Dodgers Sweep Marlins, Win Ninth Straight

The Los Angeles Dodgers picked up right where they left off before the All Star Game and swept a three game set over the Marlins in Miami Friday July 14th-Sunday July 16th. The six game winning streak L.A. had before the break was extended to nine with the three wins over Miami.

The Dodgers trailed Miami 4-3 in the ninth inning of Friday’s game before Yasiel Puig belted a three run homer for the eventual winning runs in a 6-4 victory. In Saturday’s game, rookie sensation Cody Bellinger was 4 for 5 at the plate and hit for the cycle in a 7-1 Dodgers’ victory. He is the first Dodgers rookie ever to hit for the cycle. Bellinger had three RBIs. Catcher Yasmani Grandal also drove in three on a three run homer. Starting pitcher Alex Wood won his eleventh straight game this season and improved to 11-0. He pitched six scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and one walk, improving his ERA to 1.56. Wood could figure in the Cy Young Award discussion, though teammate Clayton Kershaw (14-2, 2.18) probably holds the edge there at this point.

In the finale on Sunday, third baseman Justin Turner was 2 for 3 with a home run, single, and two RBIs as the Dodgers completed the sweep with a 3-2 victory. Turner raised his batting average to .374, though he spent time on the disabled list and doesn’t yet have enough plate appearances to qualify for the batting title. With the sweep, Los Angeles has the best record in baseball at 64-29; the team has won 29 of their last 33 games. The Dodgers will start a two game interleague set in Chicago against the White Sox on July 18th, with Kershaw on the mound for Game 1, and Kenta Maeda (7-4, 4.38) in Game 2. The White Sox (38-52) are in rebuilding mode, and L.A. could very well extend its winning streak to eleven before heading to Atlanta for a four game set with the Braves.