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 Seager had an RBI double, a single and a walk to raise his brief
major league average to .381 (8 for 21), helping starting pitcher
Clayton Kershaw and Co. to a 6-4 win over the Los Angeles Angels
Tuesday night at Angel Stadium.
Seager struggled initially each time he was promoted to a higher
minor league level, but it hasn't happened in the big leagues.
"I've kind of faced some guys that I've seen already," Seager said
of his six games since coming up Sept. 3. "When you move up levels,
it's new guys, new experiences. But I've been fortunate to face some
guys I've already seen before."
That includes Angels starter Andrew Heaney, 23, who gave up two hits
to Seager, including the RBI double in the sixth that sent Heaney to
the showers.
"I faced Heaney before so I had a little background on him," Seager
said. "I knew what he likes to do, he throws sliders early so I kind
of looked for that."
Seager also made his first two big league errors, both coming in the
seventh inning and making Kershaw work a little harder. Ultimately,
it wasn't something Kershaw couldn't handle.
Kershaw gave up two runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks,
striking out eight and improving to 13-6. He made 106 pitches in
seven innings as the Dodgers won their fifth game in a row and their
eighth in a row over the Angels. Their lead over the San Francisco
Giants remained 8 1/2 games but they cut their magic number to
clinch the division to 16.
"Talking with guys, this was probably the best pure baseball game I
feel like we've played," Kershaw said. "Just as far as doing the
little things, moving guys over, sac flies, situational hitting,
things like that. It just seemed like it was so easy to score runs
tonight and not necessarily from big hits."
The Angels nearly got some easy runs in the seventh inning, thanks
to Seager's miscues.
He mishandled a ground ball by Angels shortstop Erick Aybar with one
out, then booted a grounder by catcher Chris Iannetta later in the
inning. The second error loaded the bases for the Angels with two
out.
Kershaw committed a balk, allowing one run to score, then walked No.
9 hitter Taylor Featherston to reload the bases.
That brought up right fielder Kole Calhoun, who homered off Kershaw
in the first inning and represented the tying run. Kershaw, though,
struck out Calhoun on three pitches to end the threat and spark the
end of the night for frustrated Angels manager Mike Scioscia.
Calhoun tried to check his swing on strike-three, but third-base
umpire Tripp Gibson said Calhoun went around. Scioscia yelled at
Gibson from the dugout and was ejected, before Scioscia went onto
the field to argue some more in between innings.
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"If you look at the replay I think it's pretty obvious he checked
his swing and (Gibson) had a different opinion, and that's it,"
Scioscia said.
The loss knocked the Angels 4 1/2 games behind the Texas Rangers in
the race for the American League second wild-card spot. Heaney (6-3)
got the loss, giving up five runs on six hits and three walks in
five-plus innings.
Third baseman David Freese had three hits for the Angels, including
an RBI double in the ninth inning that knocked reliever Pedro Baez
out of the game. Kenley Jansen came in and finished the game for his
31st save, but not before the Angels scored another run in the
inning and had the tying run at the plate in Calhoun. Calhoun struck
out to end it.
"It's encouraging to see the opportunities we had, even against a
pitcher like Clayton, this guy's one of the best in baseball,"
Scioscia said. "We loaded the bases, we had some opportunities, we
had some good at-bats against him, we just couldn't come through."
Left fielder Justin Ruggiano had two hits for the Dodgers, including
a home run leading off the game.
NOTES: Results of the MRI exam on the right foot of Angels 1B/DH
Albert Pujols showed inflammation but nothing more. He began taking
anti-inflammatory medication on Monday and reported feeling better,
but Pujols is expected to DH the rest of the season. ... Results of
the MRI exam on the left shoulder of Dodgers C Yasmani Grandal
showed inflammation and some buildup of fluid but nothing more
serious. He is listed as day-to-day but was not in the starting
lineup. ... The Angels called up 3B Kyle Kubitza and OF Daniel
Robertson from Triple-A Salt Lake, increasing their roster to 37.
... Dodgers 2B Howie Kendrick, out since Aug. 10 with a sore left
hamstring, hit in a simulated game off a minor league pitcher before
the game but is still not able to run at full speed.
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