Scott Van Slyke Strikes Again! Dodgers Win 5-3 on Walk-Off Homer

With fans headed to the exits and the Dodgers down to their last two outs, Scott Van Slyke struck the Marlins right where it hurt -- their closer. Van Slyke hit a three-run blast to center in the bottom of the ninth inning and the Los Angeles Dodgers walked-off with a 5-3 victory over the Miami Marlins on Monday.

"Definitely this is my most memorable game in the big leagues," said Van Slyke.

Just 24 hours after blowing the save in San Francisco, Steve Cishek, blew his second consecutive save and fourth of the year when he surrendered the game winning shot to Van Slyke.

"It sucks. That's back-to-back games we had opportunities to win and we couldn't lock them down," said Marlins manager Mike Redmond. "You gotta win the games you're supposed to win. It crushes you. We can't keep going the way we've been going lately."

Christian Yelich hit a go-ahead two-run home run in the top half of the ninth to give the Marlins a 3-2 lead, prompting many fans in attendance to head for the parking lot as it appeared the Marlins had stolen game one of the three-game series.

But Van Slyke didn't want everyone to go home like that. Just two innings after he threw out Yelich at the plate to keep the Dodgers deadlocked at 1-1, Van Slyke hit a 1-0 slider over the left-center wall for his second career walk-off home run.

"Luckily he threw me a first pitch ball with that slider," Van Slyke said. "So I got a good luck at it and the next one he threw over the plate."

J.P. Howell (2-1) got the vulture win after making just five pitches, retiring former Dodgers All-Star second baseman Dee Gordon with a fly ball to left with the bases loaded.

Monday marked the return of Gordon to Dodger Stadium where he spent the first six years of his major league career. Gordon received a standing ovation by the crowd before his first at-bat of the game as the 27-year-old tipped his cap in appreciation.

There wasn't much to applaud after that as Gordon went 0-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout, snapping his career-high 13-game hitting streak in the process.

Marlins' starter, Tom Koehler, had no-hit stuff for the first three innings striking out five while not allowing a Dodger to reach base until the fourth.

Kendrick broke up the no-hitter in the bottom half of the inning with a double over the head of Giancarlo Stanton. Gonzalez followed with a single and Los Angeles took the lead 1-0.

Koehler allowed just one run on three hits in six innings and received a no-decision for his efforts.

A great play defensively by Stanton and a lack of hustle by Van Slyke cost the Dodgers a run in the bottom of the fifth. With runners on 1st and 3rd with one out, Jimmy Rollins hit a rope to deep right field that Stanton was able to leap up and snag while on a dead run. Van Slyke trotted home from third, but not before Pederson was forced out at first base for the inning-ending double play.

"I initially ran hard, but then I figured I would be safe easily," said Van Slyke of the baserunning blunder. "Then I saw Joc was off the base and I tried to pick it up, but it didn't work because I'm not that fast. I was just three steps away."

Marcell Ozuna went 1-for-3 and hit a game-tying solo shot to left center in the seventh inning.

Van Slyke had a sensational seventh inning sparked by a 7-2 double-play as he threw a dart to catcher Yasmani Grandal who tagged Yelich out at the plate. It was Van Slyke's team-leading third outfield assist of the year.

"Yasiel [Puig] has been out for a couple weeks so give him time to come back and he'll overtake me," joked Van Slyke. "It surprises me. I don't have a strong arm, but I pride myself on throwing it to the glove."

In the bottom half of the inning, Van Slyke hit a one-out single, but wisely took second on the play after Yelich bobbled the ball. Van Slyke would later score and finished with three hits, a double, a home run, two runs scored and three RBIs.

Dodgers' starter Zack Greinke was in line for his sixth win of the season as the right-hander allowed one run on six hits over seven innings but did not factor in the decision after Yelich's homer. Greinke remains unbeaten in his last 15 starts dating back to August of last year.

"That was a lot of fun," said Grienke after the game. "I'm always confident we're going to win when I go out there. It ended up working out good. Slyke [Scott Van Slyke] did it all today."

Adam Liberatore worked 2/3 of an inning; striking out both batters he faced and has now retired 28 of the last 29 hitters.

Former Marlin, Chris Hatcher, made an appearance in the bottom of the eighth and induced Martin Prado into an inning-ending fly ball to right field. Hatcher was involved in the trade that sent Dee Gordon, Miguel Rojas and Dan Haren to Miami in exchange for Hatcher, Kike Hernandez and Andrew Heaney (who eventually was dealt to the Angels for Howie Kendrick).

Yimi Garcia blew the save in the top of the ninth and looked awful for the first time all season. After striking out Stanton to start the inning, Garcia allowed three hits, a home run and two walks before being replaced by Howell. Yelich's homer was his first of the season and the first allowed by Garcia on the season. It also snapped his 12 1/3 scoreless innings streak.

"He was due for one of those," said Mattingly of Garcia's struggles. "Everyone is going to have a night like that at some point. He's confident and he'll bounce back just fine."

Adrian Gonzalez extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a single in the fourth inning. The Dodgers have now won five consecutive games at home and four straight overall. Their home record improves to 14-2 their best start since 2009.

Game Notes:
It was "Cuba Night" at Dodger Stadium on Monday as many Cuban players, including superstar Yasiel Puig, met with fans before the game. Cuban actor Andy Garcia threw out the ceremonial first pitch.