In a night filled with baseball drama, the Los Angeles Dodgers delivered a commanding performance against the Miami Marlins, highlighted by rookie Ryan Pepiot’s near-perfect game on the mound. Pepiot stepped in as Julio Urías’ replacement in the rotation and took the Marlins by storm, guiding the Dodgers to a resounding 10-0 victory.
Pepiot’s masterful pitching nearly produced a perfect game, as he retired 20 consecutive batters, just one out away from etching his name into baseball history. In the seventh inning, Josh Bell of the Marlins broke Pepito’s bid for perfection with a single up the middle, ending his remarkable run. Caleb Ferguson and Evan Phillips preserved the two-hitter, preventing further hits from the Marlins.
Speaking about his near-miss, Pepiot said, “There’s a little bit of disappointment because you want to have one of those special moments. But it’s baseball. The guy got on base and hit a good pitch. Anything can happen in the game.”
Pepiot recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City before the game, assumed the role of Urías, who was placed on the restricted list following legal issues. The 26-year-old right-hander made the most of his opportunity, striking out three batters and inducing nine groundouts while throwing an impressive 60 of 84 pitches for strikes.
The Dodgers’ offensive onslaught was equally impressive, with Chris Taylor leading the way with five RBIs, including his 15th home run, a double, and a single. Miguel Rojas and Will Smith also had standout performances, each contributing three hits to the team’s relentless attack.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expressed his intention to let Pepiot finish the game, saying, “I was going to give him every opportunity to finish that game. He’s big. He’s physical. I didn’t have trainers telling me to take him out of the game.”
While the Marlins had been on a six-game winning streak, this loss dropped them half a game behind the Arizona Diamondbacks for the National League’s last wild card spot, tying them with the Cincinnati Reds. It marked the Marlins’ 11th shutout loss of the season.
Marlins starter Braxton Garrett struggled in his outing, allowing one run, three hits, three walks, and hitting a batter in just 3 2/3 innings. The Dodgers capitalized on the opportunity, with Will Smith and Chris Taylor contributing RBI hits to put the Dodgers on the scoreboard.
In the sixth inning, Freddie Freeman’s double down the right-field line created confusion as a ball person mistakenly threw the ball into the stands, allowing Mookie Betts to score. The Dodgers continued their offensive onslaught, with Amed Rosario and Chris Taylor adding to the run total.
Taylor capped off his exceptional night with a three-run homer in the eighth inning off Devin Smeltzer.
Pepiot’s dominant performance was complemented by stellar defensive plays from the Dodgers, including diving stops by shortstop Miguel Rojas and a leaping catch by second baseman Amed Rosario.
The Dodgers, known for their pitching prowess, recorded their 14th shutout of the season, trailing only the Atlanta Braves in this category.
In an unexpected twist, recently retired Miami Heat forward Udonis Haslem threw the ceremonial first pitch, adding a touch of basketball to the evening.
The Marlins, aiming to rebound from this loss, will embark on a seven-game road trip to Philadelphia and Milwaukee. Meanwhile, the Dodgers will face the Washington Nationals in a three-game series, with Emmet Sheehan starting for the Dodgers and MacKenzie Gore for the Nationals.
