A Flustery Second Inning Error Segues into A Baker’s Dozen Runs For Miami

Dodgers 3 10 1

Marlins 13 17 0

WP- DeSclafani (1-0)

LP- Maholm (1-4)

S- Wolf (1)

HR- Lucas (1), Johnson (2), Mathis (2), Crawford (2)

This game was done after the second inning. It was one of those game which was very hard to watch, but for some reason you continue to torture

May 14, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Drew Butera (31) pitches a scoreless ninth inning during the game against the Miami Marlins at Dodger Stadium. Marlins won 13-3. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

yourself by watching it through until the very end. Those Dodgers fans who were there until the end did get a treat in the top of the ninth inning when back-up catcher Drew Butera pitched a perfect inning and struck out Marcell Ozuna with a 94-mph fastball.

May 14, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Paul Maholm (47) in the first inning of the game against the Miami Marlins at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

The Dodgers still won the series against the Fish, but they dropped the finale in an epic failure of a blowout on Wednesday night. Paul Maholm pitched horribly, but we will never know if the Dodgers could have changed the course of the game after the turning point came in the second inning on the flustery two-run error by Dee Gordon. Once that ball bounced over Dee’s head, it seemed like the floodgates opened. The Fish scored 6 runs in the frame, and then they went on to score another half dozen runs in the fourth and another run for good measure in the sixth.

The Dodgers pitching was bad, but the offense was meager again as well. The three Dodger runs came off a Puig RBI double in the fifth, a solo homerun by Crawford in the sixth, and a too-little-too-late RBI single by Dre in the eighth.

Rookie pitcher Anthony DeSclafani picked up his first career win in his debut. Randy Wolf, who had barely been signed by the Marlins earlier in the day, collected a rare three-inning save.

If you are a glutton for punishment, read on for the lowlights…

Paul Maholm allows the dreaded lead-off walk to Christian Yelich to start the top of the first inning. Giancarlo Stanton singled on a groundball to second after Gordon’s throw is too late when he finds himself on the wrong side of the bag. Jeff Baker grounds into the “Paul Maholm trademark” as described by Vin Scully which is a double play to end the inning.

Anthony DeSclafani goes to the mound in his Major League debut for the Marlins for the home half of the first. He retires Dee Gordon on a bunt groundout to third. DeSclafani looks nervous while pitching to Yasiel Puig, and rightfully so. He walks the hot hitting outfielder. DeSclafani picks up his first strikeout as Hanley Ramirez looks at strike three. Adrian Gonzalez singles to  right center, but Puig holds up at second in fear of Stanton’s arm. Andre Ethier flies out, and the Dodgers strand two.

The Marlins score six big runs in the top of the second. Former Dodger Reed Johnson continues to give the Dodgers a bad time, and he singles to

May 14, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Carl Crawford (3) climbs the wall in pursuit of a 2-run home run ball hit by Miami Marlins third baseman Ed Lucas (59) in the second inning of the game at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

lead-off the top of the second. Garrett Jones bunts up the right side, and none of the Dodgers are there to make a play. Adeiny Hechavarria flies out to center, and Ethier gets it back in quickly to prevent the runners from advancing. Jeff Mathis singles, and the Marlins have the bases loaded with one out and the pitcher DeSclafani due up for his first Major League at-bat. DeSclafani hits what looks like a perfect double play ball to second, but the ball bounces over Dee Gordon’s head and into right field allowing two runs to score on the error. Puig also bumbles around out there which allows ample time for Jones to cross the plate. The Fish score a third run on a sacrifice fly by Yelich. Then Ed Lucas takes advantage, and he hits a two-run homerun to left field. The bleeding continues as Stanton hits a ball over a fooled Crawford’s head in left for a double. That prompts Rick Honeycutt to go out to the mound to talk to Maholm. The Baker singles on a groundball to Maholm who can’t throw to first in time as Stanton comes home. 6-0 Marlins. The inning mercifully comes to an end when Johnson grounds into a force out, but not before the Marlins bat around and score 6 runs on 6 hits.

