Final
Marlins-Dodgers Preview
Apr 27, 2016 - 6:33 AM Don Mattingly's Miami Marlins have gotten the best of his former team at the halfway point of their four-game series at Dodger Stadium.Considering how an ailing Scott Kazmir has struggled for Los Angeles of late, the Marlins might have a good chance to secure their first series win at Chavez Ravine in six years with a fourth straight victory Wednesday night.
After holding on for a 3-2 victory Monday in Mattingly's first game back since leaving the Dodgers in late October, Miami (8-11) used a five-run sixth inning to overcome a 3-0 deficit in Tuesday's 6-3 win. Before this season, the Marlins were 5-10 at Dodger Stadium since last winning a series there in 2010.
Giancarlo Stanton has helped put the Marlins in position to do it again after homering for a third straight contest with a three-run, go-ahead shot off Clayton Kershaw on Tuesday.
''I'm just trying to help us get up and stay up,'' Stanton said. ''That's what it's about. Doing that at (the) right place, right time.''
Stanton is 6 for 12 with those three home runs, six RBIs and just two strikeouts in three games after batting .193 with three homers and 24 strikeouts in his first 15 contests. The Los Angeles area native is 13 for 30 with three homers and 11 RBIs in his last eight games at Dodger Stadium.
''Giancarlo is a dangerous cat,'' Mattingly said.
Stanton went 0 for 3 the last time he faced Kazmir (1-1, 6.63 ERA) in 2013, also the most recent appearance the left-hander made against the Marlins. Despite a sore thumb and wrist, Kazmir appears set to try a fourth time to win his 100th game.
He gave up a hit over six innings of a 3-0 win at San Diego in his Los Angeles debut, but 14 runs in 13-plus innings of the three that followed. Five of the 20 hits Kazmir gave up over the last three have left the park, including two in the fourth of five innings he lasted while earning a no-decision in Friday's 7-5 loss at Colorado.
''I can't make any excuses,'' said Kazmir, who gave up four runs in that outing.
Not even the hand issues, which manager Dave Roberts will remain cautious in handling.
"When you've got to take a pitcher out because of soreness in the arm, yeah, there's concern for sure," Roberts told MLB's official website.
Los Angeles (12-9), which hasn't lost three in a row thus far in 2016, is 0 for 10 with runners in scoring position in the series. Kershaw recorded two of the Dodgers' six hits Tuesday.
Yasiel Puig's homer Monday is his only hit in 12 at-bats over his last five games against Miami.
With originally scheduled starter Jarred Cosart optioned to Triple-A New Orleans, Justin Nicolino was recalled to start in his 2016 debut Wednesday. Nicolino went 5-4 with a 4.01 ERA in 12 starts in his 2015 rookie season.
After losing out on his bid to make the big club out of spring training, the left-hander went 2-2 with a 3.60 ERA for New Orleans.
"We expect him to come up and pitch well," Mattingly said.
Nicolino hopes to fare better than June 26 when he allowed five runs in four innings of a 7-1 loss to the Dodgers.
- MIAMI: 2
LOS ANGELES: 0
Final
Apr 28 1:14 AM - Marcell Ozuna singles to left field. Giancarlo Stanton to second. Martin Prado scores.
Marlins 2, Dodgers 0 Top 1, 1 OutApr 27 10:20 PM - Giancarlo Stanton singles to left center field. Martin Prado to second. Dee Gordon scores.
Marlins 1, Dodgers 0 Top 1, 1 OutApr 27 10:18 PM - Dee Gordon singles to right field.
Apr 27 10:10 PM
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