After a heartbreaking loss in the Freeway Series opener on Friday night, the Los Angeles Dodgers looked to get back on track on Saturday against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
They were able to do exactly that, getting back in the win column with a 3-1 victory that was closed out by Kenley Jansen.
As was the case on Friday, neither offense was able to get anything going early as starters Ross Stripling and Deck McGuire had everything working.
The Dodgers were finally able to break through in the fifth inning against the Angels bullpen, scoring two runs on a two-out single off the bat of Justin Turner. That scored Yasiel Puig and Kiké Hernandez, who singled and walked, respectively.
Stripling was lights out through his first five innings of work, but surrendered his first and only run in the sixth inning on a solo home run off the bat of Mike Trout.
Stripling gave up just three hits, all of which were to Trout, in six innings of work while striking out seven without allowing a walk. He left the game with a 2-1 lead.
The bullpen was able to maintain that lead despite not much help from the offense. Edward Paredes and Erik Goeddel combined to toss a scoreless seventh inning. They gave way to Daniel Hudson and Scott Alexander, who did the same thing in the eighth.
Yasiel Puig provided Jansen with a big insurance run in the top of the ninth by hitting his 10th home run of the season. He became the eighth Dodger hitter to hit 10 home runs before the All-Star break, which is a franchise record.
Jansen was able to shake off the blown save on Friday night, pitching a perfect ninth to complete the victory, making Sunday evening’s game the rubber match at Angel Stadium.
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