The Dodgers opened MLB rivalry weekend with a bang—three of them, to be exact—rolling to a 6-0 victory over the Angels on Friday at Angel Stadium. It was a statement win that snapped a frustrating seven-game losing streak to their crosstown rivals, a skid that even last year's World Series champions couldn't overcome.
Right from the fourth inning, the Dodgers (27-18) took control. After a scoreless start, rookie Andy Pages launched a three-run homer off Angels starter Jack Kochanowicz, punishing a four-seam fastball left hanging over the heart of the plate. On the very next pitch, Max Muncy followed suit with his 12th home run of the season, sending another mistake fastball into the stands. The back-to-back blasts gave the Dodgers a commanding 4-0 lead and silenced the home crowd.
The Angels' night got worse in the sixth when Teoscar Hernández added two more runs with an opposite-field home run off a sinker that strayed too far inside. It was a long-awaited moment for Hernández, who hadn't gone deep in 23 days. As he crossed home plate, a big smile spread across his face, and his teammates showered him with sunflower seeds in celebration.
On the mound, the Dodgers leaned on a committee of eight pitchers to preserve the shutout, showcasing their depth and keeping the Angels' hitters off balance all night. Shohei Ohtani chipped in with a double and a walk, though he also struck out twice in a mixed performance against his former team.
Notably, Freddie Freeman got the night off. Manager Dave Roberts texted the star first baseman a few days earlier to let him know, and despite Freeman's competitive pushback, Roberts held firm. "Just in the middle of 13 in a row, I felt this was a good day to kind of sit and watch a ballgame," Roberts explained before the game. "He's been doing great. He's trended in the right direction the last couple weeks. But I still feel that it's still the right thing to give him a day."
The win was a much-needed reset for the Dodgers, who proved that sometimes a little rest and a lot of power can turn the tide in a fierce rivalry.