Realmuto’s home run cleans up bullpen meltdown

Now, they’re

MIAMI — even.

With the Marlins’ 6-5 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in front of 5,721 on Wednesday night at Marlins Park, Miami forced an unwanted situation on the defending National League champions. The two teams are tied in the standings, both with identical 16-26 records about a fourth through the season.

The Marlins clinched the season series against the spiraling Dodgers, winning four of five against Los Angeles heading into this afternoon’s game.

Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto launched the goahead solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning, helping to clean up a mess caused by the Marlins bullpen in the top half of the inning. Junichi Tazawa and Drew Steckenrider combined to allow four runs to the Dodgers in the sixth inning, erasing a 5-1 cushion the Marlins built up.

Tazawa surrendered hits to three of the four Dodgers he faced, maximizing the damage done in just 10 pitches. He gave way to Steckenrider, who promptly allowed Chris Taylor to lace a one-run single and Max Muncy to lift a two-run, game-tying, ground-rule double. Steckenrider rebounded to strike out the last two batters of the inning, but the game was tied.

Realmuto changed that by blasting an 86-mph changeup from Pedro Baez into the seat above The Clevelander in the left field. It was Realmuto’s sixth home run in just his 24th game of the season.

Marlins right-hander Elieser Hernandez delivered five innings of one-run ball in his first career majorleague start. He scattered three hits and Yasmani Grandal’s fourth-inning solo home run was the only blemish against the 23-year-old Venezuelan.

Starlin Castro went 4-for-5 with a double, a run scored and a RBI. Justin Bour jacked a two-run home run and walked twice for the Marlins.