Janson Junk dominated, and the Marlins capitalized on Ohtani's rare miscues, clinching a thrilling 2-1 victory over the Dodgers.
The Miami Marlins pulled off a feat not seen since 2023.
They defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1 on Tuesday, finally snapping a nine-game losing streak at Dodger Stadium.
Janson Junk continued his promising start to the season with another efficient performance. The right-hander allowed three hits with four strikeouts over six scoreless innings and 76 pitches.
Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said during his postgame press conference that the 30-year-old “set the tone on the mound.”
“He was fantastic,” McCullough said. “They know he's going to pound the strike zone. They came out aggressive, and he really mixed things up. He moved the ball around, executed. He was able to get through six innings very efficiently. After the first there, he was able to really settle in and threw great.”
Shohei Ohtani entered the game having allowed only one run all season. The Marlins (14-16) took advantage of his uncharacteristic mistakes to take a 1-0 lead in the second inning.
Agustín Ramírez was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. He stole second base and advanced to third base on a throwing error by Ohtani. He scored on a sacrifice fly by Owen Caissie.
The Marlins got through Ohtani the old-fashioned way in the fifth inning to go up 2-0. Christopher Morel drew a walk to lead off the inning. He advanced to scoring position on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a single by Kyle Stowers.
It was Ohtani’s second earned run of the season. He lasted six innings having allowed two runs (one unearned) on five hits with three walks and nine strikeouts.
The Dodgers (20-10) didn’t get on the board until the eighth inning. Alex Freeland and Freddie Freeman each singled to set the table for an RBI base hit by Will Smith. The catcher went 3-for-4 to lead the Dodgers at the plate.
John King came in the eighth after the Dodgers scored a run to snuff out the rally. He has a 0.71 ERA in 12.2 innings pitched this season. An underrated free agent signing, King has inherited 15 baserunners so far this season and stranded 13 of them.
Tyler Phillips earned his second save of the season with a scoreless inning. He quickly redeemed himself one day after giving up a walk-off hit to Kyle Tucker.
“I was fired up. I was thinking about the outing from last night,“ Phillips told Marlins radio after the game. ”Just be in attack mode, something we preach. Try to get strike one. I know how my stuff plays. When it’s in the zone, it’s gonna be good.”
Otto Lopez went 3-for-5 with a double and Stowers collected two hits to lead the Marlins at the plate. Morel went hitless in his first game as a Marlin.
The Marlins will try to end the California road trip with their first road series win of the season on Wednesday with their ace on the mound. Sandy Alcantara (3-2, 3.05 ERA) takes the ball for the matinee while the Dodgers counter with Tyler Glasnow (3-0, 2.45 ERA).
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