Angels take advantage of ninth-inning error to beat Dodgers, 5-4
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Dodgers second baseman Ivan DeJesus Jr. booted a potential game-ending double-play grounder in the top of the ninth inning Monday night, paving the way for the Angels to score twice off closer Jonathan Broxton for a 5-4 exhibition victory in Dodger Stadium.
Alexi Amarista followed Mark Trumbo’s one-out single with a hard grounder to second, but the ball went through DeJesus’ legs for an error, allowing Trumbo to take third. With Amarista running, top outfield prospect Mike Trout grounded a ball through a vacated shortstop hole for a run-scoring single and a 4-4 tie.
Kevin Romine walked to load the bases, and Hank Conger followed with a sacrifice fly to deep center to score Amarista for a 5-4 lead.
The Dodgers took a 4-3 lead in the sixth with two runs off Angels closer Fernando Rodney, Juan Uribe driving in the first run with a double and Rod Barajas driving in the second with a single.
Matt Kemp started the rally with a one-out bloop double that dropped between Trout and shortstop Jean Segura in shallow center. James Loney grounded to short for the second out, but Uribe lined a run-scoring double to left for a 3-3 tie, and Barajas dropped a run-scoring single to left for a 4-3 lead.
Angels starter Ervin Santana looked strong in his final spring start, allowing two runs -- one earned -- and three hits in five innings, striking out five and walking two. Dodgers starter Ted Lilly struggled with his command, walking five in four innings, but he allowed only two runs, four hits and struck out four.
The Angels scored in the first inning on Torii Hunter’s run-scoring double, in the second on Maicer Izturis’ run-scoring single, and in the sixth on Howie Kendrick’s bases-loaded walk off reliever Kenley Jansen.
Dodgers reliever Matt Guerrier replaced Jansen and struck out Trumbo with the bases loaded to end the inning. The right-hander added a scoreless seventh.
The Dodgers scored their first two runs in the first inning, on Andre Ethier’s run-scoring double to right-center, and in the third when Rafael Furcal scooted home on Angels catcher Bobby Wilson’s errant throw to second on Tony Gwynn Jr.’s stolen base.
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Photo: Ervin Santana. Credit: Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times