Dustin May’s start had mixed results, but the Dodgers hit into five double plays in eight innings and only mustered two runs of support.
The Dodgers (29-16) and Angels (18-25) opened Rivalry Weekend with a good old-fashioned Freeway series at Dodger Stadium.
Five double plays, a franchise record, contributed mightily to the Dodgers’ offensive struggles against an effective Jack Kochanowicz. The Dodgers had opportunities with men on base, but the double plays erased most hope.
The Dodgers have averaged seven runs per game over the last few weeks and scored a whopping 19 runs against the A’s the game prior, but the offense clammed up and gave May only two runs of support.
Yoán Moncada attacked May early with a two-run home run on a sinker up in the first inning.
Hyeseong Kim continued to make his case to stay with the Dodgers using his bat. Kim singled off Kochanowicz with two outs in the bottom of the third, and with that base hit he has now reached base in eight consecutive plate appearances.
The Angels had runners on base in each inning against May who struggled to find his timing. May loaded the bases with one out in the fourth after hitting back-to-back hitters uncharacteristically.
The home plate umpire Cory Blaser gave May a gift strike on a terrible strike two call on Zach Neto. Neto shook his head at the bad call then proceeded to double in two more runs for the Halos.
Max Muncy is really coming to life. The Dodgers finally gave May some run support in the fourth thanks to a Will Smith single and Muncy RBI double against Kochanowicz to make it a 4-1 game.
Kim got on base again, for the ninth straight plate appearance, with an infield single with one out in the home half of the fifth. Unfortunately, the Dodgers grounded into a double play again as well to end the inning.
It was the third double play the Angels turned. They turned a fourth DP, an extra slick one, in the bottom of the seventh.
Andy Pages fired an absolute rocket to third base ahead of the baserunner Taylor Ward reminiscent of Yasiel Puig, but the runner just barely got under the tag. Although Dave Roberts lost the challenge, the throw was impressive nevertheless.
Jack Dreyer and Luis García pitched a combined three innings of shutout ball to keep the Dodgers within three runs of the lead.
Shohei Ohtani crushed his 16th home run, a solo shot off reliever Ryan Zeferjahn to make it 4-2 with one out in the bottom of the eighth.
Freddie Freeman grounded into yet another double play and the fifth of the game for the Dodgers.
Ryan Loutos made his Dodgers debut in the top of the ninth, and the Angels got to him with a Zach Neto double and a Nolan Schanuel single for two more runs.
Old friend Kenley Jansen emerged from the Angels bullpen to shut down his former team.
Friday particulars
Home runs: Yoán Moncada (3), Shohei Ohtani (16)
WP — Jack Kochanowicz (3-5): 6 2⁄3 IP, 5 hits, 1 run, 4 walks, 5 strikeouts (104 pitches)
LP — Dustin May (1-4): 5 IP, 6 hits, 4 runs, 2 walks, 8 strikeouts (95 pitches)
Up next
Saturday marks the return of Clayton Kershaw to the mound for the Dodgers in his 18th season. The Angels counter with their left-hander Tyler Anderson (2-1, 2.58 ERA, 1.06 WHIP).
You can catch the first Kershaw Day of the season an hour earlier at (6:10 p.m.; SportsNet LA, FanDuel Sports Network West, MLB Network).
