Kole Calhoun had a homer and two doubles while driving in two runs in his second straight big game at Dodger Stadium, and the Los Angeles Angels swept the Freeway Series for the first time in franchise history with a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday night.
Mike Trout drove in a run and scored another in the fourth straight victory overall for the Angels, who took two from Dodgers in Anaheim last month and two more in Chavez Ravine to earn their first sweep of this local rivalry series since interleague play began in 1997.
The Angels (54-49) also moved five games above .500 for the first time all season. They’ve won nine of 12 overall in a midseason push toward the playoff race since the death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs.
Justin Turner homered for the Dodgers, who couldn’t overcome the Angels’ sturdy defense and resilient pitching to back Calhoun’s brilliance. Cody Bellinger was ejected by home plate umpire Dan Iassogna after arguing two called strikes in the eighth inning.
One day after Calhoun threw out Bellinger at the plate to end the Angels’ 5-4 win, the Angels slugger kept up his torrid streak at the plate and his career-long excellence at Dodger Stadium, where he is a career .375 hitter with six homers.
Calhoun got extra-base hits in his final three at-bats Tuesday, and he got two more in his first two plate appearances Wednesday. His double to right drove in Trout from first base in the first inning, and he homered into the right field bleachers in the fourth. Calhoun added yet another double in the ninth.
Turner answered moments later with his 14th homer.
Trout put the Angels up 3-1 with a sacrifice fly in the sixth, but Corey Seager singled home Bellinger moments later.
The Angels’ bullpen and defense took it from there, getting double plays to end the seventh and eighth innings. Hansel Robles pitched a perfect ninth for his 16th save, enduring much less drama than in the series opener.
Ross Stripling (4-4) pitched five innings of three-hit ball for the Dodgers, giving up two runs before leaving with a stiff neck.
Jaime Barria (4-3) yielded three hits and two walks over five innings for the Angels, bouncing back impressively from a miserable start against Seattle last week.
Dodgers second baseman Enrique Hernandez left the game with left hand soreness shortly after he appeared to get hurt while swinging in the fourth inning. Hernandez popped out shortly after the problematic swing, and Matt Beaty replaced him in the fifth.
Bellinger, the NL wins above replacement leader, was tossed by Iassogna after going 0 for 3 with a walk and a run.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Dodgers: Reliever Dylan Floro threw a simulated game. He is on the injured list with a sore neck, but hopes to return Monday.
UP NEXT
Dodgers: After a travel day, All-Star Game starter Hyun-Jin Ryu (11-2, 1.76 ERA) takes the mound in Washington on Friday.
Angels: Rookie Jose Suarez (2-1, 5.51 ERA) is expected to return from Triple-A Salt Lake to take the ball at Angel Stadium in a four-game series opener against woeful Baltimore.
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