Photo Credit: Los Angeles Dodgers on Instagram (@dodgers)
Post-Game Briefing
Following great performances from Clayton Kershaw and Cody Bellinger on Friday night in the 2020 Freeway Series opener, the Dodgers and Angels battled back and forth in Saturday’s extra-innings bout. The Dodgers offense racked up six runs on eleven hits and five walks; spearheaded by multi-hit games from Mookie Betts, A.J. Pollock, and Cody Bellinger.
Starter Walker Buehler worked his way through four and two-thirds innings while allowing four earned runs. Buehler earned a no-decision following Mookie Betts’ solo home run in the seventh inning. The bullpen was lights out (again) as Caleb Ferguson, Brusdar Graterol, Jake McGee, and Kenley Jansen each hung zeros against the Angels, surrendering just two hits as a group. McGee earned the win for the Dodgers while Jansen picked up the save in extras.
Scoring Plays
- BOT 1ST: Trout two-run home run (2-0 LAA)
- TOP 2ND: Betts RBI single (2-2)
- TOP 3RD: Muncy RBI single (4-2 LAD)
- BOT 3RD: Rendon RBI ground-rule double (4-3 LAD)
- BOT 5TH: La Stella RBI single (4-4)
- BOT 5TH: Trout RBI groundout (5-4 LAA)
- TOP 7TH: Betts solo home run (5-5)
- TOP 10TH: Muncy sacrifice fly (6-5 LAD)
Play of the Game
After nine innings ending in a 5-5 stalemate, the Dodgers and Angels entered extra innings using MLB’s new rule in which a runner is placed on second base to begin the inning. With no outs, Chris Taylor, the Dodgers’ placed-runner, broke towards third and swiped the bag – setting up a sacrifice fly situation. Max Muncy came through driving the ball to the warning track; plenty deep to cash in Taylor from third. The game-changing impact of this play earns our Dodgers-LowDown Play of the Game honor.
.@maxmuncy9 knocking in the go-ahead run! 💪 pic.twitter.com/AXwpI9O3af
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) August 16, 2020
Player of the Game
With a 6-5 lead entering the bottom of the tenth inning, the Dodgers called upon All-Star closer Kenley Jansen to slam the door on the Angels and record the save. Jansen completed a scoreless inning, striking out Angels outfielder and all-time great Mike Trout, on the way to sealing the Dodgers’ 15th victory of 2020. The save Jansen earned went down as the 307th of his career and earned him tonight’s Dodgers-LowDown Player of the Game honors.
Window shopping. pic.twitter.com/MpaA3RLxk6
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 16, 2020
Up Next
On Sunday, the Dodgers will wrap up this three-game installment of the Freeway Series with an afternoon match-up versus Julio Teheran and the Angels. The Dodgers are set to give the starting duties to the rookie phenom, Dustin May. First pitch for Sunday’s series finale is scheduled for 1:10 PM PDT.
Arrick Joel has covered the Dodgers since 2017. Follow him on Twitter at @ArrickJoel and follow @DodgersLowDown for more.