May 21, 2017
Adrian Gonzales had 3 hits and drove in 3 runs, as the Dodgers defeated the Marlins 6-3 on Sunday afternoon at Chavez Ravine. LA took 3 out of 4 from Miami during their weekend series.
Brandon McCarthy retired the first 14 batters he faced, and allowed just 1 run in 6 innings of work to improve his record to 4-1 on the season. He attributed his success to finally being healthy.
“A lot of it is just focus and getting reset after two years of being up and down and all over the place,” McCarthy said. “I had a healthy offseason where I could focus on myself and pitching again instead of just focusing on my arm. I kind of brought back the me that I would like to be. I’ll just try to hold that through the season.”
Yasmani Grandal added three hits, including a pair of doubles for the boys in blue. Joc Pederson had a solo homer in the 4th as well.
Vance Worley (0-1) made his Marlins debut but took the loss. He allowed 3 runs on 6 hits in 4 innings of work.
The Dodgers grabbed a 3-0 lead by the 4th inning after a 2-run double from Gonzales and Pederson’s homer.
Gonzalez was 1 for 8 in his first two games back but was back on track on Sunday. “That’s what I pride myself in,” he said of driving in runs. “It’s not like I’m putting more responsibility. It’s just what I try to do.”
Former Dodger A.J. Ellis put the Marlins on the board in the 5th with an RBI single.
However, Gonzales’ countered with an RBI single just half an inning later to make it 4-1. Brett Eibner had a pinch-hit 2-run single in the 6th, and that was all the offense the Dodgers needed.
The Marlins managed to get a couple of runs in the 8th and 9th inning off of Pedro Baez and Kenley Jansen. Justin Bour hit a solo blast off of Jansen.
Yasiel Puig was held out of the line with a back injury for the second straight day. He pinch hit in the eighth and struck out.
The Dodgers will be back in action on Tuesday night against the Cardinals, in the first game of a 3-game set. Clayton Kershaw (7-2; 2.15 ERA) will try to keep LA rolling while the Cardinals will go with Lance Lynn (4-2; 2.78 ERA).