Dodgers lose to Angels in extra innings

Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Dodgers lost to the Los Angeles Angels in overtime as their southern rivals won the opening game of the Freeway Series by a score of 3-2.

The Dodgers entered the Freeway Series with a 10-game winning streak against the Angels, the longest in history.

Shohei Ohtani started the scoring with a two-run homer in his third at-bat against his former team. He also managed a walk in his first two plate appearances and a single in his fourth.

With the home run, Ohtani has now scored a run and driven in a run in six consecutive games, both of which are season highs for the Dodgers.

The Dodgers’ two-run lead was given up by Ryan Yarbrough in the sixth inning when he struck out three batters and allowed two runs to tie the game. In the tenth inning, Evan Phillips allowed a two-out single that brought home the ghost runner and gave the Angels the winning run.

The Dodgers sent Cavan Biggio to third base as their ghost runner, but Kiké Hernández and Gavin Lux failed to end the game.

Landon Knack got off to another strong start, throwing five scoreless innings, allowing two hits, striking out two and allowing two walks before finishing the game with 73 pitches thrown.

Before the game, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts hinted that Knack could stay with the major league club to continue to use their six-man rotation. “We’ll see,” Roberts said. “We’ll see.”

“I think we’re trying to protect the guy we have,” Roberts added. “So letting Tyler rest on a regular basis, which he could have done, when you have a guy that’s going to be used in Landon Knack and is producing, the bottom line is better to just give Tyler the extra day.”

Whether the Dodgers decided to keep Knack or not, his performance was certainly worth a spot. Overall, he has thrown 25.2 innings this season with a 2.10 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP, while recording 18 strikeouts.

Shohei Ohtani makes his first appearance against Angels

Before the game, Ohtani was the focus of attention as he was set to face the Angels for the first time since signing with the Dodgers. Ohtani made his MLB debut for the Halos and spent six seasons with them, winning numerous awards.

“I think he’s very grateful for his time in Anaheim,” Roberts said. “I think he’s definitely happy here. He’s excited to come here, to get this day behind him, because I think he just wants to play baseball.”

“When you’re Shohei Ohtani, of course those questions come up. And he’s influenced a lot of fans, so him coming up north a little bit was a big deal, but I’m sure he just wants to play a baseball game.”

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