333 on the year. There may indeed be a silver slugger in his future to go next to the three Cy Youngs and the MVP.

Muncy makes it three nights in a row

The Dodgers were just getting started in the second. With the top of the order coming up, the hits kept flying off the home team bats. Mookie Betts doubled home a run. Then Corey Seager singled to score Kershaw. Then, after a Justin Turner strikeout, a very hot Max Muncy came to the plate. And, for the third straight night, Muncy went deep. He buried a 96 mile-an-hour fastball into right center, directly into the mitt of a slick-fielding Dodger fan. Suddenly, it was 8-0, and that Alcantara ERA took a major hit as he headed to the showers for the night.

Kershaw gives up five in so-so start

Kershaw’s outing from there on out was not that great. He gave up five earned runs, including a three-run no-doubter from Adam Duvall in the third inning. He did get a season-high 11 strikeouts, and got over 20 swings and misses. But he also got knocked around the yard more than he’s been used to at Dodger Stadium, where his lifetime ERA hovers around 2.00. His final line for the night: 6 IP 6 H, 5 ER 11 K.

Dodgers tack on in seventh inning

With Dodgers leading 8-5, the game was turned over to the bullpen. First man up, Blake Treinan got the seventh. With the help of some nifty centerfield defense from Mookie Betts, Treinan retired the Fish on just ten pitches. In the bottom of the inning the Dodgers loaded up the bases with three straight singles from Turner, Muncy, and Taylor to start the inning.

Then, Gavin Lux ripped a line drive back to new reliever Ross Detwiler that had double play written all over it. After snagging the liner, Detwiler whirled and threw to Miguel Rojas for the twin-killing. The throw went wild and squirted into the outfield, allowing Justin Turner to stroll home. But one run was all the Dodgers could manage in the inning. After a two-out walk to Austin Barnes reloaded the bases, pinch-hitter Luke Raley grounded to first to end the threat.

Two-out rally plates one for Marlins

With the Dodgers now up by four, manager Dave Roberts called on his second-tier guys to finish up the game. Coming off a poor outing in Anaheim, Dennis Santana loaded up the bases after two quick outs. Santana gave up a couple of bleeders into the outfield and a walk, and was quickly lifted for Victor Gonzalez to put out the fire. Gonzalez promptly hit pinch hitter Sandy Leon on a questionable call to score a run. Suddenly the go-ahead run was at the plate in the person of Jon Berti. Gonzalez dug deep and struck out the Marlins center fielder swinging to escape the inning.

Jansen dominant in save

It probably wasn’t Dave Roberts plan to use Kenley Jansen tonight, but the scrappy Marlins forced his hand. After a scoreless Dodger eighth, the big man from Curacao came out of the pen to close out the game. Hitting 97 on the gun a couple of times, Jansen was in total control of the inning, sending the Fish down 1-2-3 to secure the Dodger victory. It was Jansen’s sixth save of the season, lowering his ERA to 1.76.

Though the Marlins made it interesting, it was a good victory and hopefully a good start on a winning homestand. Now 21-17, the Dodgers send Trevor Bauer to the mound on Saturday to face the Marlins, who have yet to announce their starter. 6:10 first pitch.