Two Ninth Inning Homeruns Too Little Too Late as Angels Out Slug Dodgers

Dodgers 3 7 1

Angels 4 8 0

WP- Weaver (1-1)

LP- Capuano (1-4)

S- Frieri (11)

HR- Trumbo (12), Gonzalez (7), Van Slyke (4)

The Freeway Series shifted down the I-5 to Anaheim Wednesday night as the Dodgers and Angels clashed for game three of the four game series. Chris Capuano was unable to find his control, and the Halos took advantage by scoring three runs off the lefty. Jered Weaver, who was making his first start after being activated from the disabled list, had a perfect game going through four innings until Andre Ethier‘s fifth inning double opened the door for the Dodgers. Unfortunately, the Dodgers offense was once again stale. Adrian Gonzalez and Scott Van Slyke powered their way to two solo homeruns in the top of the ninth inning against Frieri, but it was one too short in the end.

Matt Kemp will undergo an MRI tomorrow on an injured right hamstring. Photo: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

The Dodgers also lost Matt Kemp in the seventh inning with an undisclosed injury. Later we find out that Kemp suffered a “mild” right hamstring strain. That does not sound good considering his past issues with his hammy, although this is the other hamstring and not the one which was injured last season. Kemp will have an MRI tomorrow. We will keep you updated on any news regarding Kemp. Here’s how the game played out…

Jered Weaver makes quick work of Carl Crawford and Nick Punto in the top of the first inning as they both  go down on strikes. Adrian Gonzalez grounds out to second, and Weaver retires the Dodgers in order.

Erick Aybar drops down a little bunt along the third base line. Chris Capuano and the Dodgers let it roll, but it stays fair for an infield hit to lead-off the home half of the first. Mike Trout grounds into a force out after the Dodgers fail to turn the 5-4-3 double play in time. Trout was running down the line really fast. Albert Pujols pops up to Skip Schumaker for the second out. Capuano is struggling early, and he gives up consecutive walks to Mark Trumbo and Josh Hamilton to load the bases up. That prompts a mound visit from Rick Honeycutt. Cappy finally gets out of the inning by striking out Howie Kendrick, but it takes 26 pitches to do so.

The Dodgers quickly go down in order in the second against Weaver.

Chris Iannetta doubles to right field with one out in the bottom of the second. Iannetta takes third on a groundout by

Jered Weaver was cruising until the fifth inning and proceeded to get mad. Photo: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

J.B Shuck. The run is cashed in on a Aybar double, and the Halos take a 1-0 lead.

Schumaker, A.J. Ellis, and Luis Cruz all are put out consecutively by Weaver in the top of the third, and the right-hander has now retired nine in a row.

Chris Capuano pitches a nice 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the third.

The Dodgers go down in order again in the fourth, and Weaver has now retired 12 in a row. The closest thing to a hit was a deep fly ball to left field by Adrian Gonzalez which was caught by Shuck.

Howie Kendrick draws a one out walk in the bottom of the fourth. Alberto Callaspo hits a comebacker to Cappy who bobbles the ball. He picks it up, and luckily Gonzalez is able to dig it out of the dirt for the out at first. Iannetta hits another comebacker past a diving Cappy, but Schumaker is there to make the play. Kendrick is now at third after those two grounders. Shucks grounds out to end the inning, and somehow Capuano manages to escape the inning unscathed.

Jered Weaver’s perfect game bid is over in the top of the fifth after Andre Ethier leads off with a double which hits the top of the center field wall. Even Vin Scully thought it was a homerun at first. Matt Kemp and Scott Van Slyke both strike out. Skip Schumaker, who has had success against Weaver in the past, singles in Dre to tie it up 1-1! A.J. Ellis follows with a single to left. Luis Cruz singles for the third Dodger single in a row, and the bases are juiced for Carl Crawford. CC grounds out, and the Dodgers are only able to get one run on four hits.

In the bottom of the fifth, Aybar almost takes off Capuano’s head with a line drive right at him. That’s the third ball hit at Cappy. The single is soon enough erased as A.J. Ellis mows down Aybar trying to steal with Trout at bat. A.J. is really throwing out a lot of base runners this season, and he is leading the Majors with 15 caught stealing. Trout grounds out, and Cappy tags him out on a foot race toward first! Pujols draws a walk, and Mark Trumbo then proceeds to hit a towering two-run homerun. The Angels take a 3-1 lead.

Chris Capuano had another frustrating start and picked up the loss. Photo: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Adrian Gonzalez singles with one out in the sixth, but Punto and Kemp both strike out each for their second time of the night.

Chris Iannetta doubles off the left field wall with two outs in the bottom of the sixth. Schumaker then botches a routine grounder by waiting back on it, and Shuck reaches safely on the error. Iannetta advances to third, and that’s going to be all for Capuano. The Dodgers will bring in Javy Guerra from the bullpen to pitch to Aybar. Aybar hits a deep fly ball to right, but Ethier is there at the wall to make the catch and end the inning.

Chris Capuano pitched 5 2/3 innings while allowing 3 runs on 6 hits with 2 strikeouts and 4 walks on 86 pitches.

Kevin Jepsen comes out of the Angels bullpen to relieve Jered Weaver who was most likely on a pitch count. Weaver pitched 6 innings and allowed 1 run on 5 hits with 7 strikeouts and no walks on 86 pitches. Jepsen makes quick work of the Dodgers in the top of the seventh.

Trout doubles to lead-off the bottom of the seventh against Guerra. That’s the Angels third doubles of the night. Pujols singles. Trout scores on a sacrifice fly by Trumbo, and the Angels add another run. 4-1. Don Mattingly has seen enough of Guerra, and he’ll bring in the lefty J.P. Howell. After the break we see that Matt Kemp is coming out of the game with a trainer and Schumaker will move into center field. Juan Uribe will come in at third, Cruz moves to short, and Punto will play second. Hamilton grounds into a force out, and Kendrick flies out to Ethier to end the frame.

Garrett Richards retires the Dodgers in order in the top of the eighth.

Mike Trout and the Angels will try to split the series with a win Thursday. Photo: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Howell starts the bottom of the eighth for the Dodgers, and he pitches a nice 1-2-3 inning.

We head to the ninth, and the Dodgers who are seemingly lost right now will try to wage a comeback against closer Ernesto Frieri. Adrian Gonzalez continues to tear up May as he goes deep against Frieri for a solo shot! It’s now 4-2. Ethier strikes out. Uribe flies out. Then Scott Van Slyke crushes a solo homerun to left, the second homerun of the inning, and the Dodgers pull within one run! Schumaker flies out, and the Dodgers ninth inning homerun rally is too little too late.

The Dodgers fall to 22-29 on the season, but they will still have an opportunity to take the series on Thursday. The Freeway Series finale will be at 7:05 p.m. tomorrow in Anaheim. Ted Lilly will face Jason Vargas.