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Dodgers, Angels renew rivalry in LA

Jun 24, 2011 - 3:09 PM (Sports Network) - The battle of Hollywood will begin tonight, when the LA Angels of Anaheim invade Chavez Ravine to begin a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Angels will put the finishing touches on a season-long 12-game, 14-day road trip with this upcoming series and are 6-3 so far on the trek. They are the only AL West squad with a winning record on the road this season (22-19) and took two of three meetings in Florida, including Wednesday's 6-5 victory in 10 innings at Sun Life Stadium.

Mark Trumbo singled home Bobby Abreu for the go-ahead run in the top of the 10th inning and Michael Kohn set the Marlins down in order in the bottom half for the save, his first of the season. Abreu hit a two-run homer and Maicer Izturis added a solo shot, while Trumbo ended with three hits and a run scored for the Angels, who are three games off the lead in the AL West and have won 12 straight games when scoring four or more runs. Anaheim is also an MLB-best 30-12 on the road in interleague action since the 2007 campaign.

"Bobby's been having good at bats. It was good to see the power come out of him and especially on a 3-0 count. He's usually very selective about swinging in those counts but he squared one up and it was important," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said about Abreu's home run.

Joel Pineiro started for the Halos and allowed four runs and eight hits in six innings for the no-decision. Torii Hunter went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored before leaving in the fifth inning after crashing into the wall to make a catch. X-Rays were negative and the outfielder is day-to-day. Hunter, the only Angels player to have appeared in all 76 games this season, has hit safely in 22 consecutive road games during interleague play and is riding a six-game hitting streak overall.

Dan Haren hopes to erase the memories of his last performance when he takes the mound for the Angels tonight. Haren suffered through his worst loss of the season in last Saturday's 6-1 road defeat against the New York Mets, as he was reached for six runs and seven hits in four innings. Haren has alternated wins and losses over his last five starts, falling to 6-5 in 14 outings this season to go along with a 2.96 earned run average.

"These games happen, even to the best of them," Haren said. "It's about how you bounce back. I never really got into a rhythm against the Mets. After the first inning, I felt a little out of sorts. I need to have a better feel for my curveball and split. It's just a feel -- I've got to get the feel back."

Haren has lost five of seven decisions since opening the 2011 campaign 4-0, and will make his 16th career appearance against the Dodgers. The right-hander is 4-5 with a 3.19 ERA over the first 15 games (14 starts) and is only 1-1 in his previous seven starts in this matchup.

The Dodgers will wrap up a season-long 12-game, 14-day homestand with this series versus the Angels and had a three-game winning streak stopped with Wednesday's 7-5 loss to Detroit in the finale of a three-game series.

Ted Lilly was banged around for six runs and six hits, including three home runs, over 4 2/3 innings to absorb the loss. Matt Guerrier also allowed a homer in relief, as Los Angeles fell to 3-6 on the residency and was denied its first sweep of the 2011 campaign. The Dodgers were also trying for the first four-game winning streak of the campaign and had kept the opposition from homering in seven straight games.

"Today was one of those days," Lilly said. "I was behind in the count more than usual. When you try to pitch like that, the hitters are more comfortable and can shrink the strike zone and you have less room for error."

The offense was led by James Loney's three hits and two RBI, while Matt Kemp ended 3-for-3 with an RBI and a pair of runs scored for the Dodgers, who lost for the ninth time in 14 tries. Andre Ethier had two hits, an RBI and a run scored in defeat. Kemp ended a three-game hitless drought and is batting .386 with eight homers, 16 runs and 22 RBI in his last 21 games (20 starts).

Dodgers rookie Rubby De La Rosa will make his seventh start of the season tonight and is 3-1 with a 4.58 earned run average. He suffered the first loss of his career in last Saturday's 7-0 loss to Houston at Chavez Ravine and allowed a season-high five runs and six hits through 4 2/3 frames. The righty is 1-1 in three games, one of which was a start, at home and will face the Angels for the first time in his career.

Anaheim won five of six matchups with the Dodgers a year ago and swept a three-game set at Chavez Ravine from June 11-13.