The Los Angeles Dodgers went into the All-Star break on a four-game winning streak by completing a season series sweep of the Los Angeles Angels for a second consecutive year behind a 10-5 win at Dodger Stadium.
Just like in the opener of the short two-game Freeway Series, Dodgers All-Stars immediately set the tone and carried the offense. Mookie Betts broke the Dodgers franchise record for most leadoff home runs in a single season with his 10th.
The Dodgers’ record previously belonged to Joc Pederson, who hit nine leadoff homers during the 2019 season.
Reid Detmers then ran into a world of trouble when Max Muncy hit a solo home run in the second inning, and a decision to intentionally walk Betts backfired. It loaded the bases for Freddie Freeman, who’s slicing fly ball to left field dropped for a two-run double.
Will Smith followed that by driving in two more on his single to cap off the five-run inning. Freeman’s solo home run chased Detmers with one out in the fourth inning.
The outing was drastically different from when Detmers faced the Dodgers in Anaheim, as he got through seven scoreless innings and finished with eight strikeouts.
Jose Soriano didn’t fare much better upon entering the game, with a walk of Smith and J.D. Martinez base hit leading to an RBI single from Muncy.
After the Angels trimmed into their deficit in the sixth and seventh innings, Martinez and David Peralta hit respective solo home runs over those two frames.
Smith was the lone Dodgers All-Star position player who did not hit a home run in the win. Betts, Freeman, Martinez and Smith all homered on Friday night.
After Alex Vesia was effective in his role as opener, Michael Grove followed with a career-high six innings. Grove didn’t allow a run through his first four innings of work.
Bryan Hudson recorded five outs and allowed one run before exiting the game due to a long ninth inning. Evan Phillips struck out the only batter faced to finish off the game.
Shohei Ohtani 3-for-4 with a double, triple, home run, sacrifice fly and three RBI in the Angels’ loss.
Dodgers extend Freeway Series record
The Dodgers have won each of their last 10 games against the Angels, which is their longest winning streak in Freeway Series history. Prior to the current stretch, the Dodgers won eight in a row in head-to-head matchups with the Angels from August 5, 2014-September 8, 2015.
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