MIAMI — One good thing can be said about Bobby Miller’s sophomore season – it’s almost over.
Mill gave up four runs in the first two innings against the Miami Marlins on Tuesday night, raising his ERA for the season to 8.52. The Dodgers matched that but went on to lose, 11-9.
After a promising rookie year in which he went 11-4 with a 3.76 ERA, much was expected of Miller this season. But he suffered a shoulder injury after making just three starts this season, returned in mid-June then was demoted to Triple-A at midseason. Things haven’t gotten better.
The Marlins didn’t hit Miller hard Tuesday. But they hit him. Five singles in a 35-pitch first inning produced two runs. Two more hits and a walk resulted in two more runs in a 30-pitch second inning.
The best part of Miller’s night came in the top of the third inning when the Dodgers scored four times to tie the game – taking him off the hook for the loss and having to go back out for another inning.
His ERA is now the highest in MLB for any pitcher who has thrown more than 42 innings. Miller has thrown 56.
The highlight of that four-run third inning was a two-run home run by Shohei Ohtani, his 48th of the season. Ohtani is one home run short of matching Shawn Green’s franchise record for home runs. Already historic as a 48-48 season – no player has had such high totals in both categories – Ohtani is two homers and two stolen bases short of the first 50-50 season in baseball history.
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But the Marlins kept scoring. The Dodgers tied the game again on Miguel Rojas’ solo home run in the fourth inning.
The Marlins regained the lead with two runs in the bottom of the fourth against Michael Grove and Alex Vesia then extended it with two runs in the sixth against Ryan Brasier and two more in the eighth against Daniel Hudson.
All those add-ons were needed by the Marlins when Muncy made it a five-RBI day with another two-run double in the ninth. That brought the tying run to the plate with two outs but Tommy Edman struck out.
Only the historically dreadful Chicago White Sox have scored fewer runs than the Marlins this year but they piled up 15 hits and came up one short of matching their season-high in runs Tuesday against the Dodgers.
In their past eight games (only three wins), Dodgers starting pitchers have managed only 30⅓ innings – with a 7.71 ERA – while the relievers have had to absorb 38⅔ innings.
More to come on this story.
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani hits a two-run home run – his 48th of the season – during the third inning of their game against the Miami Marlins on Tuesday night in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)