Takeaways as Miami Marlins get blown out in loss to Los Angeles Dodgers to end series
The Miami Marlins were on the verge of being on the wrong end of a perfect game on Thursday.
Instead, it was just a 10-0 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers to wrap up a three-game series at loanDepot park. Miami (72-68) won the first two games of the series and ultimately split their six games this season with the Dodgers (85-54).
The Dodgers’ Ryan Pepiot had gone 6 2/3 innings without allowing a baserunner, seven outs away from what could have been the 25th perfect game in MLB history, before Josh Bell hit a single up the middle to end the bid.
“You just try to simplify and put the ball in play,” Bell said. “I felt like [Pepiot] did a really good job of spinning the fastball and speeding us up a little bit. His changeup was working really well tonight. Sometimes, you’ve got to tip your cap but happy to scratch that knock off.”
Here are three takeaways from the game.
No offense
During the Marlins’ six-game win streak that was snapped Thursday, Miami averaged eight runs and nearly 12 hits per game, including belting out 15 home runs and 26 total extra-base hits.
There was none of that on Thursday.
Overall, Miami had just two hits — the single by Bell to break up the perfect game and a leadoff single by pinch-hitter Garrett Hampson in the eighth — against the Dodgers. It marked the Marlins’ 11th shutout loss of the season.
“When you’re on this long streak of games, you’re gonna have games like this every now and then,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said. “Hopefully, that’s out of our system. You have games like last night [when Miami scored nine runs in an inning] that happen every now and then. That’s why this game is crazy. Just when you think you have it figured out, it just punches you right in the mouth.”
A short Braxton Garrett outing sets tone for Marlins pitchers
Marlins left-handed pitcher Braxton Garrett, who has been a pleasant surprise for Miami’s rotation this season, lasted just 3 2/3 innings as spotty command and long at-bats from Dodgers hitters elevated his pitch count.
Garrett held his own in the shortened outing, holding Los Angeles to just one run on three hits and a season-high-tying three walks while striking out four, but he needed 91 pitches to get 11 outs.
The lone run he gave up was part of a 28-pitch, seven-batter third inning. The Dodgers loaded the bases on a Miguel Rojas triple, Mookie Betts hit by pitch and Freddie Freeman walk before Will Smith hit a one-out single to shallow center to open scoring. Garrett rebounded by striking out both Amed Rosario and Max Muncy to end the threat.
Garrett left with two on and two out in the fourth inning after his pitch count got to 91. JT Chargois got out of that inning by striking out Betts but things spiraled for Marlins pitching after that.
George Soriano and Devin Smeltzer combined to give up nine runs — two in the fifth, four in the sixth, three in the eighth — over the five innings in the blowout.
Thursday marked the ninth time this season the Marlins have given up at least 10 runs. They are 0-9 in those games.
Where things stand in the playoff race
With the Marlins’ loss and the Arizona Diamondbacks’ 6-2 win over the Chicago Cubs, the Marlins are now tied with the Cincinnati Reds and a half-game behind the Diamondbacks for the National League’s third and final wild card spot with 22 games left to play.
The Marlins’ series with the Dodgers started a stretch of 13 consecutive games against teams currently in the playoff field. Miami will now go on the road for a three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies (77-62, currently the NL’s top wild card team) starting Friday before playing four games at the Milwaukee Brewers (77-62, NL Central leaders).
“We’ll keep going,” Schumaker said, “keep fighting.”
This story was originally published September 7, 2023 at 9:21 PM.
.JPG)