MIA 3, LA 2: Duvall Dinger the Difference as López Secures 1st Win

Hoping to avoid the sweep at the hands of the defending World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers, the Marlins turned to Pablo López, the right-hander still searching for his first win of the season.

Early on, though, it appeared the momentum the Dodgers had in the first two games of the series would lead them to their fifth consecutive win as the team put two on the board off López in the second inning.

Los Angeles catcher Austin Barnes started the scoring with an RBI-double, his second of the series and just his second extra base hit since April 7th.

Barnes would brought in by a Mookie Betts RBI-single, giving the Dodgers a 2-0 lead.

Fortunately for López, the damage would be good-and-done-for there, as the 25-year old go would fifth-gusty innings, only allowing the 2 runs on 7 hits, striking out 3 over his 90-pitch outing.

All of the offense Miami would need would come in the top of the 5th when Adam Duvall took a 93-mph fastball off Edwin Uceta for a three-run homer, his second of the series and team-leading, eighth of the season. Duvall previously hit a three-run shot against future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw in Friday’s series opener.

The Duvall home run would give Miami a 3-2 lead they would never relinquish, with the bullpen authoring four scoreless innings to close out the series, giving López his first win of the season. Highlighted in that group of relievers were that of Dylan Floro and Yimi García, both making their first appearances against their former team.

Anthony Bass, who pitched a scoreless 7th for Miami in the victory, has now allowed just 1 earned run over his last 12 appearances, a stretch that spans 10.1 innings dating back to April 15th, in which Bass has a 0.87 ERA.

As soon as Miami took the lead, though, the Dodgers threatened in the bottom half of the fifth when Betts doubled to lead off the inning.

López would retire the next two hitters - Max Muncy and Justin Turner - on pop ups before the aforementioned Duvall would further make his presence felt in this game.

On a single off the bat of Dodgers’ left fielder Matt Beaty that looked to score Betts, Duvall came up firing, throwing out the Dodgers’ $365-million man in what would be his fourth outfield assist of the season.

Miami’s 10 outfield assists now give them sole-possession of second place in the majors, trailing only the seemingly reborn Boston Red Sox, who pace the sport with 12.

Of note, too, from Sunday’s game, already the 40th for the Marlins this season, was the much-anticipated return of Jazz Chisholm Jr., who went 2-5 in his first game since April 27th. While primarily a second baseman in 2021, Chisholm started his fourth game at shortstop this season on Sunday, with manager Don Mattingly giving Miguel Rojas a rest-day in advance of Monday’s off-day.

With the above-noted off-day on Monday, the Marlins will travel to Philadelphia where they will meet the division rival Philadelphia Phillies for the first time this season starting Tuesday.

Baseball-Savant

Fish Picks Answer Key

1. Dodgers
2. Under
3. Yes
4. No
5. Marlins