Shohei Ohtani singled and stole his 49th base of the season, rookie starter Landon Knack gave up just two hits over five scoreless innings, and the NL-West leading LA Dodgers smoked the Miami Marlins Wednesday in an 8-4 win that evened up this series at a game apiece and kept the Dodgers 3 1/2 games ahead of the San Diego Padres.

The team with the second-best record in baseball flexed all over Miami, hitting three home runs while ripping eleven hits and chasing returning starter Ryan Weathers after just 4 1/3 innings.

Weathers, (3-6) making his first start since the first week of June due to a strained tendon in his left index finger, gave up six runs (five earned) on eight hits while striking out five and walking none. He allowed all three LA homers.

The Marlins held Ohtani without a home run, although he came close on a stinging liner to right field that was run down near the track by Griffin Conine. Ohtani singled and stole his 49th base in the first inning, as he continued his quest to become baseball's first player to ever hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a season.

Ohtani- who began the day two shy of each mark- flew out to left, struck out, lined out to right and struck out in his next four plate at-bats.

Tommy Edman hit his sixth home run in the last eight games for the Dodgers, who scored five runs in the fourth inning off Weathers.

Enrique Hernández and Will Smith also homered, and Freddie Freeman had three hits for the Dodgers, who have scored 17 runs in the first two games of this series.

Making a strong case to be a key piece of the Dodgers playoff rotation, Knack (3-4) walked two and struck out seven before the bullpen took over, with mixed results.

Otto López’s hit a two-run single and a double for Miami. Nick Fortes added a sacrifice fly.

----- 'LIVE' Instant Reaction from Jim "GRIES" Grieshaber -----

The Dodgers (90-62) maintained their 3.5 game lead over San Diego in the NL West. The Padres shut out the Houston Astros 4-0. The Dodgers and Padres play a 3-game series next week in LA.

Los Angeles is one game behind the MLB-best Philadelphia Phillies in their thrilling race for home field advantage throughout the postseason. The Dodgers and Phillies don't play each other again.

Counting this series, the Dodgers will have finished up the regular season playing nine of their last 12 games against the Marlins (56-96) and Colorado Rockies, (59-94) by far the two worst teams in the national league.

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The Dodgers and Marlins finish up this three-game series tomorrow at 3:40pm ET. Right-hander Edwin Cabrera (4-7, 4.55 ERA) will start for Miami, facing Dodgers righty Jack Flaherty. (12-7, 3.04) Cabrera has allowed just 14 home runs in 89 1/3 innings pitched.

We will be here 'LIVE' right after the game with your Locked On Marlins POSTCAST, hosted by Jim "GRIES" Grieshaber.

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