Los Angeles Angels vs Los Angeles Dodgers Box Score on Jun 27, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Jun 28, 2017

LOS ANGELES -- Kenta Maeda pitched seven shutout innings, and Cody Bellinger and Joc Pederson had clutch hits in a four-run sixth as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Los Angeles Angels 4-0 in the second game of a four-game interleague series.

Maeda (6-3), making his second spot start since losing his slot in the rotation, had his best outing of the season, allowing just four hits and no walks while striking out six. Only two of the hits were out of the infield, and he didn't allow a runner past second.

The decisive rally was a concerto of smart and daring decisions and came after the Dodgers were held to one fluke hit in the first five innings by Angels starter Jesse Chavez (5-8).

Chase Utley led the sixth off with a single that he turned into a double by hustling to beat the throw to second by left fielder Ben Revere.

A walk and fly ball put runners on the corners for Cody Bellinger against left-handed reliever Jose Alvarez. Against a modest shift that had shortstop Andrelton Simmons shading second base, Bellinger went with an outside pitch to the spot vacated by Simmons for a single to score Utley.

Justin Turner, who did not start, grabbed a bat, and it appeared he was going to pinch-hit for left-handed-hitting Pederson against Alvarez. However, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts sent Pederson up to hit despite his weak statistics against left-handers -- a .177 career average. The counterintuitive move worked.

Pederson slugged an 0-1 Alvarez pitch just over the center field fence for his seventh home run of the season and first of the year against a left-hander. Pederson was 5-for-30 against left-handers this season, with just one RBI and 11 strikeouts. The three-run homer made it 4-0.

Pederson hit .125 against left-handers with one home run and 10 RBIs last season.

Brandon Morrow allowed a hit in two innings of relief for Maeda.

Chavez wound up charged with two runs on two hits in 5 1/3 innings.

The Dodgers have won 17 of their last 19. The loss snapped the Angels' modest three-game winning streak. The series continues with games in Anaheim on Wednesday and Thursday.

NOTES: Angels CF Cameron Maybin was out of the lineup, getting a day off. DH Albert Pujols, who played first base Monday in the interleague game, also did not play. ... The Dodgers had four starters out of the lineup: SS Corey Seager (hamstring), RF Yasiel Puig (hamstring), 3B Justin Turner (rest) and C Yasmani Grandal (shoulder soreness). ... Puig had his one-game suspension rescinded by Major League Baseball. He will make a donation to a charity in lieu of missing a game.