In the bottom of the second, Gordon strikes out and Justin Turner singles. A.J. Ellis is thankfully back in the lineup after knee surgery. A.J. rolls a slow grounder to third, but Turner advances to third on the play. Maholm grounds out.

Maholm allows a walk to Jeff Mathis in the third, but luckily no further run damage.

Gordon leads off the bottom of the third with a single to center, but Puig, Hanley, and Gonzo can’t muster anything off the rookie.

There’s more carnage in the fourth inning as the Marlins score another six runs. Yelich and Lucas hit consecutive singles, and Stanton walks to load the bases up. Yelich scores on a double play hit into by Baker. Then Reed Johnson, yes Reed Johnson, hits his second homerun of the series, a two-run shot to center field. Then Jones doubles, and Don Mattingly will finally take out the battered Maholm. Chris Perez comes in and immediately allows a single to Hechavarria and a two-run homerun to Mathis. 12-0 Marlins.

Paul Maholm only made it through 3 2/3 fateful innings and allowed 10 runs on 11 hits with no strikeouts and 3 walks on 91 pitches.

Other than a Justin Turner single, the Dodgers don’t do anything in the fourth.

Chris Withrow is the next Dodger pitcher, in for the fifth inning. He of course walks the lead-off batter, Yelich. Inconsistency continues as Withrow then strikes out Lucas, then he turns around and allows a single to Stanton. That’s Stanton’s third hit of the night. Baker singles, and the bases are loaded again for the Fish. Reed Johnson isn’t going to crush the dreams of the Dodgers this time around as he grounds into a inning ending double play.

May 14, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Anthony DeSclafani (28) in the first inning of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Juan Uribe leads off the bottom of the fifth inning as a pinch-hitter. Uribe pulls a double down the left field line, and he jogs gently into second to take it easy on his hamstring. Puig doubles in Uribe, and the Dodgers prevent the shutout by scoring a lone run, 12-1.

The Dodgers make some changes before the sixth inning commences. Chone Figgins will take over for Hanley at short, and Scott Van Slyke will rest Adrian Gonzalez at first base. Brian Wilson will be on the mound, and he immediately allows a lead-off walk to Jones. Hechavarria singles. Mathis flies out. DeSclafani picks up his first career hit and second RBI as he hits a single to center, 13-1 Fish.

Carl Crawford hits a solo homerun in the bottom of the sixth into the bullpen in right field, and it’s now 12-2.

Anthony DeSclafani had the night of his life. He pitched 6 innings and allowed 2 runs on 7 hits with 7 strikeouts and a walk on 93 pitches.

Brandon League pitches a scoreless seventh for the Dodgers.

Former Dodger Randy Wolf will make his Marlin debut in the bottom of the seventh. The Marlins signed him in desperation after losing Jose Fernandez to Tommy John surgery this week. The Wolfman has no problem sending down the Dodgers in order.

Jamey Wright is the sixth Dodger pitcher of the night in for the eighth, and he sends the Fish down 1-2-3.

Figgins doubles to lead-off the bottom of the eighth against Wolf. Drew Butera strikes out. Ethier singles in Figgins, and it’s now 13-3. Crawford

The Good News: A.J. is back! Photo: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

singles. Turner flies out. A.J. strikes out, and we head to the top of the ninth.

Drew Butera will pitch the top of the ninth inning for the Dodgers. He had previously pitched a couple of innings for the Twins in the past. He gets a strike across with his first pitch to Yelich. Yelich flies out to center. Lucas grounds out to second. Butera rears back and strikes out Ozuna with a 94-mph fastball!

Wolf retires the Dodgers in order in the bottom of the ninth, and the game mercifully ends.

The Dodgers fall to 22-20. They have a much needed day off on Thursday before heading over to Arizona to take on the D-backs for a three-game series beginning Friday night. The road trip will continue next week in New York and Philadelphia.