Ryan Pepiot pitches 6 2/3 perfect innings replacing Julio Urías as Dodgers win 10-0 – WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports

MIAMI (AP) — Rookie Ryan Pepiot pitched a perfect game over 6 2/3 innings as the Dodgers’ replacement for Julio Urías, and Los Angeles beat the Miami Marlins 10-0 on Thursday night, securing just their second victory in seven games.

Josh Bell hit a single up the middle with two outs in the seventh for the only hit against Pepiot. Caleb Ferguson allowed Garrett Hampson’s leadoff single in the eighth and Evan Phillips finished the two-hitter with a perfect ninth.

“There is a little disappointment because of course you want to experience one of those special moments,” Pepiot said. “But it’s baseball. The guy got on base and hit a good pitch. Anything can happen in the game.”

Pepiot (3-0) was recalled before the game from Triple-A Oklahoma City to take the place of Urías, who was placed on the restricted list following his arrest Sunday in Los Angeles on suspicion of assault on a spouse or roommate. Pepiot, a 26-year-old right-hander entering his third stint with the Dodgers this season, had three strikeouts and caused nine groundouts while throwing 60 of 84 pitches for strikes.

“It was the fifth inning, no one spoke to me anymore. Then I looked up and saw zero,” Pepiot said when he noticed the perfect game. “Everyone glided past me and then no one sat near me anymore.”

Chris Taylor had five RBIs, including his 15th home run, a double and a single. Miguel Rojas and Will Smith each had three goals.

“The way we started the series and the way we played the last few games, we were offensive today,” Rojas said. “That made it very satisfying.”

Bell’s single helped Dodgers manager Dave Roberts make the decision to sign Pepiot.

“I wanted to give him every opportunity to finish this game,” Roberts said. “He’s big. He’s physical. I didn’t have any coaches telling me to take him out of the game.”

Miami, which had won six straight, lost a half-game to Arizona and earned the NL’s final wild card, tied with Cincinnati. The Marlins were shut out for the 11th time.

“That’s why this game is crazy,” Miami manager Skip Schumaker said. “Just when you think you have it figured out, it hits you right in the face.”

Los Angeles pitched its 14th shutout, one shy of Atlanta’s major league leader.

Marlins starter Braxton Garrett (8-6) allowed one run, three hits, three walks and one hit batter in 3 2/3 innings.

Will Smith hit an RBI single in the third and Taylor hit a one-run single in a two-run fifth that included Kiké Hernández’s run-scoring double.

Freddie Freeman doubled down the right field line in the sixth. The ball bounced into foul territory, where a ball person grabbed it and threw the ball into the stands. The referees determined that Mookie Betts had reached third and allowed him to score.

Amed Rosario had a two-run single and Taylor had an RBI double.

Taylor added a three-ball home run off Smeltzer in the eighth.

DEFENSE COMMUNICATIONS

Pepiot was supported by his defense. Shortstop Rojas dove, stopping Luis Arraez’s hard hit and throwing Arraez out at first. Second baseman Rosario also prevented Arraez from scoring when he made a diving catch off his liner in the seventh.

“You feel lucky when you try to help the team in any way you can and make this kind of play,” Rosario said.

FROM COURT TO HILL

Recently retired Miami Heat forward Udonis Haslem threw out the ceremonial first pitch. The 43-year-old played his entire 20-year NBA career in Miami.

TRAINER ROOM

Marlins: RHP Sandy Alcantara will travel with the club on its seven-game trip to Philadelphia and Milwaukee after being placed on the injured list Wednesday with a right forearm strain.

NEXT

Dodgers: RHP Emmet Sheehan (3-1, 5.31) will open the opener of a three-game series on Friday in Washington. The Nationals will field LHP MacKenzie Gore (7-10, 4.28).

Marlins: RHP Eury Pérez (5-4, 2.86) is the projected starter in the opener of a three-game series in Philadelphia, with LHP Christopher Sánchez (2-3, 3.48) starting.

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