LOS ANGELES (AP) – Albert Pujols scored his first home run against the Los Angeles Angels since their release in May, sending Walker Buehler and the Dodgers to an 8-2 win on Sunday.
Former NL MVP who struggled mightily this season, Cody Bellinger was home for the second straight year helping World Series champions win two of three at Dodger Stadium in the Freeway Series.
What you need to know
- The Dodgers beat the Angels 8-2 on Sunday to win two of three in the Freeway Series
- Albert Pujols scored his first home run against the Los Angeles Angels since they released him in May.
- Cody Bellinger homered for the second straight game for the Dodgers
- Next up: RHP Max Scherzer (9-4, 2.75) starts Tuesday for the Dodgers in Philadelphia
Trea Turner, who made his second start as a leadoff batter for the Dodgers since he was taken on with Max Scherzer in a deal with Washington, scored twice.
Pujols hit a two-run homer in the second inning and scored as a pinch hitter for Justin Turner, who got off with ailments in the left groin.
Pujols admired the 418-foot ride for a while and then partied in the dugout with his teammates. It was the third home run of Pujols’ career, the 14th home run of the season – nine in a Dodgers uniform – and the 676th in his historic career.
41-year-old Pujols faced rookie Reid Detmers and gave the Dodgers a 5-0 lead.
Buehler (12-2) hit six strong innings, allowed a run on four hits, and hit eight. He worked about four walks.
The Dodgers scored twice before Detmers (0-2), who made his second career start, conceded an out. The Dodgers took three hits, including a double pair, and performed a double steal.
Angels reliever Patrick Naughton made his big league debut in the sixth inning. He allowed a run on two hits and held out a delay while a fan ran into the field and sprinted around for a while before he was arrested.
Ohtani MVP talk
When asked about Shohei Ohtani’s MVP case if the team didn’t make the playoffs, Angels manager Joe Maddon didn’t think it was important.
“A-Rod won MVP when he played for Rangers and they were last,” said Maddon. “He absolutely deserved it. He was the best player. It depends on the semantics. At the end of the day whoever votes, I guess, decides based on the vibes and whatever you believe and whatever your truth Maybe I’m biased, but my perspective is that this guy is doing something that no one has ever done before, he has incredible attacking numbers, incredible pitching numbers.
Ohtani beats .269 with 37 homers, 82 RBI and has a 1,014 OPS. On the hill he stands 6-1 with 2.93 ERA. He went on Sunday as a pinch hitter.
Mike Trout has won three AL MVP Awards, only one (2014) when the Angels reached the playoffs.
Coach room
Engel: INF Jared Walsh (right intercostal trunk) could be activated in Toronto on Tuesday.
Dodgers: LHP Garrett Clevinger (right oblique trunk) was placed on 10-day IL Sunday … INF Gavin Lux (left hamstring trunk) started a rehab at Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday.
Next
Engel: RHP Chris Rodriguez (2-1, 3.86) should be activated on Tuesday in Toronto and start his second career. The 23-year-old right-handed player lost his first start against the Rangers on August 2nd. He allowed four runs – three earned – and hit seven in six innings.
Dodgers: RHP Max Scherzer (9-4, 2.75) starts Tuesday in Philadelphia, his second start with the Dodgers since trading from Washington. He stunned his debut with the Dodgers when he ran seven innings, struck 10, walked one and allowed for two deserved runs in a win over the Houston Astros. He got his first career curtain boot.
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