OC Register: Angels beat Dodgers 8-4 in Freeway Series opener

[AngelsWin.com]

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  Los Angeles Angels’ Albert Pujols watches a two-run home run during the fourth inning of the team’s preseason baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday, March 24, 2019, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  Los Angeles Angels’ Albert Pujols, left, is congratulated by Mike Trout, right, as manager Brad Ausmus watches during the fourth inning of the team’s preseason baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday, March 24, 2019, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  Los Angeles Angels center fielder Brandon Marsh makes a catch on a ball hit by Los Angeles Dodgers’ Omar Estevez during the eighth inning of a preseason baseball game Sunday, March 24, 2019, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  Felix Pena of the Angels pitches against the Dodgers during a Freeway Series game at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Sunday, March 24, 2019. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Angels’ left fielder Justin Upton of the misses a fly ball at the wall hit by Max Muncy of the Dodgers during a Freeway Series game at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Sunday, March 24, 2019. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Mike Trout of the Angels runs off the field after flying out in the first inning during a Freeway Series game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Sunday, March 24, 2019. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Los Angeles Dodger’s pitcher Ross Stripling pitches against the Angels during a Freeway Series game at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Sunday, March 24, 2019. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Mike Trout of the Angels signs autographs prior the the Freeway Series game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Sunday, March 24, 2019. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Albert Pujols, left, of the Angels gets a high-five from Mike Trout after hitting two-run home run in the 4th inning during a Freeway Series game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Sunday, March 24, 2019. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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ANAHEIM – When spring training began, Ross Stripling and Felix Peña weren’t assured of a place in the starting rotation with the Dodgers and Angels, respectively.

A lot can change in six weeks. Thanks to a handful of injuries, Stripling and Peña were the opposing starters in the Freeway Series opener. Their next starts will come in a game that counts.

Sunday, in an exhibition game before an announced crowd of 38,031 at Angel Stadium, the stakes were low. The Angels’ 8-4 win was decided by in the final innings, when all but three starting position players had been removed.

For Stripling and Peña at least, it was cause for excitement.

“Last year at this time I knew I was in the bullpen,” Stripling said. “Even though I was built up, I knew it. This year being in the rotation it’s similar, but maybe even a little bit more of a teeter-totter because Rich (Hill) and Kersh (Clayton Kershaw) will be back at some point. We’ll see what happens then.

“It’s nice to know a week, 10 days in advance that you’ve got Game 2. Start prepping for the Diamondbacks and get ready for Friday.”

In three innings Stripling allowed one run, when Jonathan Lucroy and Mike Trout hit doubles for the Angels in the third inning. The right-hander allowed only one other hit, a single, and walked one batter.

Peña’s start was similarly abbreviated – 3 ⅓ innings – and he also escaped with one run on his ledger. The right-hander used a masterful changeup to his advantage, recording nine of his 10 outs via strikeouts.

“I’ve been working on (the changeup) since spring training,” Peña said through an interpreter, “and thank God it’s where I want to be.”

Peña threw 80 pitches Sunday. Manager Brad Ausmus said Peña would be limited to 90-95 pitches in his regular season debut.

The remainder of the game was neither crisp nor pitcher-friendly.

Albert Pujols hit a two-run home run against Dylan Floro in the fourth inning, giving the Angels a 3-1 lead.

The Angels loaded the bases in the sixth inning when Justin Bour walked, and Andrelton Simmons and Jose Rojas hit back-to-back singles against Yimi Garcia. Bour scored to give the Angels a 4-1 lead when Zack Cozart grounded into a double play.

The Dodgers rallied for three runs in the seventh inning against Angels pitcher Jared Walsh. But they gave the run back on a fielding error in the bottom of the seventh inning, when Bour’s ground ball trickled under second baseman Matt Beaty’s glove into right field.

Up 5-4, the Angels broke the game open by scoring three runs with two outs in the eighth inning. They loaded the bases against Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen. Wilfredo Tovar was awarded a single when his line drive back to the mound struck Jansen in his right leg. Jansen waved off an athletic trainer and remained in the game. With two outs in the inning, Manager Dave Roberts removed Jansen in favor of minor league right-hander Layne Somsen.

Rojas promptly scored on a passed ball that eluded Russell Martin. Brandon Marsh hit Somsen’s next pitch for a single, driving in Tovar and Rengifo to make it 8-4.

After the game, Jansen said he was fine. He was removed by virtue of his pitch count and planned to pitch in Monday’s game in Anaheim.

Kiké Hernandez and Corey Seager were recently minted as the Dodgers’ starting second baseman and shortstop, respectively. The double-play partners got a lot of work in the field. Each had six assists and did not commit an error.

Angels left fielder Justin Upton sprained his left big toe tracking down a Max Muncy double in the first inning and left the game. Upton said he suffered the injury when he braced himself and ran into the wall. He’s officially day to day and his status for Opening Day is unclear.

“I hope I walk in here tomorrow and it feels great,” he said, “but I won’t know until tomorrow.”

Staff Writer Mirjam Swanson contributed to this report.

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