The Los Angeles Dodgers returned to Southern California on Sunday as they opened up their annual three-game exhibition Freeway Series against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
The first game of the series was at Angel Stadium, where the Dodgers erased a deficit and held on for a 4-2 victory. It was the Angels that got on the scoreboard first, as Kenta Maeda gave up solo home runs to Zack Cozart and Mike Trout in the second and fourth innings, respectively.
The Dodgers responded by scoring two runs of their own in the top of the fifth to tie the game, as Yasiel Puig and Cody Bellinger each had RBI groundouts. Los Angeles loaded the bases on former teammate Jim Johnson with nobody out.
The ball started flying out of the park for the Dodgers in the seventh inning, as Chris Taylor led off the inning by hitting the first pitch he saw for a home run to center field.
Yasiel Puig then came up two batters later and was the beneficiary of the shortened fence in right field, as he hit a solo home run on a ball that would have been a double off the wall any season prior to this one.
A busy night in center field. #DodgersST pic.twitter.com/SpB3a4AETV
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 26, 2018
In addition to the power display at the plate, the Dodgers also flashed some leather in the victory. Most notably, Kiké Hernandez did his best Andrelton Simmons impression by robbing the three-time Gold Glove winner of a base hit to end the fifth inning.
.@kikehndez from his knees! #DodgersST pic.twitter.com/qa7vEUPja5
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 26, 2018
Maeda finished his final spring tuneup with five innings pitched, allowing four hits and two runs while striking out five without issuing a walk.
