A walk-off winner for Navarro

Despite not even averaging three runs a game in the month of May, it was the offense that stepped up and won Friday night's game.

Dioner Navarro pinch-hit with the bases loaded in the ninth inning and lined a sharp single to center to give the Dodgers a win over the red hot Marlins, 3-2. The last two weeks have been brutal for the Dodgers, so it's only their fourth win in 12 games.

Oddly enough, it was the longball that put the Dodgers' first two runs on the board. In the second, James Loney got the first hit of the game by creaming one to right. It was only his second tater of the season, and give his teammates credit for giving him the silent treatment when coming back in the dugout. It was a fun moment in a season that hasn't seen too many of them.

The Marlins tied it in the sixth. Hanley Ramirez walked leading off against Jon Garland. Logan Morrison then singled for two on. Gabby Sanchez grounded into a double play, which allowed Ramirez to get to third with two down. Needing one more big pitch, Garland couldn't do it as Gregg Dobbs singled to left to tie the game 1-1.

The Dodgers didn't waste any time in grabbing back the lead. Again with two outs, Andre Ethier took a high breaking ball out to right for his fifth homer of the year. He had two hits on this night, his first multi-hit game since May 10, or 16 games ago. It hasn't been all roses for him since his hitting streak was snapped on May 7.

With a one-run lead entering late in the game, it was almost inevitable that it wouldn't last considering it was bullpen time. Sure enough, it didn't. But it started off well, as Scott Elbert relieved Garland with one on and one out in the seventh. Elbert immediately got Chris Coghlan to ground into a double play.

The fun would be short-lived, as Don Mattingly gave the ball to Rubby De La Rosa in the eighth. He wasn't sharp at all to begin with, as he walked Ramirez and watched him steal second without a throw. Morrison lined out hard to Loney at first for one down. Sanchez singled to put runners on the corners, and another RBI single by Dobbs evened the game at 2-2.

Who knows if the Marlins would have scored again had they not completely run themselves out of the inning. With one down, Mike Stanton popped one up in foul territory that Loney made a slick catch on near the dugout. Sanchez then tried to catch the Dodgers napping with nobody covering home, yet De La Rosa was able to easily run him down for the last out. Just a horrible play by the Fish.

De La Rosa bounced back with a perfect ninth to set it up for the offense. Clay Hensley came on and all four batters reached against him. It started with a single by the returning Casey Blake, who made a terrific diving catch earlier in the game. Andre Ethier singled, and Blake went to third on Stanton's bobble.

The decision was then obvious as Matt Kemp stepped up to the plate, as he was given the intentional pass to load the bases. Navarro then hit for De La Rosa, and even with an extra infielder to get the forceout at home, Navarro lined it through everybody for the walk-off.

Both team combined for only 13 hits, with the Marlins holding the slight 7-6 edge. But, they certainly have to be kicking themselves for blowing chances with runners on base. The Dodgers turned a whopping four double plays, including the gift baserunning blunder to end the eighth.

Garland bounced back from a rough start against the White Sox to go 6 1/3 innings for five hits, one run, four walks, and two strikeouts. He was obviously helped out by his defense. His WHIP for the season is a concern at 1.44, so let's hope that starts coming down.

De La Rosa gets the blown save, but also his first career win. I think Mattingly just has to continue to let these guys get time, as guys like Javy Guerra, Elbert, and De La Rosa are the wave of the future. With news that Blake Hawksworth suffered a setback in his rehab, it's obvious that the young guns are going to get plenty of chances right now. At this point, Mattingly might as well put them in there and show their stuff.

The Dodgers caught a big break by avoiding both the injured Josh Johnson and the masterful Anibal Sanchez this weekend. So, if they're going to claim a series against the Marlins, this would be the time. So far, so good.

Saturday's game will see Hiroki Kuroda take the ball and look for his sixth win. Brian Sanches has been a great reliever this year, and with the injury to Johnson, will get his first career start after 166 games of relief.