MIAMI -- The Marlins rallied, and they also made three highlight-reel defensive plays, which featured plenty of grittiness and emotion. But in the end, it wasn't enough.

Jeff Kent's two-out single to center enabled the Dodgers to prevail, 7-6, over the Marlins on Tuesday night in one of Florida's most spirited games of the season.

Going for their ninth comeback victory, the Marlins saw their record in one-run games slip to 6-3.

A crowd of 11,334 witnessed the Marlins scratch back from a five-run deficit to tie it. But in the ninth inning off closer Kevin Gregg, Kent singled home Andre Ethier, who walked, with his second hit of the game.

"It was like two different halves," manager Fredi Gonzalez said of falling behind early before clawing back into it. "We battled. We had an opportunity there. At least we tied it, but then they came back and got a run. Our guys never gave up. We kept chipping away, and chipping away and then tying the game."

Although the game didn't turn out in their favor, defensively, the Marlins turned in three of their most sparkling plays of the season. Two came in the sixth inning, which allowed reliever Doug Waechter (who threw four scoreless innings) to work out of trouble.

Uggla went leaping into the seats to snare Rafael Furcal's foul pop. By league rule, 7.04(c), because Uggla left the playing field, the runner on is awarded a base. In this case, Delwyn Young advanced to second. It was a key play since Ethier lined to center, but he was robbed of a run-scoring hit by a diving Alfredo Amezaga.

"I thought it was going to stay in play, and all of a sudden, it kept running and I saw it getting closer to the fence," Uggla said. "I was looking at the wall, it was right there. Then my body took over, and I just hopped it, and got lucky.

"I caught it, and I felt the railing down there by my legs, and I thought, 'There I go.' But luckily, the fans there caught me and helped me back up."

Inspired by Uggla's body-sacrificing play, Amezaga ended the threat with his sterling catch.

"That's one of the top two plays [on the team] for me," Amezaga said. "I like when people go [all out like that]."

Another defensive gem kept the game tied in the eighth. Mark Sweeney's two-out pinch-hit double off Renyel Pinto had Blake DeWitt attempting to score from first base. But strong relays by Jeremy Hermida and Uggla got the ball to Mike Rabelo as DeWitt plowed into the catcher. After holding on for the out, Rabelo spiked the ball in front of home plate.

The fire Rabelo showed impressed the team, but it resulted in a mild lecture from Gonzalez.

"I like guys showing emotions, and things like that, but that's not the way we want to be portrayed as an organization or as a team," Gonzalez said, referring to seemingly showing up the opposition. "I spoke to him afterwards. He will be fine. But it was good to show a little emotion."

Afterwards, Rabelo made it clear that he didn't mean to have his emotions come across as rubbing it in on the Dodgers.

"In no way was I intending to disrespect the other team," Rabelo said. "I was just excited. They made a great relay. I was excited."

The message Gonzalez told his catcher: "Great play, but save the end zone dances for someplace else."

Escaping trouble and working deeper into the game once again was problematic for Florida starter Andrew Miller. Granted, the 22-year-old had some bad luck, as he wasn't hit hard, but he still exited after three innings, trailing, 6-2, while throwing 62 pitches.

Another reason for a quick exit for Miller was a hitch to the left-hander's right knee. Miller has been battling some tendinitis in his knee since his days with the Tigers. After the 2007 season, he had a precautionary MRI, which was examined by the Marlins at the time of the December trade with Detroit.

Miller winced while running to first base to cover the bag, and Rabelo noticed. At that point, the left-hander's day was done. Miller said that he fully expects to be ready for his next start, which, barring any changes, would fall on Sunday against the Padres.

"It's something I've dealt with before," Miller said of the knee issue.

The only solace Miller could take out of the outing is the fact he really wasn't hit hard. Of the nine hits, seven were soft shots that were perfectly placed.

"Going out that early in the game is bad," Miller said. "Watching Doug go out, and the bullpen has come through time and time again to pick me up. I didn't put them in a good position. For us to come back like that, and the bullpen to hold them like they did is a pretty phenomenal job.

"Obviously, if anybody deserved a loss tonight it was me. But that's not the way it worked out."