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Freeway Series Recap: Scott Van Slyke Has 4 RBIs In Dodgers Win Over Angels

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

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Utley opened the fifth inning with a leadoff single, and advanced to third base on Turner’s double down the left field line. Jose Alvarez replaced Tropeano, which prompted Dodgers manager Don Mattingly to counter with pinch-hitting Justin Ruggiano for Ethier. The decision paid off as Ruggiano hit a two-run single on the first pitch he saw to give the Dodgers a 3-1 lead.



Alvarez retired Seager before handing the ball over to Fernando Salas, who struck out Ellis to end the inning. However, once again, the Dodgers’ lead didn’t last long. Featherston hit a one-out single in the bottom of the fifth, which was followed by a Calhoun two-run, game-tying home run.

The Dodgers threatened with consecutive singles in the sixth and loaded the bases with one out on an Utley line-drive base hit that skipped off Featherston’s glove and carried into right field. Gonzalez broke the 3-3 tie with a sacrifice fly to deep left-center field.

Greinke protected a lead for the first time on the night be retiring the Angels in order in the sixth, doing so for the third time in the game. Trevor Gott hit Ruggiano with a pitch and walked Seager to put two on with no outs.

After Ellis advanced both runners, Van Slyke hit a high chopper that went off Gott’s glove and rolled by Erick Aybar, who was playing in, for a two-run double that extended the Dodgers’ lead to 6-3. Pederson later dropped a flare single into left field for his third of the night, and Wesley Wright intentionally walked pinch-hitter Chris Heisey to load the bases.

However, Gonzalez struck out swinging to end the inning. Luis Avilan took over in the seventh and allowed consecutive base hits before recording an out. Juan Nicasio replaced Avilan and struck out Trout, though also allowed a two-out RBI single to Pujols.

J.P. Howell was then called on to get the final out of the inning, but walked pinch-hitter Shane Victorino to load the bases. Jim Johnson came on in relief of Howell and allowed a run to score on a wild pitch before getting the Dodgers out of the inning.

Scott Schebler hit a pinch-hit, one-out single in the eighth and Seager drew his second walk of the game to put two on. Ellis hit a taylor-made double play ball to Aybar, but a bobble at second base resulted in only a force out being made.

The miscue hurt the Angels as Van Slyke hit a high chopper for an RBI infield single to get an insurance run across and push the Dodgers’ lead to 7-5. Pederson drew a walk to load the bases with two outs, only for Heisey to strikeout swinging.

Chris Hatcher walked Aybar to open the bottom of the eighth and the Angels shortstop stole second base with one out. Hatcher kept the runner stranded by retiring the next two batters. Kenley Jansen allowed a leadoff infield single in the ninth then proceeded to strikeout Trout and Pujols as part of retiring the next three batters faced.

The Dodgers extended their overall winning streak to seven games against the Angels, which includes winning all four games played between the two southern California teams this season.

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