Freeway Series Recap: Dodgers’ Winning Streak Against Angels Snapped
Richards walked Gonzalez to lead off the fourth, however ended the inning two batters later by getting Ethier to ground into a double play. Seager led off the fifth with a base hit to center, only to be picked off first base as he switched feet and hopped off the bag while C.J. Cron was still applying the tag.
Angels manager Mike Scioscia challenged the call after Seager was initially ruled safe. Yimi Garcia took over for Wieland in the fifth and set the Angels down in order. Richards issued a leadoff walk to Austin Barnes in the sixth, and the catcher then stole second base on a pitch Schebler struck out swinging on.
Richards then hit Utley with a pitch to put two on with one out. Nothing came of it for the Dodgers as Gonzalez struck out and Turner flied out to deep center field to end the inning. Garcia put Cron on with two outs in the bottom of the sixth by hitting him with a pitch. Aybar then lined out to end the inning.
Richards continued to sail through the game, needing only eight pitches to get through the seventh inning. Jim Johnson replaced Garcia in the bottom of the seventh and retired all three batters faced on ground outs. Pederson led off the eighth with a double to left field, and he was moved over to third base on a Barnes sacrifice bunt.
It appeared to be a futile effort as Schebler struck out a third time in the game, putting Richards one out away from ending the inning with a 2-1 lead. However, Utley sent an RBI double down the left field line to tie the score at 2-2 and knock Richards out of the game. Jose Alvarez entered and struck out Gonzalez to end the inning.
Fielding hurt the Dodgers again with Calhoun’s leadoff double in the bottom of the eighth resulting in him standing on third after Ethier booted the ball. Pedro Baez came on in relief of Luis Avilan and struck out Trout on a high fastball. However, Pujols delivered with an RBI single to give the Angels a 3-2 lead.
The Angels executed a hit-and-run with David Murphy at the plate that left runners on the corners with one out. Baez limited the damage to just the one run scored by getting Cron to ground into an inning-ending double play.
Huston Street took over in the ninth and retired Turner, Ethier and Seager to wrap up the Angels’ 3-2 win and convert his 33rd save of the season. The loss snapped the Dodgers’ winning streak against the Angels at eight games.
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