Mookie Betts hits 2-run single as Dodgers beat Marlins 3-1 in doubleheader opener
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mookie Betts hit a two-run single in Los Angeles’ three-run eighth inning, and the Dodgers beat the Miami Marlins 3-1 on Saturday in the opener of a split-doubleheader.
The NL West-leading Dodgers bounced back nicely from an 11-3 loss on Friday night, improving to 16-2 in August. Ryan Yarbrough (6-5) pitched two perfect innings for the win, and Evan Phillips got three outs for his 19th save.
The doubleheader was scheduled by Major League Baseball out of concern over the forecast for Hurricane Hillary, which likely will cross into the southwest U.S. as a tropical storm. The twin-bill takes the place of the previously scheduled series finale on Sunday.
Miami wasted a terrific performance by Eury Pérez, who struck out 10 with no walks while pitching six innings of two-hit ball. The Marlins, fighting for an NL wild card, had won four of six.
Bryan De La Cruz hit an RBI double in the fourth against Ryan Pepiot, and Miami carried the 1-0 lead into the eighth. But it quickly fell apart from there.
James Outman drew a one-out walk against David Robertson (4-4) and moved to third on Kiké Hernández’s single. Outman scored the tying run on Austin Barnes’ sacrifice bunt as first baseman Josh Bell’s throw from the side of the mound went past catcher Jacob Stallings, allowing Hernández to advance to third and Barnes to second.
“That’s been my game my whole career, my whole life,” Barnes said. “Just try to do the little things to help the team win. It’s something that I do take pride in.”
Betts followed with a single to center to drive in the go-ahead runs.
“I was just ready for a strike,” Betts said. “He needs to get ahead there. … I was trying to get a good pitch, fortunately I hit it. Barnesy set it up for us. Our guys kept them off the board, they only scored one. That was a really good baseball game to be a part of.”
After Freddie Freeman doubled and Will Smith popped out, Max Muncy was intentionally walked to load the bases. But Amed Rosario grounded out, ending the inning.
The 20-year-old Perez became the youngest pitcher to have at least 10 strikeouts in a game since Seattle’s Felix Hernandez struck out 11 against Kansas City on Aug. 15, 2005 when he was 19.
A day after hitting five home runs, the Marlins were held to just five hits — only one for extra bases.
Miami put two runners on with two out in the first, but opener Caleb Ferguson escaped the jam by retiring Jake Burger on a fly ball to center.
The Marlins had two on with one out in the third, but Pepiot — making his season debut after recovering from an oblique injury that sidelined him for 3 1/2 months — got Bell to line into an inning-ending double play.
Pepiot struck out five in five innings. He allowed three hits.
UP NEXT
The night game will afternoon opener will feature Dodgers LHP Julio Urías (10-6, 4.35 ERA) facing Marlins LHP Braxton Garrett (7-3, 3.91 ERA).
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