Hill perfect for seven, Dodgers blank Marlins 5-0
MIAMI -- Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Rich Hill was removed after pitching seven perfect innings as the Dodgers held the Miami Marlins to two hits in a 5-0 win on Saturday night at Marlins Park.
Only 23 pitchers in major league history -- and just one Dodger, Sandy Koufax in 1965 -- have ever thrown a perfect game.
Hill (12-3), who has pitched 19 consecutive scoreless innings since being acquired in a trade with the Oakland A's on August 1, had a chance to join that exclusive list.
But Dodgers manager Dave Roberts decided to remove Hill after seven innings. Hill had thrown 89 pitches.
Reliever Joe Blanton replaced Hill in the eighth and got two quick outs. But with a 2-2 count, Marlins left fielder Jeff Francoeur lined a single to left to break up the perfect game. Francoeur's hit deflected off the top of the glove of shortstop Corey Seager, who jumped as high as he could to try to make the play.
The game's most spectacular play came in the seventh, when Martin Prado nearly ended Hill's perfect game. Prado, who leads the majors in batting average against lefties, lined a long blast to left. But Dodgers left fielder Yasiel Puig raced back and made a diving catch, landing on the edge of the warning track.
That ended Hill's night. He struck out nine, one off his season high, and lowered his ERA to 1.80.
The Dodgers scored all their runs on homers to right field. Joc Pederson, who has 22 homers, hit two solo blasts. Seager, who has 25 homers, hit a two-run shot. And Justin Turner, who has 26 homers, drilled a solo blast.
Pederson ended the game with a 3-for-3 performance. It was his homer in the fifth that started the scoring, and the Dodgers continued to add on to their lead from there.
Tom Koehler (9-11) took the loss. He allowed four runs in five-plus innings, giving up three of the long balls.
In the top of the ninth, Dodgers outfielder Andre Ethier, who fractured his right leg in March, made his 2016 debut, grounding out as a pinch hitter.
Grant Dayton started the ninth for Los Angeles. Miami got two base-runners on an error and a single by Dee Gordon, and Dayton was removed with two outs.
Kenley Jansen got Prado on a groundout to end the game.
NOTES: Dodgers OF Andre Ethier, who fractured his right leg in March, was activated. He hit .290 with four doubles and three RBIs in nine rehab games for High Class-A Rancho Cucamonga. ... Dodgers RHP Casey Fien was designated for assignment. ... Dodgers RHP Carlos Frias was placed on the disabled list with a right oblique impingement. The Dodgers have placed 28 different players on the DL this year, the most in the majors since at least 1987. ... Marlins 3B Martin Prado entered Saturday with the best batting average against lefty pitchers (.427). ... The Marlins have handed Dodgers LHP Clayton Kershaw (11-3) two of his three losses this season. The Marlins entered Saturday with a 22-10 record against lefties, ranking second in the majors behind the Pittsburgh Pirates for the best winning percentage against southpaw starting pitchers.