OC Register: Dodgers blank Angels in Freeway Series opener

[AngelsWin.com]

• 

  Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels looks on against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning of a exhibition baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday, March 26, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

• 

  Chris Taylor #3 of the Los Angeles Dodgers high fives teammates after hitting a solo home run against the Los Angeles Angels in the second inning of a exhibition baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday, March 26, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

• 

  Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels warms up in the dugout against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning of a exhibition baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday, March 26, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

• 

  Starting Pitcher Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws to the plate against the Los Angeles Angels in the first inning of a exhibition baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday, March 26, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

• 

  Starting pitcher Tucker Davidson #32 of the Los Angeles Angels throws to the plate against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning of a exhibition baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday, March 26, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

• 

  Max Muncy #13 of the Los Angeles Dodgers high fives third base coach Dino Ebel as he rounds third base after hitting a solo home run against the Los Angeles Angels in the second inning of a exhibition baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday, March 26, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

• 

  Chris Taylor #3 of the Los Angeles Dodgers rounds first base after hitting a solo home run against the Los Angeles Angels in the second inning of a exhibition baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday, March 26, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

• 

  Chris Taylor #3 of the Los Angeles Dodgers rounds third base after hitting a solo home run as starting pitcher Tucker Davidson #32 of the Los Angeles Angels looks at the baseball in the second inning of a exhibition baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday, March 26, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

• 

  Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels reacts after striking out swinging against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning of a exhibition baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday, March 26, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

• 

  Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels reacts after striking out swinging against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning of a exhibition baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday, March 26, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

• 

  Fans react after Chris Taylor (not pictured) of the Los Angeles Dodgers rounds third base after hit a solo home run as right fielder Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels looks on in the second inning of a exhibition baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday, March 26, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

• 

  Starting Pitcher Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws to the plate against the Los Angeles Angels in the first inning of a exhibition baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday, March 26, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Show Caption

of

Expand

LOS ANGELES ― While Sunday’s Freeway Series opener might have catalyzed the Angels’ decision about who will claim the final spot in their starting rotation, the Dodgers might have found something special themselves.

Clayton Kershaw turned back the clock in his final regular season tuneup, tossing six shutout innings in the Dodgers’ 3-0 win over the Angels at Dodger Stadium.

The left-hander threw 74 pitches while limiting the Angels to three hits and no walks. He struck out seven batters, including Mike Trout in all three of his plate appearances.

One week after celebrating his 35th birthday, Kershaw finished the exhibition season with seven runs allowed across four starts, good for a 3.44 earned-run average.

The only clock Kershaw didn’t turn back Sunday? The new pitch timers, which caused the left-hander to be charged with two automatic balls, and led to one lengthy discussion between Kershaw and home plate umpire Alfonso Marquez between innings.

Back-to-back home runs by Max Muncy and Chris Taylor in the second inning provided Kershaw the only runs he needed to leave in line for the victory. Those were the only runs allowed by Angels starter Tucker Davidson, who was making his final bid for a rotation spot.

Related Articles

• Los Angeles Dodgers |
  Dodgers’ Chris Taylor looks poised to platoon in 2023
• Los Angeles Dodgers |
  Hoornstra: Shohei Ohtani takes center stage among 2023’s MLB storylines to watch
• Los Angeles Dodgers |
  Dodgers lose Cactus League finale to Royals
• Los Angeles Dodgers |
  Dodgers’ Jason Heyward calls revamped swing a ‘work in progress’
• Los Angeles Dodgers |
  2023 MLB Predictions: SCNG staffers call their shots

Davidson allowed one hit besides the two home runs, a single by Miguel Vargas on his 75th and final pitch. Davidson walked one batter and struck out one in 4 ⅓ innings.

Right-hander Jaime Barría, who’s also battling for the sixth starter’s job, allowed one run in 2 ⅔ innings, striking out four. The one run came on an eighth-inning home run by James Outman, who will make his first Opening Day roster Thursday.

Outman and Muncy each have hit three home runs this spring.

Yency Almonte, Brusdar Graterol and Shelby Miller each threw a scoreless inning of relief for the Dodgers.

View the full article

[Angel Oracle]

Good pitching 

Bad hitting 

For one day anyway, a harkening back to 2022