True Blue LA - March 25: Dodgers 4, Angels 2Where The Dodger Dogs Are Always Grilledhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49563/truebluela_fav.png2018-03-25T21:18:28-07:00http://www.truebluela.com/rss/stream/169261172018-03-25T21:18:28-07:002018-03-25T21:18:28-07:00Puig homers again as Dodgers win in Anaheim
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ytZ8kwu4mfuRK_0vILCKJxrW7nI=/0x156:919x769/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59157233/yasiel_puig_freeway_series_dodgers_2018.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Yasiel Puig homered for his third straight spring game on Sunday. | Photo credit: <a href="https://twitter.com/Dodgers/status/978111186267881473">LA Dodgers</a></figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="LyYp7s">Home runs by Chris Taylor and <span>Yasiel Puig</span> in the seventh inning provided the winning margin for the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a>, who captured the opening salvo of the Freeway Series with a 4-2 win over the <a href="https://www.halosheaven.com/">Angels</a> on Sunday night at Angel Stadium in Anaheim.</p>
<p id="vllmeH">Taylor and Puig each homered off 25-year-old minor league right-hander Osmer Morales. Taylor on the night was 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored.</p>
<p id="FbY2gx">Puig’s ball to right center was the first to take advantage of the new, lower right field wall, landing above the eight-foot mark of the yellow line but well below the previous 18-foot dimensions. There was some confusion initially about whether the ball was a home run, as Puig even slid into second base.</p>
<div id="CJAisV">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="nl" dir="ltr"> PUIG <a href="https://t.co/Td1zvbyAAt">pic.twitter.com/Td1zvbyAAt</a></p>— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsNetLA/status/978114711127433217?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2018</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="vwJioY">Puig has homered in three consecutive games and in his last four games is a very convenient 7-for-11 (.636) with two doubles to go with those home runs. He hit third on Sunday for a second straight game as well. The third spot in the batting order is up for grabs with <span>Justin Turner</span> out, and on days Cody Bellinger doesn’t move up from cleanup that third spot could see quite a bit of Puig or <span>Matt Kemp</span>.</p>
<p id="5VJdNy">Just like <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2018/3/22/17154056/matt-kemp-batting-3rd-dodgers-sure-its-spring-training-but">with Kemp earlier in the week</a>, Roberts understandably didn’t want to commit to a single lineup, but noted that Puig (like Kemp) is an option. Per <a href="https://www.ocregister.com/2018/03/25/yasiel-puig-might-be-the-dodgers-man-in-the-middle-even-against-left-handers/">J.P. Hoornstra of the LA Daily News</a>:</p>
<blockquote><p id="xrcOLH"><em>“Can I say right now that he’s going to hit third every day? Absolutely not,” Roberts said. “But I want to give him a little bit of a runway to show that he deserves that opportunity.”</em></p></blockquote>
<p id="qNByOL">Kenta Maeda was effective in his five innings, throwing 67 pitches while striking out five and walking none. He allowed a pair of runs, both on solo home runs.</p>
<h3 id="EiogJ7">The unexpected</h3>
<p id="LCi28q"><span>Albert Pujols</span> was caught stealing in what was an aborted attempt on a strikeout in the second inning, nailed 2-6-3 on the putout. That in and of itself wasn’t too surprising given the myriad of foot problems and injuries the future Hall of Famer has dealt with in recent years. But what <em>was</em> surprising was finding out that in the last two seasons combined Pujols stole seven bases without getting caught.</p>
<p id="0uF4CF">The caught stealing was nice timing for Maeda, who allowed a home run to his next batter faced when Zack Cozart lined a ball down the left field line and over the fence for the game’s first run.</p>
<h3 id="HDJqdN">The expected</h3>
<p id="0Jywwj">The Angels’ second run came when <span>Mike Trout</span> went down and got a curveball from Maeda, depositing it over the center field wall for the Angels’ second home run of the night.</p>
<div id="6XjiBY">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">We can watch <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeTrout?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MikeTrout</a>’s swing all night. <a href="https://t.co/Bp0dOcKVFL">pic.twitter.com/Bp0dOcKVFL</a></p>— MLB (@MLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLB/status/978099680532889601?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2018</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="ojwMqY">But also the unexpected for Trout: <span>J.T. Chargois</span> struck him out looking in the sixth inning, just the third time in 53 plate appearances that Trout struck out this spring (Hyun-jin Ryu got the first, on Thursday at Camelback Ranch).</p>
<h3 id="nRDMfC">The new frontier</h3>
<p id="A69T2W">The revamped Angels scoreboard is tracking non-pitching-change mound visits, which this year is limited to six per team for the first nine innings each game.</p>
<div id="KDdQog">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Angel Stadium scoreboard tracking mound visits ( <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsNetLA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SportsNetLA</a>) <a href="https://t.co/X7fhZ3hb1E">pic.twitter.com/X7fhZ3hb1E</a></p>— Eric Stephen (@truebluela) <a href="https://twitter.com/truebluela/status/978109866559459328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2018</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<h3 id="ojFBJl">The WTF?</h3>
<p id="unesJd">With two outs in the sixth inning, <span>Ian Kinsler</span> was on second base and on a strike to Justin Upton thought the inning was over and started jogging toward the third base dugout, even taking his helmet off along the way. It was strike two.</p>
<p id="QazQjR">The Dodgers were so stunned that he didn’t even draw a throw and Kinsler reached third safely. That’s a stolen base. Maybe the best stolen base.</p>
<div id="ymwpJt">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Ian Kinsler knows he got away with one. <a href="https://t.co/L5bDuf4Pe5">pic.twitter.com/L5bDuf4Pe5</a></p>— MLB (@MLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLB/status/978115702317047808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2018</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="FRkGeY">So to sum up, this game saw a home run in which the batter slid into second base, and a stolen base while jogging to third base without even a throw.</p>
<h3 id="jldl0Z">Up next</h3>
<p id="gVSZJZ">The Freeway Series shifts to Dodger Stadium for the next two nights. <span>Rich Hill</span> starts Monday in Los Angeles, a 7:10 p.m. Pt start, with <span>Matt Shoemaker</span> on the hill for the Angels.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2018/3/25/17162854/dodgers-angels-results-freeway-seriesEric Stephen2018-03-25T11:05:12-07:002018-03-25T11:05:12-07:00Freeway Series pitching matchups
<figure>
<img alt="MLB: Spring Training-Chicago Cubs at Los Angeles Dodgers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0elP3Q_miVYo6a9F7wMNt1YpwgM=/0x0:3993x2662/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59152905/usa_today_10694870.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="DTD6Dm">The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> have concluded camp in Arizona and are back in southern California, with only three games remaining on their exhibition slate. The annual Freeway Series is at hand, playing the <a href="https://www.halosheaven.com/">Angels</a> for three days — once in Anaheim followed by two games at Dodger Stadium.</p>
<p id="KIbCRp">Here is a look at the schedule for the three-game Freeway Series, including game times and television information, and three different networks for the Angels broadcasts.</p>
<aside id="xN4J46"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Freeway Series history between the Dodgers and Angels","url":"https://www.truebluela.com/2018/3/25/17150546/freeway-series-history-dodgers-angels"}]}'></div></aside><h3 id="nmjs8W">Sunday, 6:07 p.m. PT (SportsNet LA, Fox Sports West, MLB Network)</h3>
<p id="yXyb75">The lone game of this series in Anaheim will feature <span>Kenta Maeda</span> making his final tuneup start of the spring. Maeda pitched into the sixth inning in his last time out, on Tuesday against the A’s.</p>
<p id="nVyt1w"><span>Parker Bridwell</span> was 10-3 with a 3.64 ERA in 21 games for the Angels last year, including 20 starts. He has not faced the Dodgers. The 26-year-old right-hander allowed 17 runs on 28 hits in 19⅓ innings this spring for a 7.91 ERA with 15 strikeouts and seven walks.</p>
<h3 id="KXAFrT">Monday, 7:10 p.m. (SportsNet LA, Prime Ticket)</h3>
