On Wednesday night at Angel Stadium, the Los Angeles Angels secured a season sweep of their crosstown rivals with a 6–5 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers, overcoming Shohei Ohtani’s first start on the mound against his former team. Despite Ohtani’s presence, Logan O’Hoppe delivered the decisive blow with a two-run single in the eighth inning to complete the Freeway Series sweep. The Dodgers entered as -175 favorites but could not avoid their fourth consecutive loss, slipping into second place in the NL West behind the San Diego Padres.
Ohtani, making his first pitching appearance at Angel Stadium since tearing an elbow ligament in August 2023, allowed four runs on five hits across a season-high 4 1/3 innings. He struck out seven, including former teammate Mike Trout twice, and walked two. Offensively, Ohtani tripled and scored in the first inning but struck out in his final three plate appearances. He has recorded 15 strikeouts over his last 8 1/3 innings on the mound.
Will Smith and Mookie Betts powered the Dodgers’ offense, with Smith hitting a two-run homer in the third inning and Betts contributing a pair of RBI singles. Taylor Ward also homered for the Angels in the second inning, and rookie Bryce Teodosio made a highlight defensive play in the fourth, leaping at the right-center wall to rob Andy Pages of a home run.
The Angels, under .500 overall, have won seven straight against the Dodgers, a franchise record. They swept both three-game series this season, going a perfect 6–0 in the rivalry.
Ohtani left the game in the fifth with a 5–4 lead, turning the game over to the Dodgers’ bullpen, which injuries to five key high-leverage relievers have strained. The lead held until the eighth, when the Angels mounted their winning rally.
The Angels loaded the bases against Justin Wrobleski and Edgardo Henriquez in the bottom of the eighth. O’Hoppe then lined a two-run single to left, giving the Angels a 6–5 advantage. Brock Burke pitched a scoreless top of the eighth to earn the win and improve to 6–1, while Kenley Jansen closed the ninth for his 23rd save.
The Dodgers had chances late but failed to capitalize. Their loss, coupled with San Diego’s victory earlier in the evening, dropped them into second place in the NL West for the first time since June. The Padres, who have won four straight, will travel to Dodger Stadium for a critical weekend series.
Clayton Kershaw (6–2, 3.14 ERA) is expected to start for the Dodgers on Friday in the series opener against San Diego. For the Angels, Yusei Kikuchi (6–7, 3.37 ERA) is scheduled to pitch Friday when they face the Sacramento-based minor league affiliate as part of a temporary relocation series.
