Dodgers blank Angels 6‑0 behind Pages, Hernandez homers

ANAHEIM, Calif. (Interstat) -- Andy Pages hit a three-run homer, Max Muncy and Teoscar Hernandez added solo and two-run shots, respectively, and the Los Angeles Dodgers used a dominant bullpen performance to blank the Los Angeles Angels 6-0 on Friday night at Angel Stadium.

The victory gave the Dodgers their first three-game winning streak in May, improving their record to 27-18. The Angels, who lost their fourth straight, fell to 16-29.

Right-hander Edgardo Henriquez earned the win with a scoreless inning of relief, striking out two. He improved to 2-0. Angels starter Jack Kochanowicz took the loss, allowing four runs on three hits over 3 2/3 innings, falling to 2-3.

The Dodgers were forced into a bullpen game after scratching left-hander Blake Snell and placing him on the injured list with loose bodies in his elbow a few hours before first pitch. Will Klein opened with two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out two. Eight relievers combined to hold the Angels to two hits, both singles.

Los Angeles broke the game open in the fourth inning. Will Smith singled and Kyle Tucker walked to set the stage for Pages, who drove a 1-0 pitch from Kochanowicz over the center-field wall for his 10th homer, scoring Smith and Tucker. Muncy followed with his 12th homer, a solo shot to right, giving the Dodgers a 4-0 lead.

The Dodgers added two more in the sixth. Muncy led off with a single, and Hernandez crushed a 2-1 pitch to right-center for his fifth homer, extending the lead to 6-0.

Angels hitters managed only two singles: Josh Lowe’s sharp ground ball in the second inning and Zach Neto’s line drive in the seventh. Mike Trout walked twice but the Angels could not capitalize, stranding five runners.

Dodgers pitchers combined for 17 strikes, 41 balls and 17 balls in play. Angels pitchers combined for 10 strikes, 53 balls and 10 balls in play.

The game lasted 2 hours, 30 minutes before an announced crowd of 44,887.

Key contributors for the Dodgers included Pages (1-for-4, HR, three RBIs), Hernandez (2-for-4, HR, two RBIs) and Muncy (2-for-3, HR, RBI). Will Klein, Edgardo Henriquez, Charlie Barnes, Alex Vesia and Wyatt Mills each threw a scoreless inning or more. Vesia struck out three in one inning. Kirby Yates struck out two in a scoreless inning for the Angels. Brent Suter also tossed a scoreless inning.

The Dodgers have now won three straight after dropping four of their previous five. The Angels have lost 10 of their last 13.

The two teams meet again Saturday in the second game of the Freeway Series. The Dodgers then travel to San Diego for a three-game set starting Monday, while the Angels host the Athletics for a four-game series beginning Monday.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Los Angeles Dodgers 4, Los Angeles Angels 3. Interstat’s ELO system gave the Dodgers a 70.70 percent probability to win. Los Angeles had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus-1.5. The total score of 6 went over the over/under line of 8.5.