Interleague Preview from The Sports Network
Wednesday, June 13th
(All times Eastern)
LA Angels of Anaheim (33-30) at Los Angeles Dodgers (40-23), 10:10 p.m.
Probable Starting Pitchers: LA Angels - C.J. Wilson (7-4, 2.39)
Los Angeles - Nathan Eovaldi (0-2, 1.93)
(Sports Network) - The Los Angeles Dodgers sport the majors' best record
overall and at home, and will shoot for a third consecutive series win this
evening versus the LA Angels of Anaheim at Chavez Ravine.
The Dodgers lost the opener of this set on Monday, then posted a 5-2 win last
night to even the three-game set. Trailing 2-1 heading into the bottom of the
eighth inning, the Dodgers pushed four runs across to take the lead for good.
Andre Ethier, whose new contract extension became official on Tuesday, had an
RBI single to even the score and former Angel Juan Rivera followed with a
three-run homer to stake L.A. to a three-run advantage.
Dodgers reliever Kenley Jansen then struck out a pair of batters during a
scoreless ninth inning for his 10th save, but the real story was Rivera.
"I went up there to be aggressive," said Rivera, who had four RBI. "He threw
me a sinker before and I was looking for it. I tried to hit it hard and was
happy because I knew I hit it good."
Jamey Wright tossed a scoreless eighth to pick up the win, while starter Aaron
Harang gave up two unearned runs in seven innings. The NL West-leading
Dodgers, who have won eight of 11 games, ended a five-game home losing streak
and improved to 22-10 as the host. They are 4 1/2 games ahead of San Francisco
in the division and will begin a three-game series versus the Chicago White
Sox on Friday.
Tonight, the Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings will throw out the
ceremonial first pitch in honor of the franchise's first title. The Kings just
beat the New Jersey Devils in six games and will have their picture taken with
both the Dodgers and Angels.
"I understand how hard it is to win in any sport and obviously the Stanley Cup
is a huge deal, and I'm very happy for the city and the Kings," Dodgers
utility man Jerry Hairston said on the team's website. "I know it's been a
long time coming. It was an unbelievable run for them."
Nathan Eovaldi gets the start for the Dodgers tonight and is 0-2 with a 1.93
earned run average in three starts. The right-hander did not record a decision
in Friday's 1-0 loss at Seattle, when the Dodgers were no-hit by six different
Mariners pitchers. Eovaldi was sharp with six scoreless innings, striking out
six batters and walking two.
Eovaldi lost his only home start on May 29 versus Milwaukee and has never
faced the Angels.
The Angels had a 10-game road winning streak come to an end last night and
were one victory away of matching a franchise-best 11-game winning streak as
the guest set back in 1988.
Jerome Williams didn't have his best stuff on Tuesday and was dealt the loss
for giving up five runs and six hits in 7 2/3 innings of work. He managed to
fan seven batters and walked three.
Albert Pujols had two hits for the Halos, who scored their runs on fielding
errors by the Dodgers. Mike Trout was 0-for-4 and entered the game with hits
in 14 of his last 15 games, batting .444 with two homers, 14 RBI and 18 runs
scored in that time. Mark Trumbo was 1-for-3 and was hitting .350 with eight
homers and 20 RBI in the past 15 contests.
"We worked hard but didn't get it done. Give those guys credit, we weren't
able to get situations to fall in our favor," Angels manager Mike Scioscia
said.
Anaheim had won four in a row before last night's loss and will close out a
six-game road trip tonight, The Angels, who are still 15-5 in their last 20
games, will return to the Big A this weekend for a nine-game homestand versus
the Diamondbacks, Giants and Dodgers.
The Angels, currently 3 1/3 games behind Texas for the AL West lead, hope
left-handed ace C.J. Wilson can pitch them back into the win column tonight.
Wilson is 3-0 with a sparkling 0.64 earned run average in his last four starts
and tossed eight innings of one-run ball the last time out in a 7-2 win at
Colorado on Friday. He struck out nine batters and walked only one, improving
to 7-4 in 13 starts and lowering his ERA to 2.39.
Wilson is 5-2 in eight road starts this season and will make his first career
start against the Dodgers. He faced them before in relief.
The Angels are 10-4 against the Dodgers since the start of the 2010 campaign
and own an 11-5 mark in the past 16 at Chavez Ravine.
06/13 10:50:50 ET

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