Los Angeles

Howie Kendrick Homers in First Game Against Former Team as Dodgers Take Game One of Freeway Series 5-3

Howie Kendrick hit a home run in his first at-bat against his former team, and the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 5-3 on Friday at Dodger Stadium.

Howie Kendrick homered in his first at-bat against his former team, and the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Angels 5-3 on Friday at Dodger Stadium in the opening game of the infamous "Freeway Series."

The pitching matchup featured a pair of 2015 All-Stars in National League starter Zack Grienke and American League All-Star Hector Santiago.

Within the game itself was a mini battle between reigning AL MVP Mike Trout and the 2009 AL Cy Young winner in Greinke. Trout led off the Midsummer Classic with a solo shot to opposite field off Greinke and took home All-Star MVP honors for the second consecutive year.

"That at but wasn't in my mind too much," Greinke said of the last time he faced Trout in the All-Star Game. "I usually try and get ahead of him, but I got behind on him every time today which isn't a good game plan."

Trout again got the better of Greinke on Friday as the 23-year-old center fielder fel a double shy of the cycle, driving in all three Angels' runs on the night. Trout leads the majors with 32 home runs and finishes the month of July with a .367 batting average to go along with 12 homers and 24 RBIs.

"I made a couple mistakes to Trout," Greinke said. "The triple was a bad pitch, but Trout got a line drive on a really good pitch."

Greinke (10-2) would get the last laugh however as the Cy Young candidate picked up his 10th win of the season, the eighth consecutive season he's reached such a feat. Greinke allowed just two runs on five hits, with eight strikeouts, in eight dominant innings against the Halos.

Santiago (7-5) got the loss, allowing a season high five runs on nine hits in just five short innings. The loss snapped Santiago's three-game winning streak as the left hander hadn't lost a start since June 17th.

"I thought Hector was indecisive," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "He wasn't quite as crisp as we've seen him and he paid a price for it."

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Kendrick was reunited with his former team on Friday and greeted them with a solo shot to left center in the bottom of the first inning. Kendrick was an All-Star with the Angels in 2011 and played nine years at second base for the Halos.

Alex Guerrero ended a two-month home run drought that saw the Cuban slugger go 67 at-bats without a four-bagger. Guerrero sent an 82 MPH change up just inside the foul pole in left to give the Dodgers a 3-2 lead.

"I was able to put a good swing on it," Guerrero said of the at-bat. "The two runs were able to contribute to the victory."

It was Guerrero's first homer run since his game-winning grand slam in Colorado in the second game of a Dodgers' doubleheader.

An inning later, Yasiel Puig and Yasmani Grandal continued the Cuban connection when they hit back-to-back RBI singles to give the Boys in Blue a four-run lead. Puig credited his mother for helping him break out of a slump on Wednesday. Maritza, threw out the ceremonial first pitch before that game, and was seen in attendance again on Friday to watch her son.

Grandal finished 3-for-4, the fifth time this season the catcher has had three or more hits. Like Trout, Grandal finished July on a tear hitting .340 with three doubles, two homers and eight RBIs.

Kenley Jansen struggled in the ninth, serving up a home run to Trout before striking out Albert Pujols and getting the last two outs. Jansen earned his 18th save of the season, but said he's been battling the flu the past few days.

"I'm been battling this virus for the past three days," Jansen said of his health. "I'm feeling all right, Trout is a great hitter. I missed my spot and he got me."

Reigning NL MVP and 2014 Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw was supposed to start the game after getting scratched on Wednesday with a sore hip. Kerhsaw hosted the third annual "Clayton Kershaw Ping Pong 4 Purpose," event at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, but still did not feel well enough to start on a day's notice.

Kershaw is expected to pitch on Saturday in Game Two of the Freeway Series between the Angels and Dodgers.


Game Notes:
A sell out crowd of 53,380 bared the Los Angeles traffic on a Friday to watch the first game of the two teams that share Los Angeles.

Dodgers' new players Jim Johnson, Luis Avilan and Alex Wood spoke to the media in a pregame press conference before the game. All three pitchers were acquired by from the Atlanta Braves in a three-team, 13-player deal that also brought Mat Latos to Los Angeles while Cuban prospect Hector Olivera was sent to Atlanta.

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