Dodgers stop skid in Miami
MIAMI — At least for one afternoon, the Los Angeles Dodgers were finally better than last.
Justin Turner tied a career high with five RBIs and Kenta Maeda pitched eight innings Thursday to help the Dodgers beat the Miami Marlins 7-0 and end a streak of six consecutive losses, all against teams in last place in their respective divisions.
With the win, the 2017 National League champions climbed out of the cellar themselves in the NL West. Music blared in their locker room after the game, a contrast to the somber atmosphere of late.
“I thought the radio in the clubhouse was out the last six days,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts joked. “But we fixed it. So we have music. The worm has turned.”
Turner, who broke his left wrist in spring training and made his season debut Tuesday, hit a three- run double in the third inning for the Dodgers’ first hit of the game. He added a tworun double in the fourth and also singled to finish 6-for-13 (.462) in the series.
“We had felt like we were close to breaking out and having a good day,” Turner said. “Hopefully this can stick, and we can put together a run.”
Maeda ( 3- 3) allowed two hits and no walks in his longest outing of the season. He said he took the mound mindful of the losing streak.
“But obviously we’re a really good team,” the Japanese right- hander said through a translator. “I’m not worried about that.”
Maeda retired the final 17 batters he faced while throwing 96 pitches.
“He was mixing pitches well,” Miami shortstop Miguel Rojas said. “He was working quick, throwing a lot of sliders, and we couldn’t figure it out.”
Kenley Jansen gave up two hits in the ninth but struck out three to complete the Dodgers’ sixth shutout of the year. Roberts said he thought about letting Maeda pitch the ninth but wanted to give Jansen work.
Matt Kemp had two doubles and a single for the Dodgers to hike his season average to .318. Yasiel Puig hit his third home run of the season, all in the past four games.
Kemp said Turner’s success was contagious.
“We got one of our best hitters back and he had a big day, and I think that kind of relaxed everybody,” Kemp said. “To see him battle, it’s kind of a domino effect.”
Caleb Smith (2-5) threw 60 pitches before he gave up a hit. But he walked the bases loaded in the third, and Turner cleared them with a double.
“You miss Justin because you know what he can do,” Roberts said. “And once you see him in the box and see it play out, it makes you realize how valuable he is.”
Marlins rookie Lewis Brinson went 0- for- 3 to drop his average to .168. He was the most highly touted prospect acquired during their busy offseason.
“You just stick behind these guys,” Miami manager Don Mattingly said. “There’s a reason we acquired Lewis, and you know that talent is there.”
After the game, the Marlins designated righthander Junichi Tazawa for assignment. Tazawa, who will make $ 7 million this year, gave up three runs in one inning and has an ERA of 9.00 in 22 games.
“I’m hoping a change of scenery will benefit me and get me back on track,” Tazawa said in a statement released by the Marlins. “I do feel fine, and that is the frustrating part about all of this.”
Right- hander Tyler Cloyd was optioned to Triple- A New Orleans after pitching five shutout innings of mop-up relief to lower his ERA to 10.80.
The crowd of 13,820, the largest of the six-game homestand, included thousands of school youngsters taking part in a pregame weather education program. They began departing in the third inning.