The Angels and Dodgers get together for the Freeway Series beginning Friday night at Dodger Stadium, the 15th season of interleague play. Looking back at the five most memorable matchups between these two teams, the fourth most memorable game provided a battle of brotherly love. Brothers Jered Weaver and Jeff Weaver matched up for the first time on a major league mound on June 20, 2009.
Jeff Weaver was the older brother, but his best days were behind him. He pitched all year in the minors in 2008, and emerged as a right-handed reliever and spot starter for the Dodgers in 2009. Jered Weaver was the young stud, on his way to becoming one of the best pitchers in the league, if he wasn't there already. On paper, this was a mismatch, but things don't always work out on the field like they do on paper.
The two teams were tied 2-2 in the fifth inning, but the Dodgers rallied for three runs off Weaver the younger in that frame, then added another tally in the sixth. A Gary Matthews Jr. home run off closer Jonathan Broxton made the final margin closer, but the Dodgers still won 6-4. Jeff picked up the win, besting his younger brother one final time, keeping the familial order in place.
For more news and information on the Freeway Series, be sure to read the SB Nation blogs True Blue LA and Halos Heaven.