Dodgers miss chance to move into first

MIAMI — It looked good on paper. Walker Buehler on the mound and an offense that had found another gear during a nine-game winning street. And, with a Giants’ loss to the Cardinals during the game, the Dodgers were primed to take over first place for the first time in over two months with a win. Best laid plans, huh? But, if games were fireworks, this one ended up being a dud. Walker Buehler had one bad inning, and when the Dodgers come-from-behind rally tied it up, they couldn’t get the big hit the team needed to pull ahead. Finally, catcher Marlins Jorge Alfaro hit a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth to provide the margin of victory. The result: the Dodgers lost to the Miami Marlins 5-4.

Dodgers rough up Rogers early

The Dodgers got on the board early. After newly minted All-Star Trevor Rogers pitched two scoreless innings, the Blue Crew broke through in the third inning. Pitcher Walker Buehler led off the inning by smoking a double to the gap and took third on a past ball. Chris Taylor followed up with a double to score Buehler easily.

AJ Pollock jumped all over a pitch, but ended up lining out to right for the first out. Justin Turner then came to the plate and did what JT does. He got a clutch hit. He ripped a Rogers change-up to center field for a run-scoring single. It might have been close at the plate, but the throw from Starling Marte was up the line, so Taylor was able to score standing up.

Ugly inning scores three for Fish

Great. It looked like the Dodgers were rolling. And, with a two-run lead and Buehler on the mound, the Dodgers had to be feeling pretty good about themselves. That’s when the game got sloppy. Buehler got two strikeouts to start the home half of the third, but then things went off the rails a bit. He hit Starling Marte, who immediately stole second base. He came home when Garrett Cooper ripped a single to right.

Then, in what was getting to be a pattern, Cooper swiped second as well. Adam Duvall kept the line moving with an infield single that sent Cooper to third. Miguel Rojas singled Cooper home. Then, Zach McKinstry gacked a throw on a grounder to second to score a third Marlin run in the inning. A HBP, three weakly hit singles and an error. All with two outs. Ugh. The Marlins tacked on another run in the bottom of the fourth on a Jazz Chisholm single. In the end Buehler wasn’t satisfied with his performance, his shortest of the year. His line for the evening: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 6 K.

Dodgers tie in the eighth, but leave them loaded

And there it stayed until the top of the eighth inning, when the Dodgers had an amazing opportunity that didn’t quite yield the desired results. They got a lead-off single from Tio Albert to start off the inning. Then, after back-to-back walks, the Dodgers had the bases loaded with nobody out. Gavin Lux came up and was able to work yet another walk from new reliever David Hess to load the bases.

Then, manager Dave Roberts emptied the bench, pinch hitting some of his regulars who had the day off til now. Max Muncy started things off with a walk to push home a run and cut the Marlins’ lead to 4-3. Then it was Cody Bellinger‘s turn. He blasted a shot to deep center field that came within a couple of feet of being a grand slam. Instead, it was a sacrifice fly to score the tying run.

Mookie Betts walked to reload the bases. That’s when the Dodgers’ rally sort of fizzled out, like a sparkler dunked in a glass of water. Chris Taylor fouled out weakly to short right field and then AJ Pollock struck out, leaving the bags juiced with Dodgers. It was a missed opportunity that would come back to haunt the team.

Gonzalez gives up the long fly for the lead

With the score now tied, Victor Gonzalez came in to try to give the Dodgers a chance in the ninth. The inning started well enough, with two straight strikeouts. But Gonzalez could not seal the deal. He gave up a two-out, two-strike home run to Jorge Alfaro, and that essentially was ball game. The Dodgers got a man on in the ninth on an infield error, but couldn’t move him around. A high pop out off the bat of Max Muncy ended the game and ended the Dodgers’ nine-game winning streak.

With six games to go before the All-Star break, the Dodgers still trail the Giants by a half game. They go at it again in Miami on Tuesday with another 4:10 start. Gonsolin for the Dodgers vs. Pablo Lopez for the Fish.