<p id="IQ3NSg"><span>Rich Hill</span> usually spends his spring finding his command but this year started things off in Arizona on the right foot with a pair of strong outings. Then he allowed six runs while recording just one out in a game against Kansas City, an outing he called “horseshit” afterwards. He pitched in a minor league game last Tuesday in his final Arizona tuneup.</p>
<p id="MstsfG"><span>Matt Shoemaker</span> is back after a right forearm strain ended his 2017 season in June. The right-hander has a 3.14 ERA in 255 career innings in Anaheim, with 260 strikeouts.</p>
<h3 id="9pHI07">Tuesday, 7:10 p.m. (SportsNet LA, KCOP 13)</h3>
<p id="jCmhB9">Hyun-jin Ryu starts the finale for the Dodgers and since the game is at Dodger Stadium will get to hit for the first time all spring. Ryu didn’t even get at-bats on the minor league side as a few Dodgers pitchers did.</p>
<p id="CfaEvF">“He only got one hit last year anyway,” <span>Dave Roberts</span> joked. “It’s not high priority.”</p>
<p id="1ZpoDy">Ryu was 4-for-30 last season with a double and three walks.</p>
<p id="IFTC99"><span>JC Ramirez</span> starts for the Angels. The first 111 games of his major league career were relief appearances until making 24 starts for the Angels in 2017. He posted a 4.11 ERA in those starts, with 102 strikeouts and 47 walks in 142⅓ innings.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2018/3/25/17150548/freeway-series-dodgers-angels-shcedule-game-times-tv-starting-pitchingEric Stephen2018-03-25T07:53:07-07:002018-03-25T07:53:07-07:00Freeway Series history
<figure>
<img alt="Nomo & Hasegawa" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/3XF7LMzrAnNPIkn2KDNlrxAu2N0=/0x0:3072x2048/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59151495/247415.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Japanese pitchers Shigetosghi Hasegawa of the Angels and Hideo Nomo of the Dodgers get together before a Freeway Series game in Anaheim. Nomo won the Lefty Phillips Award as the top pitcher in the series in 1996.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="p58yGy">The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> are back in California and will open the Freeway Series on Sunday night against the <a href="https://www.halosheaven.com/">Angels</a>. The first game in in Anaheim followed by a pair of games at Dodger Stadium.</p>
<p id="lEXOaW">The Angels lead the all-time Freeway Series exhibitions 69-49-5. The teams picket fenced last season with one win apiece and one tie.</p>
<p id="xmhzst">This marks the 48th year the Dodgers and Angels will have played at least one exhibition game against one another. It was a tradition that began in 1962, the second year of the Angels’ existence, with a single game in Palm Springs, the Angels’ first spring home.</p>
<p id="eDdYQP">The Halos won that 1962 game, then won two games each in the next two years at Dodger Stadium, at the time both teams’ shared regular season home. There was no Freeway Series from 1965-68, but the series resumed in 1969.</p>
<div class="c-float-right"><div id="6oaGCe"><div data-anthem-component="table:990635"></div></div></div>
<p id="Fg508v">There were other skipped years in 1972 and 1980, and the clubs didn’t play from 2000-02. But since 2003 the series has resumed annually.</p>
<p id="jLYRQD">The Dodgers actually had a winning record in Freeway Series games in Anaheim (22-20) through 2003, but then <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2017/3/30/15119908/freeway-series-dodgers-losing-streak-anaheim-spring-training">went 16 games over 14 years without a win</a>, going 0-14-2 until a victory at Angel Stadium last season.</p>
<p id="CkDtRe">It is important to note the obvious, that none of these games matter. They are still exhibition games after all. And while the novelty and tradition of facing the Halos might have lost some luster since interleague play added regular season meetings for the last 21 seasons, the annual spring training dessert is still kind of fun.</p>
<p id="WHXMNQ">It’s a nice return home after a long spring training, a perfect palate cleanser right before the regular season.</p>
<h3 id="ppGsxQ">2018 Freeway Series schedule</h3>
<p id="Fxf45f"><strong>Angel Stadium</strong><br>Sunday, 6:07 p.m. (SportsNetLA, Fox Sports West)</p>
<p id="pOJ9Rc"><strong>Dodger Stadium</strong><br>Monday, 7:10 p.m. (SportsNet LA, Prime Ticket)<br>Tuesday, 7:10 p.m. (SportsNet LA, KCOP 13)</p>
<p id="RHUDKC"></p>
<p id="WZxD4E"></p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2018/3/25/17150546/freeway-series-history-dodgers-angelsEric Stephen