Sep 9, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Jose Fernandez (16) delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Marlins Park. Photo Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
MIAMI — Jose Fernandez tied a career high with 14 strikeouts, improved to 28-2 at home and outpitched Clayton Kershaw as the Miami Marlins defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-1 on Friday night at Marlins Park.
This was Kershaw’s first appearance since he injured his back on June 26, and he was clearly off his game, negating what could have been a great pitching matchup.
However, Fernandez (14-8) was sharp, allowing three hits, three walks and no runs in seven innings. He improved to 4-0 in his career against the Dodgers.
This year, Fernandez is 11-2 at home and 3-6 on the road.
Miami’s bid for a shutout was spoiled when closer Fernando Rodney gave up a solo homer to Yasmani Grandal in the ninth inning. Grandal, an ex-Miami Hurricanes star, pulled a fastball into the upper deck in right.
After Rodney allowed the next two batters to single, Marlins manager Don Mattingly pulled him in favor of former closer A.J. Ramos, who struck out the final two batters to earn his 33rd save of the season and his first since Aug. 5.
Kershaw (11-3), a three-time Cy Young winner, lasted just 66 pitches and three innings, allowing five hits and two runs. He struck out five, but one of the hits he gave up was a line shot up the middle by Fernandez. Kershaw had to duck to avoid getting hit.
The Marlins (70-71), a long-shot to earn an NL wild-card playoff berth after a recent slump in which they lost 10 of 12 games, won their second straight game.
Los Angeles (79-61), which leads the NL West, had its five-game win streak snapped.
Kershaw fell behind on his sixth pitch of the game, a 93-mph fastball, down and in, that was pulled to left for a solo homer by J.T. Realmuto.
Miami made it 2-0 in the second. Marcell Ozuna doubled to left and scored when Kershaw left a 0-2 breaking ball up in the zone to Chris Johnson, who swatted it to center for an RBI single.
The Marlins went up 4-0 in the fifth. Dee Gordon hit an infield single, advanced on a Realmuto walk, stole third and scored on a two-out bunt hit by Christian Yelich. After a walk to Ozuna loaded the bases, Miami scored when Ichiro Suzuki was hit by a pitch.
NOTES: Marlins OF Marcel Ozuna made his second straight start in right. He was Miami’s center fielder until he injured his wrist Aug. 31 while making a diving catch against the New York Mets. Since then, Miami manager Don Mattingly has been giving a long look to LF Christian Yelich in center. … Before a 10-18 August, Mattingly had experienced 18 consecutive winning months, the third-longest streak by a manager since 1946. Most of Mattingly’s winning months were while he was running this weekend’s opponent, the Dodgers. … Corey Seager’s 24 homers are the most ever by a Dodgers shortstop. Seager is a contender to win NL Rookie of the Year. … Dodgers C Yasmani Grandal, who played at the University of Miami, has a career-high 25 homers. He leads major league catchers in homers. … The Dodgers lead the majors in fielding percentage (.988).
