LOS ANGELES (AP) - The Florida Marlins tried to put the squeeze on the Los Angeles Dodgers by tossing an extra infielder at them with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning.

It didn't work.

Pinch-hitter Dioner Navarro singled up the middle, giving the Dodgers a 3-2 victory Friday night.

Advertisement

``It's hard to beat, but they found a way,' said Greg Dobbs, who went 3 for 4 and drove in both Florida runs. ``It's not impenetrable, but it's a smart play.'

Clay Hensley (0-1) came on in the ninth and gave up a single to deep shortstop by Casey Blake, who had come off the disabled list earlier Friday. Andre Ethier followed with a single to right and Blake got to third as Mike Stanton mishandled the ball for an error.

Matt Kemp was intentionally walked, setting the stage for Navarro, who batted for Rubby De La Rosa and lined a 2-0 pitch into center field after Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez called in center fielder Chris Coghlan to be the fifth infielder.

``That would have been a single even with six infielders,' Rodriguez said.

James Loney and Ethier hit two-out home runs for the Dodgers.

Marlins starter Javier Vazquez gave up two runs and three hits in six innings, walked one and struck out three.

``I've been feeling good the last couple of starts and throwing the ball better,' he said. ``The first home run that Loney hit, I had no problem with. I threw it low and in and he beat me. But I wish I could have had that curveball back on the second one.'

De La Rosa (1-0) pitched one inning and was credited with his first major league win despite giving up the tying run in the eighth on Dobbs' second RBI single of the game.

Dodgers starter Jon Garland allowed one run and five hits in 6 1-3 innings, walked four and struck out two.

``He was hitting his spots really well. He's a veteran pitcher and he knows what to do,' Dobbs said. ``He got out of some tough situations and kept us at bay. He was mixing it up, throwing it in and out and changing speeds. When a guy spots it like that you just have to battle.'

Loney gave the Dodgers a 1-0 lead in the second with his second homer of the season. He hit a 1-0 pitch into the lower right field seats with two outs.

The Marlins tied the game 1-1 in the sixth on Dobbs' two-out RBI single, scoring Hanley Ramirez, who walked.

Ethier put the Dodgers back in front 2-1 when he homered with two outs in the sixth. He sent an 0-1 pitch into the Marlins' bullpen in right field.

The Dodgers turned four double plays, the last in the eighth after the Marlins had tied the game.

Stanton popped out in foul territory near the Marlins' dugout and Loney leaned over the railing to catch the ball. He casually tossed it to De La Rosa, who failed to realize Gaby Sanchez broke for the plate. Sanchez got caught in a rundown and was eventually tagged out by De La Rosa, who chased him back toward third base.

``It was a big loss because we had our opportunities and didn't get the job done,' Sanchez said.

Notes: The Marlins fell to 3-1 on their nine-game West Coast trip. ... Dobbs has hit safely in 11 of his last 13 games at a .364 clip. He leads the Marlins with a .348 overall batting average. ... The Dodgers optioned IF Russ Mitchell to Triple-A Albuquerque. ... Retired Dodgers manager Joe Torre, who now works for the commissioner's office, and his wife attended the game.