Despite Two Hanley Bombs, Dodgers Drop Freeway Series Opener

Angels   7 10 0

Dodgers 5 8 2

WP-Santiago

LP-Dominguez

SV-Bedrosian

HR-Hanley-3-4

The Dodgers can’t seem to catch a break against the Angels. These three games may not count, but bragging rights do. I’m sure the Dodgers would love to dish out some punishment to the Halo’s for all of their dastardly deeds over the years. The Dodgers returned home to play the Angels in the first game of the three game Freeway Series.

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

The Dodgers had some mojo going tonight though. Greinke looked sharp, and Hanley hit two monster home runs. The Dodgers had the lead twice, but let it get away when the Angels scored four times in the seventh inning. That usually happens when Dominguez comes in, and Butera as catcher. The Dodgers dropped the first game of the Freeway Series by a score of 7-5.

Zack Greinke appeared to be in midseason form tonight against the Angels in the first game of the three game Freeway series being played Thursday through Saturday. Greinke, who was recovering from his strained right calf says the injury is 100 % healed, and he looked just fine Thursday night against the Halos.

Greinke who is scheduled to start next Tuesday afternoon at San Diego, tossed six effective frames, while allowing just two earned runs, three runs total on five hits. Greinke’s command was most efficient as he walked none, and whiffed two. His mound opponent Santiago threw five frames, allowing four earned runs on six hits, with three walks, and five whiffs. Neither starter was involved in the decision.

The Dodgers got two beautiful home runs from Hanley Ramirez that put them ahead as the club scored a single run in the first, third, fourth, and fifth frames.

The Dodgers had the lead twice in the game before Jose Dominguez’s crappy pitching, and some terrible Dodger defense allowed the Angels to score four unanswered runs in the seventh. Three of the Halo’s seven runs were unearned. The Dodgers made two errors in the game.

The Dodgers broke through first in the bottom of the first against opposing starter Hector Santiago, who would allow a single to Yasiel Puig, a sacrifice to Carl Crawford, a wild pitch (which allowed Puig to advance to third) and an infield single to Adrian Gonzalez. Halo’s third baseman David Freese made a nice backhanded stop on Gonzo’s infield chopper, but his throw was offline. Dodgers lead 1-0.

The Angels would tie it up in the top of the third, thanks to a crappy throw from Justin Turner. With two outs, the annoying Erick Aybar doubled to right, and scored on Turner’s throwing error. Turner had made a nice stop on Kole Calhoun’s grounder to the hole between first and second. But his throw was well wide of the mark, getting past Gonzo allowing Aybar to score and tie the game at 1-1.

Gonzo was not pleased here-Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

But the Dodgers would rally back thanks to the sweet swing of Hanley Ramirez. The slugger would hit the first of his two home runs on the night in the bottom of the third. His first home run was a line drive to right field that just cleared the wall. The Dodgers retake the lead 2-1! Immediately after Hanley’s home run, Gonzo was plunked on the elbow by a Santiago pitch, and had to be removed from the game for precautionary reasons in the top of the fourth. Scott Van Slyke took over for him at first base.

The Dodgers plated one more run in the fourth, when Andre Ethier led off with a walk. Turner singled Dre to second. After Greinke walked to load the bases, Puig’s sacrifice fly to left scored Ethier to give the Dodgers a 3-1 lead.

The Angels would tie it up with two runs in the top of the fifth. Raul Ibanez singles. Chris Iannetta’s double bounces past the diving Uribe to send Ibanez to third. Calhoun’s two-run single plated both men, as the Angels tied the game up at 3-3.

The Dodgers would take the lead back again in this see-saw game. His second home run was a ball crushed more than halfway up the left field pavilions in the fifth. Dodgers lead 4-3.

But the game would get away as soon as right hander Jose Dominguez was called in. The more I see him, the more I am not impressed. As soon as he comes in he starts serving up hits. Not surprisingly, the Angels took advantage of his flat no movement fastball.

Freese singled, Ibanez doubled, and Howie Kendrick’s line drive single to center scored both Freese, and pinch-runner Matt Long to give the Angels a 5-4 lead.

After Dominguez whiffed Iannetta, he gave up another hit to Aybar. Finally the Dodgers remove him and have to bring in Paco Rodriguez to restore order. But that didn’t happen, as the Angels end up plating two more unearned runs to give them a four run inning.

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

While Grant Green is striking out, the Angels try a delayed double steal, Taylor Lindsey and Aybar both try and steal their respective bags. Drew Butera’s throw is way off the mark, (It hit Aybar in the leg on a bounce and sailed into cenrer field) allowing both runners to come around and score. The Angel’s lead is now 7-4.

There was not much doing after that. J.P. Howell got in some work, tossing a scoreless inning in the eighth. The Dodgers couldn’t get up off the floor against Ernesto Frieri in the eighth. There was some late excitement when Dee Gordon led off the ninth with a triple into the right field corner. Trayvon Robinson’s grounder to second scored Gordon. But that was all the excitement for the night for the Dodgers, as they would fall to the Angels by a score of 7-5.

In case you are wondering, Gonzo’s arm is just fine. he was in fact taken out of the game for precautionary measures, and was available to talk to the media, arm intact and all.

Will your stomach still be intact after watching the boys in blue lose to the Halos? Hopefully the Dodgers can dish out some revenge tomorrow night in the second game. The Dodgers haven’t announced a starter for tomorrow night’s tilt. The Angels will be starting Garrett Richards in a 7:10 pm start time. Join us tomorrow, as we’ll have our Mylanta on hand. Will you? Go Blue