Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition

Marlins/MLB

-

MIAMI — For one afternoon, finally, the Dodgers were 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 Marlins 7-0 and end a streak of six consecutiv­e losses, all against last-place teams.

With the win, the defending National League champions climbed out of the cellar themselves in the NL West. Rap music blared in the postgame clubhouse, a contrast to the somber atmosphere of late.

“I thought the radio in the clubhouse was out the last six days,” 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 for the Dodgers’ first hit in the third inning. He added a two-run double in the fourth and also singled to finish 6-for-13 in the series (.462).

“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 righthande­r said through a interprete­r. “I’m not worried about that.”

Maeda retired the final 17 batters he faced.

Kenley Jansen gave up two hits in the ninth but struck out three to complete the Dodgers’ sixth shutout of the season.

Caleb Smith (2-5) walked the bases loaded in the third, and Turner’s double cleared them.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States