Recap: Max Muncy Hits 2 Home Runs But Angels Rock Kenta Maeda Early To Sweep Dodgers In Freeway Series
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Kenta Maeda reacts after allowing a home run against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Max Muncy hit two home runs but Kenta Maeda had an atypical start and it proved too much for the Los Angeles Dodgers to overcome as they fell, 5-3, and were swept by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the two-game Freeway. It marked the first time the Dodgers lost a series since April 29-May 1.

Maeda struck out Mike Trout looking for the second out in the first inning but unraveled from there. Shohei Ohtani lined a home run over the high wall in right-center field, and the inning was extended when Kole Calhoun was hit by a pitch, which then was followed by a walk.

Brian Goodwin found a hole in the shift for an RBI single that extended the Angels’ lead to 2-0. In his first game back from a three-week stint in Triple-A, Justin Bour lifted a three-run home run to the opposite field.

Maeda needed 36 pitches to get through the first inning but to his credit managed to settle in from there and reach the fifth inning. His effort also allowed the Dodgers to chip into their deficit, and they had several opportunities to complete a comeback.

Max Muncy recorded the third multi-home run game of his career with solo shots to center field in the third and fifth innings. Muncy nearly lifted a third home run out to left field, which would have been a two-run shot that pulled the Dodgers to within 5-4 in the sixth inning.

Justin Turner was hit by a pitch and Cody Bellinger walked, but a potential two-out rally in the third came to an end when Corey Seager grounded out.

The Dodgers also put two on with one out in the fourth inning and benefitted from a wild pitch advancing both runners. However, Austin Barnes was called out on strikes and Joc Pederson hit into the shift.

The Dodgers loaded the bases with one out in the seventh inning, only to leave them full. Their final scoring on the night came in the eighth when David Freese ambushed the first pitch he saw for a pinch-hit home run.

L.A. had two reach with nobody out in the ninth inning and aside from failing to push both across, saw matters take a turn for the worse when Seager suffered an apparent hamstring injury while running the bases.

The Dodgers went 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position and left 15 on base.