Los Angeles @ Los Angeles preview
Angel Stadium
Last Meeting ( Jun 22, 2012 ) LA Dodgers 5, LA Angels 8
The Los Angeles Angels try for their fourth straight victory Saturday when they host the Dodgers in the middle game of the latest installment of the Freeway Series. The Angels rallied from an early five-run deficit in Friday's series opener, scoring three times in both the second and fourth innings while adding two in the sixth for an 8-5 triumph. The club, which improved to 5-2 on hits nine-game homestand, has won three of four against the Dodgers this season and is 53-37 in the all-time series.
After scoring a total of two runs while being swept of a three-game series by Oakland, the Dodgers saw their losing streak reach four contests as Chad Billingsley was unable to hold on to a 5-0 lead. A pair of former Angels drove in four of the Dodgers' five runs as Bobby Abreu, who was released by the Angels in late April, hit a three-run homer and Juan Rivera added an RBI single. The Dodgers have lost each of the last five series between the clubs.
TV: 7:15 p.m. ET, FOX
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Chris Capuano (8-2, 2.71 ERA) vs. Angels RH Ervin Santana (4-7, 5.16)
Capuano has won three of his last four decisions but is winless in his last two starts despite allowing a total of three runs in 13 innings. The veteran southpaw yielded one run and struck out a season-high 12 over eight frames against the Chicago White Sox on Sunday but settled for a no-decision. Capuano is 0-1 in two career outings against the Angels, including a no-decision on June 11 in which he gave up two runs in five innings.
Santana is coming off a brilliant performance against Arizona on Saturday as he struck out five and walked one in a one-hitter. It was a vast contrast to his previous two outings, which saw him surrender seven runs each time. Santana, who is 2-4 at home this season, owns a 4-3 record with a 3.45 ERA in seven career starts against the Dodgers.
WALK-OFFS
1. Friday's series opener drew a crowd of 44,548, the largest for a regular-season game in the history of Angel Stadium.
2. Santana has won four of his last five decisions after losing his first six this year.
3. Angels LHP Hisanori Takahashi left Friday's contest with a stiff right hip. Takahashi tossed a scoreless sixth inning before apparently injuring himself while warming up for the seventh.