Dodgers beat Angels on walk-off error

LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers took advantage of a throwing error by third baseman David Freese, allowing Juan Uribe to score the winning run for a 5-4 walk-off win over the Angels on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium.

With one out in the ninth inning, Juan Uribe singled against Kevin Jepsen, and A.J. Ellis followed with a single up the middle to put runners at the corners. The Angels used a five-man infield against Andre Ethier, who hit a little dribbler to third base. Freese likely didn't have time to turn a double play so he threw home, but the throw tailed in toward the runner Uribe, who prevented catcher Chris Iannetta from catching the ball. Uribe then touched home plate for the winning run.

It was the Dodgers' third walk-off win of the homestand, which they finished at 5-3.

Brian Wilson, he of the five straight strikeouts and five consecutive scoreless appearances coming into Tuesday's game, was staked to a 4-3 lead and asked to get through the heart of the Angels order in the eighth inning. Wilson got Mike Trout to fly out to right field, but then Albert Pujols crushed a ball into the back of the Dodgers bullpen in left field to tie the game.

It was the fourth home run of the season allowed by Wilson and the first since May 28.

The home run for Pujols was his 21st of the season and 513th of his great career, breaking a tie with Eddie Mathews and Ernie Banks into sole possession of 21st place on the all-time home run list.

Matt Kemp helped break a tie in the sixth inning, hustling down the line on a ground ball to third to reach on a throwing error. He then stole second and advanced to third on a bad throw from Iannetta. A sacrifice fly by Scott Van Slyke to center field gave the Dodgers a lead they held until Pujols vs. Wilson in the eighth.

Entering Tuesday, Clayton Kershaw had allowed multiple runs in a game just twice in his last 11 starts. So imagine the shock to the system it was in the top of the second, when the Angels followed a Howie Kendrick single with doubles by Freese and Iannetta, the latter driving him two runs for a quick 2-0 Angels lead.

The Dodgers answered right back with their first runs of the series in the second inning. Kemp singled and Van Slyke walked to open the frame, then Uribe hit a ball well up the pavilion in left field to give the Dodgers a 3-2 advantage.

But the Angels came right back in the third with consecutive doubles by Trout and Pujols to tie the game at 3-3. Were it not for an alert throw home by Uribe to nab Pujols at the plate - the second straight night he was thrown out at home by a Dodgers infielder - the Angels might have grabbed the lead.

The four doubles allowed by Kershaw matched a career high, done six other times including May 28 against Cincinnati this season.

But after those doubles by Trout and Pujols, Kershaw settled down. He retired 14 of the final 16 batters he faced, including six by strikeout. He ended up with seven strikeouts in his seven innings, with three runs allowed on seven hits and two walks.

Kenley Jansen struck out all three batters he faced in the ninth inning, on just 11 pitches, for the win.

Up next

The Dodgers and Angels shift their home-and-home series to Anaheim, which is usually bad news for the Dodgers, losers of 19 of their last 26 games at Angel Stadium. Dan Haren looks to snap his five-start losing streak in the opener of a nine-game road trip for the Dodgers, with Matt Shoemaker starting for the Halos.

Tuesday particulars

Home runs: Juan Uribe (6), Albert Pujols (21)

WP - Kenley Jansen (2-3): 1 IP, 3 strikeouts

LP - Kevin Jepsen (0-1): ⅔ IP, 2 hits, 1 unearned run, 1 strikeout