A back-and-forth Freeway Series matchup ultimately saw the Los Angeles Dodgers once again lose to Los Angeles Angels, 7-6, after a blown save in the ninth and a walk-off hit in extra innings.
The Dodgers offense did bounce back from a disappointing showing on Monday and scored early in the game to take the lead, but they didn’t do enough to get the win. Shohei Ohtani started the game with a walk and Mookie Betts was hit by a pitch before Teoscar Hernández singled home the first run of the game.
But the Angels answered back to take the lead in the bottom of the first with three runs against Emmet Sheehan. The right-hander walked Nolan Schanuel and allowed singles to Mike Trout and Taylor Ward that tied it up. A double from Yoán Moncada put the Angels ahead, and Jo Adell grounded out to drive in another run.
Neither lead ended up lasting long as the Dodgers tied it up in the second inning when Dalton Rushing slugged a two-run homer after a walk from Alex Freeland. That was Rushing’s first home run at the MLB level that did not come off a position player.
The Angels re-took the lead in the third inning when Taylor Ward slugged a solo homer, and they extended the lead with another run in the fourth inning on a dobile from Bryce Teodosio following a walk from Luis Rengifo.
But again, the Dodgers answered with two runs in the fifth inning to tie it up. Betts and Freeman each hit two-out singles, and Hernández drove in another run with another single.
Max Muncy then walked to load the bases, and then Andy Pages worked a walk as well to tie it up. The Dodgers’ rally ended when Michael Conforto struck out.
The score remained tied until the Dodgers took the lead in the ninth inning when Ohtani hit a laser home run against Kenley Jansen to put them up 6-5.
But as expected for this game and how things have been going for the Dodgers, the Angels tied it in the ninth inning against Alex Vesia. Rengifo started them off with a single and Logan O’Hoppe walked before the Angels bunted them over.
Zach Neto was intentionally walked to load the bases with one out, but Schanuel hit a sacrifice fly to tie it up. Another walk loaded the bases for the Angels before Ben Casparius took over, who struck out Taylor Ward to send it to extra innings.
The Dodgers were unable to score in extra innings, and the Angels walked off with an RBI single from Jo Adell.
Sheehan was only able to pitch five innings in the start, allowing five earned runs on five hits with six strikeouts and two walks. It was his second start this season allowing five earned runs with his last coming on July 19 against the Milwaukee Brewers.
The Dodgers and San Diego Padres are now tied atop the National League West.
Dodgers tie record with loss to Angels
The Dodgers have now lost six straight games against the Angels dating back to last season. The six straight wins for the Angels ties their franchise record for their longest winning streak against the Dodgers, which last happened from June 22, 2003-June 26, 2004.
Entering tonight, the Angels had already won the season series for the first time since 2019.
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