Giancarlo Stanton Leads Marlins Past Dodgers 3-2 In Don Mattingly’s Return To LA

by Pablo MenaApril 26, 2016, 1:53 pmNews >

Giancarlo Stanton homered, doubled and drove in two runs off Los Angeles Dodgers rookie right-hander Ross Stripling to lead the Miami Marlins to a 3-2 victory on Monday in Miami manager Don Mattingly’s first return to Los Angeles since leaving the Dodgers just last year.

Giancarlo Stanton Leads Marlins Past Dodgers 3-2 In Don Mattingly’s Return To LA

Mattingly, 55, managed the Dodgers from 2011-2015, and received a mix of boos and cheers before the beginning of his first game against his former team.

Stripling (0-1) gave up eight hits and three runs in 5 1/3 innings to take the loss in his very first career decision.

“I’ve certainly been more efficient in my career than I have been in my last few starts,” Stripling said. “How many pitches I threw (107) in 5 1/3 doesn’t really get it done. I’ve got to find a way to pitch more efficiently and get guys earlier in counts.”

Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!

A week of sports news in your in-box.
We find the sports news you need to know, so you don't have to.

Stanton, 26, hit a solo home run to open the scoring in the fourth and a game-tying RBI double in the fifth. Left fielder Derek Dietrich then gave the Marlins a definitive lead with an RBI triple in the sixth.

“I look at it differently than just about me,” Mattingly said. “We needed a win. We’ve been fighting for them.”

Yasiel Puig and Trayce Thompson each hit a solo homer in the fourth inning for the Dodgers. Puig blasted the first pitch of the bottom of the fourth into the right field seats to tie the game 1-1, then three at-bats later, Thompson flew a solo hit to left field for his first home run as a Dodger to give Los Angeles a 2-1 lead.

Wei-Yin Chen (1-1) pitched into the seventh inning for his first win with the Marlins. Chen pitched 6 2/3 innings, gave up six hits and two runs, walked one and struck out four.

Stanton then quickly tied it up again in the top of the fifth with a two-out double into the right-center gap to score Christian Yelich from first.

The Marlins (7-11) will next revisit the Dodgers (12-8) on Tuesday night.

LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 25: Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the Miami Marlins loses his bat on a swing during the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on April 25, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)