Kyle Tucker went 3-for-3 with a grand slam and a season-high five RBIs, leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to their eighth straight win, a 6-2 victory over the host Miami Marlins on Friday.
Tucker finished a double shy of the cycle.
Los Angeles starter Blake Snell (4-1) struck out eight in 5 2/3 innings. He allowed one run on four hits and two walks, and he was removed after his pitch count reached 101.
The Dodgers, who lead the National League West with a 90-57 record, played without injured power hitters Shohei Ohtani (right biceps) and Freddie Freeman (right knee).
Miami (72-76) lost for the seventh time in eight games.
Ryan Gusto (1-5) took a tough-luck defeat after producing a quality start. He lasted six innings and held the Dodgers to two runs on five hits and three walks. He fanned three.
Miami’s offense was led by Otto Lopez, who went 4-for-5. Javier Sanoja tripled, singled and scored twice.
Los Angeles opened the scoring in the third inning. Tommy Edman drew a leadoff walk, advanced on Max Muncy’s single and scored on Tucker’s sacrifice fly.
The Dodgers made it 2-0 in the sixth as Tucker tripled off the wall in right with one out and scored on Will Smith’s bloop single to right.
Miami got on the board in the sixth. Sanoja singled off Snell, stole second and scored on Agustin Ramirez’s double off reliever Evan Phillips. Ramirez fouled off six pitches before lining a two-bagger to the gap in right-center.
With two outs and no one on in the seventh, Edman drew a walk from Victor Vodnik. Muncy singled and Mookie Betts walked to load the bases. Miami brought in reliever Cade Gibson, whose third pitch was an 80 mph sweeper that Tucker pulled over the right field fence for his sixth career grand slam.
Tucker hadn’t hit a grand slam since 2023.
Miami cut its deficit to 6-2 in the eighth when Sanoja tripled and scored on Owen Caissie’s sacrifice fly.
–Field Level Media
