Dodgers Host Halos
The Los Angeles Angels haven’t scored so far in this visit to Dodger Stadium. They were so bad in the middle game of this Freeway Series that the Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t even need a hit to beat them.
The Angels look to salvage a split of the season series – and perhaps some pride – as they try to get their bats untracked Sunday when their series against the Dodgers concludes.
Oddsmakers from Sportsbook.com have made LA Angels -119 money line favorites (MLB Odds) for tonight’s game, the over/under has been set at 7 total runs (Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 97% of bets for this game have been placed on LA Angels -119 (View MLB Bet Percentages).
The Angels (48-33) had won six straight road series before making the trip to face the Dodgers (38-42), who have outscored them 7-0 in the first two games of this set for a 3-2 lead in the season series.
This series, though, will forever be remembered for the Dodgers’ 1-0 win on Saturday. They became the fifth team in modern major league history to win a game without recording a hit in as Angels starter Jered Weaver pitched six innings and Jose Arredondo worked the final two.
"I’m sure you guys are going to eat this up a lot more than I am," Weaver said. "I don’t call it a no-hitter for me. I only went six innings."
Since the Dodgers didn’t have to bat in the ninth, the game doesn’t qualify as a no-hitter, but manager Joe Torre doesn’t remember being involved in a more unusual one.
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"I’d really have to reach down, and I don’t really remember too much, but that’s about as bizarre as you can get," he said.
The Angels contributed to their dubious place in history by striking out 10 times and going 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position. They have struck out 24 times in this series.
The Dodgers’ only previous three-game home sweep of the Angels came May 19-21, 2006. The Angels, meanwhile, are trying to avoid losing four straight for the first time since May 7-11.
Angels slugger Vladimir Guerrero did not strike out Saturday, but went 0-for-3 as his 16-game hitting streak ended.
If the Angels are to break out Sunday, they’ll have to do it against a pitcher they have never beaten at Dodger Stadium. Since joining the Dodgers in 2005, Derek Lowe (5-7, 4.05 ERA) has posted a 1.29 ERA and struck out 25 in winning all three home starts against the Angels.
He did lose to them in Anaheim on May 18 by yielding season highs of seven runs and 10 hits over five innings in a 10-2 loss.
That was one of three interleague starts in 2008 for Lowe – all losses in which he has a 6.52 ERA. One of those defeats came Tuesday, 6-1 to the Chicago White Sox as Lowe gave up five runs over 7 1-3 innings.
The right-hander, though, has bounced back from an 0-4 May to go 3-2 with a 3.12 ERA in five starts in June.
Angels ace John Lackey (5-1, 1.65 ERA) will try to win his fifth straight start.
Although he missed almost a month and a half due to a right triceps strain, Lackey has been nothing short of spectacular since returning. He has a 1.50 ERA with 25 strikeouts and five walks in winning his last four starts.
The right-hander has been similarly impressive in his career in the Freeway Series, going 4-1 with a 1.45 ERA in six starts. All of those wins, however, have come in Anaheim – he is 0-1 with a 4.35 ERA in his two starts at Chavez Ravine.
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