Angels sweep season series from Dodgers

LOS ANGELES, CA (News4usonline) – Whatever Angels right fielder Kole Calhoun is eating for breakfast every time he plays a freeway series game, the Dodgers need him to change his diet. 

Ross Stripling
© News4usonline – Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Ross Stripling on the mound against the Los Angeles Angels in the finale of the Freeway Series at Dodger Stadium on July 24, 2019. Photo by Dennis J. Freeman for News4usonline

Calhoun hit two doubles and blasted a Ross Stripling 88 mile-per-hour fastball 404 feet en route to the Angels completing a season sweep of the Dodgers, 3-2. He finished the game 3-for-4 and recorded his third homer against the Dodgers this season.

“I like playing here,” Calhoun said with a smirk on his face. 

His career at Dodger stadium includes an 18-for-48 (.375) batting average with six home runs and six doubles. Calhoun batted 8-for-14 (.571), recorded four doubles and collected five RBI in his four games against the Dodgers in 2019.

“It’s always a fun game to play in,” he said. “I don’t know if it’s the atmosphere or the place, but it always seems to be a tight game.”

Angels third baseman David Fletcher completed his 28th multi-hit game and first against the Dodgers, slugging 2-for-4 and scoring one run. Starting pitcher Jaime Barria allowed one run on three hits and improved to 4-3 on the season.

© News4usonline – Kole Calhoun of the Los Angeles Angels goes yard against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the capper of the Freeway Series on July 24, 2019. Photo by Dennis J. Freeman for News4usonline

 “[Barria’s] velocity ticked up,” Angels manager Brad Ausmus said. “His slider was good, his changeup was good. He gave us a very solid outing.”

Third baseman Justin Turner led the Dodgers with three hits and a solo 417-foot home run in the fourth inning. But, LAD were riddled by injuries. Starting pitcher Ross Stripling allowed two earned runs on 62 pitches, but was pulled after the fifth inning because of a stiff neck. 

“Right now, Ross, his neck feels considerably better,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. Roberts expects to have a timetable for Stripling in the next few days. 

“Obviously when you’re in the middle of a game as a pitcher and you have soreness or tightness that potentially could lead to other things, you want to be prudent and responsible,” he said. “Ross was, the training staff they did a great job letting me know to take him out of the game.”

Justin Turner
© News4usonline – Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner connects for a solo home run against the Los Angeles Angels on July 24, 2019. The Dodgers dropped the Freeway Series capper to the Angels by the score of 3-2. Photo by Dennis J. Freeman for News4usonline

In place of Stripling, JT Chargois quickly gave up a single to Fletcher in the top of the sixth. Fletcher then stole second base and advanced to third off an Austin Barnes throwing error, extending the Angels’ advantage to two runs.   

A rocky sixth inning continued for the Dodgers when second baseman Enrique Hernandez (0-for-2) left the game and didn’t return because of soreness in his left hand. The Dodgers took X-Rays, which came back negative.

“[Hernandez is] as tough as they come,” Roberts said. “Just an awkward swing that I saw he took.”

Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager knocked in a Cody Bellinger run to end the sixth, but LAD’s luck stopped there. Bellinger faced his first career ejection in the eighth for arguing balls and strikes. Center fielder AJ Pollock hit into a double play to end the leaving, leaving Turner on base.

The Dodgers (67-36, first in National League West) left six men on base overall and smacked five balls to the Angels’ six. LAA earned their 54th win of the season and stand eighth in the American League. The Angels head back to Anaheim for a 7-game homestand against Baltimore and Detroit.

“Today’s another step in the right direction, especially against a team like [the Dodgers],” Calhoun said. “We know that’s a great ballclub over there and this is a nice little rivalry that we got here.”


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