LOS ANGELES (AP) — Teoscar Hernández hit a two-run homer in the sixth, Gavin Stone continued the run of solid Dodgers' starts and Los Angeles beat the Miami Marlins 3-1 on Wednesday to complete an unbeaten six-game homestand.
Los Angeles extended its overall winning streak to a season-high seven games and has won 14 of its last 16.
“Today we didn't put up a bunch of runs but we got a big hit when we needed it,” manager Dave Roberts said. “The starters are coming into their own. It's one of those things where hitting is contagious, but also starting pitching is contagious.”
Freddie Freeman got aboard with a two-out double off the wall in right field before Hernández drove a full-count changeup from Ryan Weathers (2-4) just over the wall in left center and past the outstretched glove of Miami left fielder Nick Gordon.
Miami manager Skip Schumaker ended up second-guessing his decision of allowing Weathers to pitch to Hernández with first base open and Kiké Hernández on deck.
“At the end of the day, that’s on me. I should have taken that situation out of their hands and had him face Kiké,” Schumaker said. “I thought there’s a chance that he would pitch around him a little bit where he could chase. And in worse-case scenario he would put him on and go attack Kiké.”
Hernández drove in all three Los Angeles runs in a game that went only 1 hour, 55 minutes, the shortest contest at Dodger Stadium in 21 years. His RBI base hit to right marked the fourth straight game the Dodgers scored in the first inning.
“Nowadays the outfielders make plays. I was waiting until he was laying on the ground. After that I celebrated,” said Hernández, who leads with Dodgers with 29 RBIs. “I was looking for changeup. He got me out on my second at-bat with a changeup and then at 3-1 he threw a changeup.”
Bryan De La Cruz went deep for the second straight game, accounting for Miami's only run with a solo shot to left in the fourth inning. It is the second time this season he has homered in back-to-back games.
The Marlins have dropped five of six on their current road trip.
“It’s tough to win with one run. Ryan did really well. I’ll take that version of Ryan Weathers any day of the week,” Schumaker said. “We just couldn’t get anything going."
Stone (3-1) went seven innings and allowed only one run on six hits with four strikeouts. Five of the Dodgers' starters during the homestand went at least six innings and posted a 2.33 ERA with 31 strikeouts and only four walks.
“He had command of all his pitches and induced a lot of weak contact. To see him again get to the seventh inning is pretty commendable,” Roberts said of Stone.
Daniel Hudson retired the Marlins in order in the ninth for his second save.
Weathers allowed three runs and five hits in six innings.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Marlins: RHP Edward Cabrera was placed on the 15-day injured list for the second time this season due to right shoulder impingement. He left Tuesday's game after two innings. LHP Braxton Garrett was reinstated from the IL and will start Sunday against Philadelphia.
UP NEXT
Marlins: LHP Trevor Rogers (0-5, 6.15 ERA) makes his eighth start of the season when Miami opens a three-game series against Philadelphia on Friday.
Dodgers: head to San Diego for three games beginning Friday. RHP Tyler Glasnow (6-1, 2.70 ERA) is 10th in the NL in ERA.
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
