LOS ANGELES — Tyler Glasnow pitched seven strong innings, Shohei Ohtani homered for the second straight game against his former team and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Los Angeles Angels 7-2 on Saturday night to split the Freeway Series.
Ohtani hit a two-run homer, traveling 455 feet, in a 3-2 10-inning loss on Friday, and then added some more distance in the third inning Saturday night, blasting his 23rd homer, traveling 459 feet to right field to extend the lead to 3-0.
It’s the second-longest home run hit at Dodger Stadium this season, and eight of the 10 longest home runs have been hit by the Japanese two-way superstar.
“The reaction from everyone is always like, ‘Wow!'” Glasnow said. “It’s so funny to us.”
Ohtani has recorded at least one run and one RBI in seven straight games, tying the Dodgers record set by Reggie Smith in 1978. Since taking over as leadoff hitter last Monday because Mookie Betts broke his hand, Ohtani has 11 hits in 24 at-bats and seven home runs.
“Nobody’s been better than him the last few weeks,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I never get tired of him.”
Gavin Lux hit a leadoff solo homer in the third inning against Zach Plesac (1-1), ending a 32-game home run streak.
“What I saw was a pretty good team that showed its mettle and its strength,” Angels manager Ron Washington said. “They did what they had to do.”
Glasnow (8-5) allowed two runs (one earned) and two hits, striking out 10 and walking no batters for the third time this season in front of a sellout crowd of 53,273.
“I felt like I was able to pitch efficiently,” he said. “It was good to be able to take a lead, get guys out quick and keep the pitch count down.”
The right-hander retired his first nine batters before catcher Will Smith interfered and allowed leadoff hitter Nolan Chanuel to reach base in the fourth inning and score on a ground-rule double by Taylor Ward.
“It’s really phenomenal,” Roberts said. “He’s in really good form. He’s barely been hit.”
Miguel Rojas went 2-for-4 and scored two runs, putting the Dodgers up 22-0 after he hit the single.
“It feels like a blessing for us,” Rojas said. “Hopefully we can get to about 40-0 before the season is over.”
The Dodgers built a 6-1 lead into the fourth inning when reliever Carson Fulmer walked with the bases loaded and allowed sacrifice flies by Rojas and Freddie Freeman to score Plesac.
Freeman hit a double in the third inning, giving him his 2,200th career hit.
Logan O’Hoppe homered on Glasnow’s first pitch with two outs in the seventh inning.
Plesac gave up six runs and seven hits in 3 1/3 innings, striking out one and walking one.
Trainer Room
Angels: SS Zach Neto left the game in the bottom of the fourth inning with left calf tightness after collapsing while trying to stop a Rojas double. … LHP Patrick Sandoval (left elbow tightness) left the game after the third inning of Friday’s start and was placed on the 15-day disabled list.
Dodgers: Left-hander Clayton Kershaw (shoulder) complained of soreness after his first rehab start this week. Depending on his condition, his rehab start on Tuesday in Reno could be postponed.
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Angels: Right-hander Griffin Canning (2-8, 5.02 ERA) will start Monday against Oakland.
Dodgers: Left-hander James Paxton (7-1, 3.65 ERA) will start Monday against the Chicago White Sox after six days of rest.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb