Kole Calhoun strikes again to snap Dodgers win streak

ANAHEIM -- Kole Calhoun continued to torment the Dodgers, hitting an eighth-inning double then scoring the winning run as the Angels salvaged a game of the Freeway Series with a 3-2 win over the Dodgers on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium in Anaheim.

The loss snapped the Dodgers' eight-game winning streak against the Angels, dating back to 2014, and it snapped the Dodgers' five-game winning streak overall this season.

Calhoun led off the bottom of the eighth with a double into the right field corner against reliever Luis Avilan, then when Andre Ethier booted the ball Calhoun advanced to third with nobody out, with the heart of the order due up. Calhoun was 10-for-21 (.476) with three home runs, two doubles and two walks against the Dodgers this season.

Pedro Baez entered in relief and struck out Mike Trout, but then allowed singles to Albert Pujols and Daniel Murphy, the former driving home the winning run.

Richards great again

Garrett Richards was magnificent for the Angels on Wednesday, tying his career high with 11 strikeouts and pitching into the eighth inning. He allowed a home run to start the game, then nothing much else until a pair of doubles in the eighth inning tied the score, the latter a clutch two-out, two-strike slice into the left field corner by Chase Utley.

Richards pitched a shutout against the Dodgers on Aug. 4, 2014, his last start against them, striking out nine. That was the last time the Dodgers lost to the Angels before Wednesday.

On Wednesday he got a no-decision even though he was the most dominant pitcher in the game. Jose Alvarez threw all of four pitches to get one out in the eighth inning, and got the win.

Wieland on the spot

The Halos scored single runs in the second and third innings, the former on an RBI double by David Freese and the latter a triple by Taylor Featherston, who scored on a sacrifice fly, by Calhoun, naturally.

That was all Joe Wieland would allow in his four innings of work, which was about as reasonably far as he could have been expected to last in his spot start, especially since he last pitched on Aug. 26.

Wieland allowed two runs on four hits in his four innings, with a walk and two strikeouts.

Leading off right

Scott Schebler got the start in left field and batted first on Wednesday, and paid immediate dividends with a first-pitch home run to center field in the first inning against Garrett Richards. It was the second home run of the season for Schebler, and coupled with Justin Ruggiano on Tuesday gave the Dodgers a home run to lead off two straight games.

It was the first time the Dodgers got a leadoff home run in back-to-back games since Carl Furillo did it against the Cubs on July 12-13, 1951.

Good news Barnes

Austin Barnes got the call behind the plate on Wednesday night, his sixth start at catcher for the Dodgers this season. He continues to impress in his brief stints in the majors, and after his walk in the sixth inning he stole his first major league base. Barnes, who stole 12 bases in 14 attempts for Triple-A Oklahoma City this season, is the 14th different Dodger to steal a base in 2015.

Just found the 2006 Dodgers share the franchise record for most players with a steal: 21. Something else we can thank Marlon Anderson for.

— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) September 10, 2015

The Dodgers have stolen 20 bases in 12 games since Aug. 29, the most in baseball during that span, and have only been caught one time.

Up next

The Dodgers are off on Thursday, and open a three-game weekend series against the Diamondbacks on Friday night. Alex Wood gets the call in the series opener, facing off against southpaw Robbie Ray for Arizona.

Wednesday particulars

Home run: Scott Schebler (2)

WP - Jose Alvarez (4-3): ⅓ IP, 1 strikeout

LP - Luis Avilan (2-5): 0 IP, 1 hit, 1 run

Sv - Huston Street (33): 3 up, 3 down