The Los Angeles Dodgers went into the All-Star break on a six-game winning streak and 26-4 in their past 30 games. They generally downplayed the thought of time off halting their momentum. Friday night against the Miami Marlins validated the lack of concern.
The Dodgers took a 1-0 lead in the second inning thanks to a Dee Gordon throwing error after he dropped the throw from J.T. Realmuto on a botched double-steal attempt. Los Angeles extended their lead to 3-1 in the fifth, behind solo home runs by Yasiel Puig and Corey Seager.
The Marlins scored three in the bottom half of the inning to take a 4-3 lead. Junichi Tazawa, Kyle Barraclough and David Phelps each threw a scoreless inning of relief.
All Marlins closer A.J. Ramos needed to do was retire Cody Bellinger, Logan Forsythe and Joc Pederson. Bellinger grounded out and Forsythe struck out looking.
Pederson was down to his last strike before pulling a base hit into right field. Yasmani Grandal went a full count and drew a walk. Ramos also had Puig down to his last strike, only to surrender a go-ahead, three-run home run.
Puig tossed his bat toward the dugout, thumped his chest and pointed to his teammates in celebration. Kenley Jansen entered in the bottom of the ninth and converted his 22nd save of the season.
Puig’s multi-home run game was Puig’s third this season. He’s now hit 18 homers, which is just one shy of matching a career high set as a rookie in 2013.
“Big players make big plays in big moments,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters postgame. “We seem to have a knack for the heroics lately.”
The come-from-behind win was the Dodgers’ 25th this season. Six have come with the team trailing going into the ninth inning. Overall, Los Angeles enters play on a seven-game winning streak and 57-12 in their last 69 games.
