LOS ANGELES (AP) — Max Muncy hit a three-run homer during the Dodgers’ eight-run second inning, and Clayton Kershaw racked up a season-high 11 strikeouts in Los Angeles’ 9-6 victory over the Miami Marlins on Friday night.
Mookie Betts and Austin Barnes had RBI doubles for the defending World Series champions, who appear to be coming out of their three-week tailspin. Los Angeles has won three straight and four of five after jumping to an early 8-0 lead and hanging on after the Marlins scored five runs on Kershaw.
Los Angeles lost 15 of 20 after its 13-2 start to the season, but the Dodgers have opened a nine-game homestand with their first three-game win streak in four weeks. All nine starters got a hit in the series opener against Miami.
Kershaw (6-3) won for the sixth time in eight starts despite yielding a season high-tying five earned runs over six innings. Kershaw also contributed an RBI single and scored during the Dodgers’ impressive second inning, which included six consecutive hits.
ADVERTISEMENTAdam Duvall hit a three-run homer and Garrett Cooper drove in two runs for the Marlins, who have lost three straight and five of seven.
Miami’s Sandy Alcantara (1-3) didn’t get out of the second inning in the shortest start of his five-year major league career, yielding eight runs on seven hits and two walks while getting just four outs.
Alcantara had lasted at least five innings in each of his first eight starts this season, but he has allowed 14 runs in only 6 1/3 innings in his two career starts at Dodger Stadium.
After Chris Taylor drew a leadoff walk in the second, the next six Dodgers delivered hits — including an RBI single by AJ Pollock, who then left the game after straining his left hamstring while running to third on Barnes’ double to the wall.
Muncy’s 424-foot homer was the fifth in eight games for the veteran slugger during a scorching stretch. He reached base for the 18th time in 36 plate appearances with a seventh-inning single.
Miami halved the Dodgers’ 8-0 lead in the third with Cooper’s RBI single followed by a 417-foot shot from Duvall.
Miami loaded the bases with a two-out rally in the eighth and trimmed LA’s lead to 9-6 when Sandy Leon was grazed by a pitch, but Victor González struck out Jon Berti to end it.
Kenley Jansen pitched a perfect ninth for his seventh save in nine opportunities.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Marlins: RHP Elieser Hernández (biceps) will start a rehab assignment next week. He hasn’t pitched for Miami since April 3. ... SS Jazz Chisholm (hamstring) homered in a minor league game. He should be back this weekend or shortly afterward.
Dodgers: Pollock was making his first start in a week after straining his hamstring in Anaheim. ... LHP David Price (hamstring) threw two simulated innings. He is close to returning. ... OF Cody Bellinger (hairline leg fracture) is running at 80% in Arizona, and he could go on a minor league assignment next week. ... INF/OF Zach McKinstry (oblique) will go to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday or Monday.
UP NEXT
Trevor Bauer (3-2, 2.50 ERA) takes the mound against Miami, which hadn’t announced its starter. Bauer is 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 13 innings at Dodger Stadium this season.
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