Fresh off taking three of four from the Pittsburgh Pirates to start their homestand, the Los Angeles Dodgers opened the Freeway Series with an 11-4 rout of the Los Angeles Angels.
Freddie Freeman wanted the Dodgers to sustain momentum heading into the All-Star break, and he put action to those words by hitting a home run in the first inning for a second consecutive game. That marked the start of a big night for Dodgers All-Stars.
J.D. Martinez shook off some recent bad luck for a solo home run in the second inning, and Mookie Betts added a long ball in the third.
Martinez also hit an RBI double in the third inning that extended the Dodgers’ lead to 4-0.
Freddie says Halo. pic.twitter.com/8yea8XF4bw
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 8, 2023
JD homer? It's an All-Star thing. pic.twitter.com/MIpmmlbhT6
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 8, 2023
Another All-Star homer? BETTS. pic.twitter.com/aFaNiOqUmW
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 8, 2023
MOOKIE IS SO READY FOR THE DERBY. pic.twitter.com/AaPcSEMEJH
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 8, 2023
ALL OF OUR ALL-STARS HAVE NOW HOMERED. pic.twitter.com/coOXFCt3sa
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 8, 2023
Game? W.
Drone show to end the night? W. pic.twitter.com/6J9uikX9wx
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 8, 2023
That was nearly wiped away as Tony Gonsolin lost his perfect game on Shohei Ohtani’s leadoff single in the fourth inning that eventually led to Mickey Moniak’s three-run home run.
The Dodgers responded behind a second home run from Betts in the fifth inning and his two-run double in the sixth. The multi-home run game was Betts’ 27th of his career and fourth this season.
He had an opportunity to set the MLB record for most games with three home runs, but the Angels intentionally walked Betts in the bottom of the eighth.
“I mean, that’s the first time in a long time,” Betts said of the intentional walk. “It means I’m doing something good. It was pretty cool. It had been a long time.”
L.A. still scored a run when the Angels committed an error and Will Smith made it a fourth Dodgers All-Star with a homer.
Dodgers Freeway Series record
The Dodgers improved to 9-0 in their last nine games against the Angels, with has set a record for their longest winning streak in Freeway Series history. Prior to the current stretch, the Dodgers won eight in a row in head-to-head matchups with the Angels from August 5, 2014-September 8, 2015.
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