Pinch hitter Agustin Ramirez hit a two-run, walk-off homer in the ninth to give the Miami Marlins a 6-4 victory over the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday.
Miami entered the eighth inning losing 3-0, but pulled within one on a two-run single from Otto Lopez. The Marlins entered the ninth behind 4-2 with ex-Marlins pitcher Tanner Scott on the mound to close it out.
Xavier Edwards’ infield single, Jakob Marsee’s bunt hit and Javier Sanoja’s softly hit two-run double down the left field line tied the score 4-4 with nobody out.
Los Angeles brought in Brock Stewart to gain the platoon advantage against Ramirez, who got a 94-mph fastball down the middle and belted it 407 feet to left center.
Miami (74-76) won for just the third time in 10 contests, but the hosts won the three-game series as Los Angeles (90-59) dropped its second straight game after winning eight in a row.
The loss ruined a great performance by Dodgers rookie Josue De Paula, who slugged a three-run homer for his first MLB hit and doubled off the wall. The 21-year-old outfielder, who made his MLB debut on Friday, finished the game 2-for-2 with a walk.
The Marlins played a video tribute after the first inning for Dodgers infielder Miguel Rojas, who plans to retire after this season. Rojas, 37, played for the Marlins from 2015-22.
Rojas went 1-for-3 on Sunday, but he banged his right shoulder in the eighth when he made a diving attempt at Joe Mack’s ground-ball single. After a brief delay, Rojas remained in the game before leaving for a pinch hitter in the ninth.
Dodgers starter Emmet Sheehan allowed two hits and one walk over six scoreless innings. He struck out five and was in line for the win before his bullpen caved.
Los Angeles took a 3-0 lead in the fourth as Will Smith doubled, Kyle Tucker walked and De Paula unloaded on a 98-mph Eury Perez fastball that he pulled 416 feet to right.
Miami scored twice in the eighth against reliever Edgardo Henriquez as Mack and Esteury Ruiz singled and Heriberto Hernandez walked to load the bases. With two outs, Lopez singled off a 100.4-mph fastball to cut the deficit to 3-2. Scott came in and struck out Griffin Conine on three pitches, including two swings on pitches well out of the strike zone.
Los Angeles extended its lead to 4-2 in the ninth as Alex Freeland singled, stole second and scored on Mookie Betts’ double.
