Austin Barnes had two hits, two RBIs and two runs in his return from the injured list as the Los Angeles Dodgers finished off a 6-3 victory over the visiting Baltimore Orioles on Thursday.
Chris Taylor reached base three times and drove in a run for the Dodgers, who remained the top team in the National League at 80-54 while opening a four-game lead on the second-place Arizona Diamondbacks in the NL West. Los Angeles took the last two games of the three-game series.
The Dodgers and Diamondbacks begin a four-game series in Phoenix on Friday.
Colton Cowser hit a three-run home run and Anthony Santander had two hits for the Orioles, who are just 1 1/2 games behind the American League East-leading New York Yankees despite a 19-20 record since the All-Star break.
Dodgers starter Bobby Miller (2-3) looked as if his night might end early when he injured his right ankle while covering first base on a second-inning groundout. He was visited by the Dodgers’ medical staff but remained in the game and held the Orioles hitless through three innings.
Taylor singled in the bottom of the second inning to bring home Enrique Hernandez, who doubled one batter earlier, for a 1-0 Dodgers lead. Hernandez was playing at first base for the third consecutive game in place of Freddie Freeman (finger).
Taylor, who entered batting .161, delivered his first hit in five games since returning from the injured list. He had been sidelined due to a groin strain.
The Dodgers took control in the fourth inning. Barnes’ two-run double made it 3-0, and Mookie Betts added an RBI single. After the Orioles botched a rundown that would have ended the inning, Miguel Rojas followed with a bloop RBI single to right.
The Orioles broke through against Miller in the fifth when Eloy Jimenez was hit by a pitch and Ramon Urias drew a one-out walk. Cowser hit a home run to left-center to pull Baltimore within 5-3.
Miller gave up three runs on just two hits in five innings. He walked three and struck out three.
The Dodgers added a run in the eighth inning on a sacrifice fly from Tommy Edman. Evan Phillips pitched a perfect ninth inning for his 17th save.
Baltimore left-hander Cade Povich (1-7) gave up five runs on 10 hits over 3 1/3 innings.