Pujols Gets Big RBI As Angels Avoid Sweep, Beat Dodgers, 3-2

ANAHEIM (AP) — Albert Pujols drove in Kole Calhoun with the tiebreaking run in the eighth inning, and the Angels snapped their eight-game skid in the Freeway Series with a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday night.

Calhoun doubled into the right-field corner leading off the eighth against Luis Avilan (2-5). Pujols then bounced a one-out single through the middle against Pedro Baez.

Garrett Richards matched his career high with 11 strikeouts during 7 2-3 innings of four-hit ball as the Angels beat their local rivals for the first time since last year, avoiding a six-game season sweep.

Chase Utley tied it with a two-out RBI double on Richards' 109th and final pitch, but the Dodgers' five-game winning streak was snapped.

Scott Schebler homered for the Dodgers on Richards' first pitch, but the NL West leaders lost for just the third time in 16 games. The Giants' loss kept the Dodgers 8 1-2 games up in the division race.

The Angels hadn't even led a game against the Dodgers this season until Taylor Featherston tripled and scored on Calhoun's sacrifice fly in the third inning. David Freese had an early RBI double for the Angels, who pulled within 3 1-2 games of Texas for the second AL wild-card spot with the Rangers' loss, although Minnesota is between them.

When Utley connected, Richards was denied his 14th victory despite a stellar performance. Jose Alvarez (4-3) struck out Adrian Gonzalez to end the eighth, and Huston Street pitched the ninth for his 33rd save.

Joe Wieland yielded four hits over four innings in his first big league appearance since May 6 for the Dodgers. After two weeks of inactivity, he was the fill-in starter for Mat Latos, a late scratch with a stiff neck.

Schebler's homer followed Justin Ruggiano's leadoff homer in the Dodgers' 6-4 win on Tuesday night. The Dodgers hadn't led off consecutive games with homers since July 12-13, 1951, when Carl Furillo did it both games for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Until Featherston scored, the Angels hadn't led the Dodgers at any point in any game this year, or in seven consecutive meetings dating to last season — and they hadn't held on to a lead for a full inning in any of their eight straight losses to the Dodgers.

Utley tied it with a two-out, two-strike drive to left, scoring Joc Pederson.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Dodgers: Latos was scratched about three hours before game time. His one-run performance against the Angels last month has been his only outstanding start since joining the Dodgers in a trade.

Angels: Matt Shoemaker played catch Wednesday in the next step in his rehabilitation of a strained right forearm. He still doesn't know when he'll return to the rotation.

UP NEXT

Dodgers: After a day off, Alex Wood (10-9, 3.51 ERA) is likely to start at Arizona on Friday, but manager Don Mattingly hasn't confirmed his reconfigured rotation in the wake of Latos' scratch.

Angels: After a day off, Jered Weaver (6-10, 4.78 ERA) takes the mound for their series opener against AL West-leading Houston.

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