The Los Angeles Dodgers made a late change to their pitching plan and wound up successfully navigating a bullpen game against Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Angels to complete a Freeway Series sweep with their 2-0 win.
Rather than Michael Grove making a start, it was Brusdar Graterol filling an opener role. He completed two hitless innings before giving way to Victor González.
González immediately allowed a leadoff single but got through 1.1 innings without allowing a run. He was aided by David Peralta throwing out Luis Rengifo at home plate, giving the Dodgers a second consecutive game with a big play, although their latest did not require it to be overturned via challenge.
Yency Almonte and Alex Vesia added onto the string of scoreless innings from the Dodgers bullpen, but it was not without some traffic. Vesia inherited a runner with two outs in the fifth and walked the first batter he faced.
Pinch-hitter Hunter Renfroe appeared to foul out but Michael Busch could not catch his pop-up. Renfroe failed to capitalize on the extra chance as he flied out.
Vesia remained in the game to combine with Ryan Brasier for another scoreless inning in the sixth. For Brasier the appearance was his Dodgers debut.
Brasier worked a clean seventh inning, and he was followed by Caleb Ferguson and Evan Phillips to finish out the game. Miguel Vargas provided Phillips with some insurance by snapping an 0-for-24 skid with a solo home run in the top of the ninth.
Grove never pitched, which leaves the Dodgers with some flexibility heading into a weekend series against the Houston Astros.
The Dodgers’ win marked only the third time the Angels have been shut out this season, with the Freeway Series the first instance of it occurring in consecutive games. The Miami Marlins are the only other team to shut out the Angels this year — doing so May 28 — also at Angel Stadium.
The Dodgers improved to 8-0 over their last eight games against the Angels, which is tied for their longest winning streak in Freeway Series history. The Dodgers previously won eight in a row in their head-to-head matchups from August 5, 2014-September 8, 2015.
Dodgers withstand Shohei Ohtani record
Shohei Ohtani struck out 12 over seven innings but was done in by one mistake pitch to Freddie Freeman that was hit for a solo home run in the fourth inning. The blast additionally gave Freeman 1,998 career hits.
Ohtani broke the Angels franchise record for most strikeouts in a game against the Dodgers, surpassing the 11 that Garrett Richards had in 2015. The start was Ohtani’s first of his career against the Dodgers.
Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
