The Los Angeles Dodgers are have been playing some of their best baseball in recent weeks, pulling into a first-place tie with the Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League West on Thursday.
They looked to continue that momentum as they travel south for the Freeway Series against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim beginning on Friday, but with record-breaking temperatures at Angel Stadium, the Dodgers blew a 2-1 lead in the ninth to fall 3-2.
Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen blew his first save since April, as with two outs in the ninth he walked Shohei Ohtani, who quickly advanced to second on a stolen base and then third when Yasmani Grandal’s throw went into center field.
Ohtani scored on the next pitch on a single by David Fletcher, who then came all the way around to score on a single by Ian Kinsler, which included a throwing error by Yasiel Puig.
Neither offense was able to get anything going early against starters Kenta Maeda and Felix Peña. The Dodgers got on the scoreboard first in the fourth inning though when Cody Bellinger hit a two-out double to left and then Matt Kemp drove him in with a single.
They then added to that lead in the sixth on another RBI-single off the bat of Kemp, this time bringing home Justin Turner, who walked.
Maeda dominant for the Dodgers, carrying a perfect game into the fourth inning before Andrelton Simmons hit a double down the left field line.
That was the only hit he gave up until the sixth inning though when he got himself into some trouble. He loaded up the bases with two outs and then balked home the Angels first run of the game.
After walking Justin Upton to load up the bases once again, Maeda gave way to Scott Alexander, who struck out Albert Pujols to escape the jam and maintain the Dodgers 2-1 lead.
Alexander then stayed in for the seventh, tossing a perfect inning with two more strikeouts before giving way to Daniel Hudson.
Hudson, who has been one of the Dodgers best relievers over the last month, pitched a scoreless eighth, including getting Trout to pop up to end the inning before giving way to Jansen, who could not hold the lead.
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