Travis d’Arnaud smashed his first home run of the season to break an eighth-inning tie, propelling the Los Angeles Angels to a 6-4 victory over the Dodgers on Sunday and completing their first three-game sweep in the Freeway Series since 2010.
With the game knotted at 4-4, d’Arnaud took Dodgers reliever Anthony Banda (3-1) deep to left-center for a solo shot — his second RBI of the afternoon. The Angels added insurance in the ninth when Zach Neto and Nolan Schanuel singled, and Yoán Moncada followed with a run-scoring double-play groundout.
Shaun Anderson (1-0) picked up his first win as an Angel despite surrendering a game-tying three-run homer to Will Smith in the seventh. Anderson rebounded to retire the side in order in the eighth and ninth, ending the game by striking out Shohei Ohtani on a nasty changeup.
Angels starter Yusei Kikuchi was solid before exiting in the sixth after rolling his ankle in a collision at first base with Tommy Edman. The lefty went 5 2/3 innings, allowing one run on three hits while striking out seven. He remains winless in 10 starts despite a 3.50 ERA.
Tony Gonsolin, starting for the Dodgers, sliced his thumb on his fifth pitch of the game and struggled throughout. He allowed four runs on four hits and five walks over four innings. Gonsolin gave up a solo shot to Neto and a two-run blast to Taylor Ward in the first, then an RBI single to d’Arnaud in the third.
Key Moment
Kikuchi worked out of a tense bases-loaded jam in the fifth by retiring Freddie Freeman on a flyout after walking Mookie Betts and Will Smith, and allowing an RBI single to Ohtani.
Key Stat
Anthony Banda has now allowed five home runs in just 20 2/3 innings this season, matching his total from 49 2/3 innings in 2024.
Up Next
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Angels: José Soriano (2-4, 3.46 ERA) opens a road series Monday night against the Athletics, who will start J.T. Ginn (1-1, 4.61 ERA).
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Dodgers: Landon Knack (2-1, 5.89 ERA) takes the mound home against Arizona’s Brandon Pfaadt (6-3, 3.73 ERA).
