OC Register: Dodgers make lead stand up this time, beat Angels in second game of Freeway Series

[AngelsWin.com]

ANAHEIM – The Angels held the Dodgers to only four hits Saturday but one of them was a two-run single by Justin Turner and another was a solo home run by Yasiel Puig as the Dodgers beat the Angels 3-1 in the second game of the Freeway Series at Angel Stadium.

It was 100 degrees at game time, just down from Friday’s record-breaking 108 at game time. But Dodgers starter Ross Stripling handled the heat well. He allowed just two hits through the first five innings while striking out seven. His only real mistake was a poorly-located 1-and-2 fastball to Mike Trout in the sixth. Trout sent it over the wall in center field for his third hit of the day, 25th home run of the season and the Angels’ only run of the game.

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The Dodgers were held in check nearly as well by a tag team of six Angels pitchers. They managed just four hits in the game but also walked five times.

Turner had a chance to give the Dodgers an early lead but took a called third strike with two runners on and two outs in the third inning.

He got another chance in the fifth after Puig led off with a single and Kike’ Hernandez worked Angels reliever Taylor Cole for a 10-pitch walk. After Joc Pederson bunted them into scoring position, Max Muncy struck out.

With the count 1-and-1, Turner got a fastball over the outside part of the plate and dropped it into right field. Puig scored easily and Hernandez beat the throw by sliding wide of the plate and avoiding Martin Maldonado’s tag as he slapped the plate.

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After Trout cut the Dodgers’ lead in half, the Angels got the tying run into scoring position in the seventh inning when Dodgers reliever Erik Goeddel walked Maldonado and hit Ian Kinsler. That put two on with two out for Kole Calhoun but he grounded out to first base.

In the eighth, reliever Daniel Hudson became the only Dodgers pitcher to retire Trout in the game. Hudson got Trout to check his swing on a full-count pitch and dribble a ball up the first-base line. The ball hit the base and caromed to Cody Bellinger who retired Trout.

Puig (whose error cost the Dodgers in the ninth inning Friday) gave closer Kenley Jansen better support this lead, giving him some margin for error with a solo home run in the top of the ninth.

Facing the same part of the Angels’ lineup that gave him trouble Friday, Jansen retired the side in order this time.

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