Tyler Chatwood pitched seven strong innings, leading the Angels to a 6-1 win over the Dodgers in the second game of a three-game series this weekend at Dodger Stadium. Vernon Wells hit a three-run home run in the eighth inning to blow the game wide open, and Mark Trumbo homered earlier for the Angels, who have won six straight games at Dodger Stadium. The Angels have won all four interleague series they have played, and are 8-3 against the National League this season.
Hiroki Kuroda pitched five innings for the Dodgers, allowing just two runs, and was hung with the loss, his sixth straight losing decision. He was removed from the game for a pinch hitter after just 74 pitches, because the bases were loaded and the Dodgers were down 2-1, and have had to scrap and claw their way for any offense they can get, wherever they can find it. "We had to take a chance to break something open there," manager Don Mattingly said of his decision to remove his starter. "Nothing really that he did wrong. We were behind and had a chance to score big and took a shot."
The home run for Wells was his fourth of the road trip for the Angels, who moved back to .500 (39-39) with today's win. Chatwood allowed just one run in his seven innings, striking out five batters. Four of those punchouts were looking, including Matt Kemp in the fifth, who was ejected by home plate umpire Chris Conroy for arguing. The Angels are 22-20 all-time at Dodger Stadium, and 48-34 against the Dodgers, dating back to 1997.
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