The Los Angeles Angels achieve an improbable sweep against the Dodgers, a result that could mark a turning point in their season.
The Angels, located in the last place of the American League West, defeated the current World Series champions with a score of 6-4 on Sunday. This victory came after a stumble in the bullpen, when Travis d’Arnaud hit a solo home run that broke the tie in the eighth inning.
It’s tremendous. Every game here felt like a playoff atmosphere. Everyone passed the baton, having good performances at the plate throughout the lineup.
Travis d’Arnaud
D’Arnaud, who also drove in a run with a single in the third inning, highlighted the intensity of the series. “It was a free-for-all in every game, with a lot of tension, and we prevailed in all three games. It’s really special against last year’s world champions. It’s very good for our confidence to know that we can beat anyone,” he added.
The Angels, with a record of 20-25, remain in last place in their division, six games behind the leader Seattle. The sweep against the Dodgers (29-18) is the first since 2010 and gives them renewed hope in their attempt to climb positions. The Dodgers had not been swept in a series since last July in Philadelphia.
In the first two games, the Angels punished the Dodgers’ pitching, with a batting average of .307, accumulating 17 runs, four home runs, and eight doubles. Zach Neto and Taylor Ward contributed home runs that gave Yusei Kikuchi a 3-0 lead in the first inning on Sunday.
Kikuchi pitched effectively, allowing one run and three hits in 5⅔ innings, before suffering an ankle injury in a collision at first base with Tommy Edman.
Despite leaving the game with a 4-1 lead, Kikuchi did not get the win, as Shaun Anderson allowed a three-run homer to Will Smith, tying the score 4-4 in the seventh. Kikuchi remains with a 0-4 record, despite having a 3.50 ERA in 10 starts.
In the absence of Ryan Zeferjahn and Kenley Jansen, Anderson assumed the role of setup man and closer.
The reliever retired the batters in order in the eighth and ninth innings, closing the game with a strikeout of the 2024 National League MVP, Shohei Ohtani.
He really saved us. When he came in (after the seventh inning), I told him this game was his. And he went out and did a good job and ended up striking out Ohtani for the last out of the game.
Ron Washington, Angels manager
Anderson (1-0) was credited with a blown save and a win for a bullpen that had the worst ERA in the league, at 7.04, before Sunday’s game.
Anderson commented on the triumph: “It shows what the Angels have. It’s hard to see with our record, but these guys work hard every day, they prepare, they work after the game. These guys want to win, and you can totally see it when you enter the clubhouse. Seeing them react and win the last three games, shows what we can do here.”
