Dodgers Defeat Marlins

    The Miami Marlins concluded the west-coast swing with a 5-3 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday at Dodger Stadium. The Marlins have lost five of their last six games and finished the road trip with a record of 3-7. The Fish host the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night to begin a nine-game stretch at home.
    Los Angeles(15-21) took the early lead in the second inning against Miami starting pitcher Tom Koehler. Scott Van Slyke blasted a lead-off solo home run to center field on a 2-1 pitch for his first homer of the season and his second career round-tripper.
    The Dodgers extended their lead to 2-0 during the second inning. Skip Schumaker doubled to deep right field and went to third on a base hit by Tim Federowicz to left. Nick hit a sacrifice fly to center field which brought Schumaker in.
    Miami(11-27) cut the margin in the sixth inning against Dodgers starter Chris Capuano. Justin Ruggiano connected for his seventh home run of the season as he banged a solo home run to left field on a 1-1 pitch with one out.
    The deficit became bigger for the Marlins in the seventh inning. Jon Rauch gave up base hits to Punto and Juan Uribe to begin the frame. He was then relieved by Mike Dunn. Punto scored on a single by Carl Crawford to left field. Three batters later, Uribe crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly to left field by Andre Ethier. Van Slyke knocked in Crawford on a base hit to right field.
    The Marlins got two meaningless runs off Brandon League in the ninth inning. With Nick Green on first base and two out, Derek Dietrich singled to center field. Adeiny Hechavarria pounded a two-run double to right field as Green and Dietrich scored on the play.
    Koehler got his first decision of the season with the loss as he allowed two runs on five hits in seven innings of work. Rauch was credited for two runs on two hits against the only two batters he faced in the contest. Capuano improved to 1-2 as he went 6 1/3 innings, allowed one run on five hits and struck out seven.