The Marlins keep the Dodgers at bay, winning 4-2

Martin Prado had two hits tonight and made arguably the best defensive play of the year for the Marlins, while Wei-Yin Chen combined with the relief corps to lead the Marlins to a 4-2 victory at Marlins Park.

The Marlins struck early. In the first inning, Martin Prado scored from second on a throwing error by Logan Forsythe to give Miami a 1-0 lead. The Fish took a 2-0 lead in the fourth via a sac fly from Miguel Rojas to score Brian Anderson.

Meanwhile, Martin Prado was flashing the leather tonight, saving a double down the third base line with a diving stop in the fourth; then making a phenomenal diving catch on a popped-up bunt in the fifth inning while showing tremendous range.

The question tonight for many Marlins fans was: which Wei-Yin Chen would we be seeing? The pitcher whose first start was aa solid 5.1 innings of 1 run ball at home, or the pitcher for had an ERA of 16.71 over the last two outings on the road?

Chen would last 4.1 innings tonight, and was pulled after 83 pitches with two on and one out. Nick Wittgren would come in and kept the Dodgers at bay in the fifth. This would lower Chen’s ERA to less awful 7.56 this season.

Yasiel Puig hit an 84-mph slider into the left field seats for his fifth career home run in Miami to bring the Dodgers to within one run.

After the seventh-inning stretch, the Marlins came up big with a two-out double from Dodger killer J.T. Realmuto to make it 3-1. It was Realmuto’s third hit in four at bats tonight and raised his average to .322 on the season.

Brian Anderson then singled to score Realmuto from second and give the Fish a 4-1 cushion.

The 4-2 victory gives the Marlins an excellent start to the series, while continuing the Dodgers funk.

Tomorrow’s game looks like to be good one, as two excellent young pitchers face off as Caleb Smith battles Walker Buehler. First pitch is 7:10 ET.

fangraphs.com

Kingfish: On both sides of the ball, Martin Prado had a terrific game.

Flounder: The Dodger team, who have now lost five straight games (to the Reds and Marlins).

Turning Point: The big two-out double from Realmuto

Attendance: 6,242

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Matchup Summary

If you thought the Marlins had a bad weekend, losing three of four at home to the Braves, the high-payroll Dodgers just got swept four straight by the lowly Reds at home.

The Fish turn to Wei-Yin Chen to turn their fortunes around in the first game of a three-game set again Los Angeles.

All your skepticism is justified—after an excellent first outing, the oft-injured Chen has been roughed up in his last two outings. Most recently, he gave up 9 runs over 3 innings at Wrigley Field.

The Dodgers are also throwing a lefty, as Alex Wood looks for his first win of the season. Despite being winless, he sports a 3.60 ERA and 1.00 WHIP, so one should clearly not underestimate the 2017 All-Star.

Should be a good one as two teams try to right their respective ships. First pitch is 7:10 ET.

Thread question: How many innings will Chen last in this game?