Clayton Kershaw twice struck out the side, finished with 12 strikeouts, went seven innings without allowing an earned run, and was backed by a Los Angeles Dodgers offense that clubbed three home runs to defeat the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and earn a Freeway Series split.
Angels starter JC Ramirez retired the first six batters faced before allowing a leadoff single to Logan Forsythe in the third inning. A would-be double play was thrown away for an error, and one batter later it led to the Dodgers loading the bases on walk with nobody out.
Ramirez did manage to limit the damage to one run, scored on a Chase Utley sacrifice fly. Ramirez went on to pitch into the sixth inning but endured his share of lumps along the way.
Particularly in the fifth inning when Yasiel Puig lined a solo home run to left field, complete with a spirited bat toss. Chase Utley added to Ramirez’s troubles by driving a home run to right field.
The right-hander encountered more trouble in the fifth, allowing a base hit to Justin Turner and double to Cody Bellinger. But it was Joc Pederson who seemingly landed the knockout punch, clubbing a three-run homer that extended the Dodgers’ lead to 6-1.
Ramirez was removed after being struck by a Puig line drive. He was charged for all six runs (five earned), issued one walk and had three strikeouts in 5.2 innings.
All Kershaw did was produce his fifth start this season and 56th overall with at least 10 strikeouts. He improved to 93-0 during the regular season when provided with at least four runs of support.
The Angels’ lone rune only came because of sloppy defense by the Dodgers. Trayce Thompson’s error in the fourth inning allowed Cameron Maybin to advance to second base on a leadoff single, and Corey Seager’s poor throw to home plate after backhanding a chopper left Yasmani Grandal without a play.
The game did take an interesting twist in the eighth inning as Luis Avilan allowed three consecutive hits, the last of which scored a run. He was replaced by Brandon Morrow, who struck out Albert Pujols but then hit Yunel Escobar to load the bases.
Escobar took that as intentional, shouted at the Angels dugout, then had words for Morrow. Grandal kept them separated but both benches and bullpens cleared onto the field.
Morrow struck out pinch-hitter Luis Valbuena, and was replaced by Kenley Jansen who converted a sixth four-out save this season. Jansen also has a five-out save this year.
Kershaw extended a streak without an earned run allowed to 14 innings over two starts. His prolific performance came in front of a record crowd of 44,807. It was the Angels’ fifth sellout this season and the second-largest crowd for a regular season game at Angel Stadium since renovations in 1998.
