Home runs by Erick Aybar and Howie Kendrick led the Angels over the Dodgers 8-3 on Friday night, in the opener of a three-game series at Dodger Stadium. Dan Haren allowed three runs in six innings to pick up his seventh win of the season for the Angels. Rookie Rubby De La Rosa allowed five runs in six innings, picking up his second straight loss.
Matt Kemp opened the scoring with a booming home run to center field in the second inning, giving the Dodgers a 2-0 lead. Kemp singled in the third inning, which gave him eight straight plate appearances reaching base, a streak that ended later in the game. Andre Ethier added three hits, including a double, on the night.
The Angels made several outs on the bases -- two runners caught stealing, two more picked off, one runner thrown out at third base and another thrown out at the plate -- but just kept attacking, scoring runs in five different innings on the night. Aybar had three hits, and Maicer Izturis added two hits, including a double.
Marcus Thames doubled in the second inning for the Dodgers, but strained his left calf on the play and immediately left the game. He is listed as day-to-day. Hiroki Kuroda and Tyler Chatwood face off in Saturday's second game of the series, on Fox.
For more news and information on the Freeway Series, be sure to read the SB Nation blogs True Blue LA and Halos Heaven.