ANAHEIM -- For whatever reason, the Angels simply had their rival Dodgers’ number this season.
Despite the Angels coming off a 99-loss season and the Dodgers winning the World Series last year, the Halos won all six Freeway Series matchups, including a come-from-behind 6-5 win on Wednesday night. Logan O'Hoppe proved to be the hero with a go-ahead, two-run single with two outs in the eighth inning on a two-strike, 103.2 mph fastball from reliever Edgardo Henriquez.
O’Hoppe admitted it was extra special because he’s endured an up-and-down third season in the Majors, but was able to come through in such a key moment in front of a buzzing sold-out crowd at Angel Stadium.
"It was a lot,” O’Hoppe said. “It's one I've wanted for a while. Obviously, the past couple months haven't felt right. And I felt like after I fouled that heater back, I don't want to say it clicked again, but I got a wave of confidence that I haven't had in a couple weeks. I got a pitch to hit and I’m happy I got it.”
The Angels also did it despite having to match up with a familiar face in two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani, who pitched against his former club for the first time in his career, but surrendered a season high in runs allowed.
It marked the first time the Angels have won all six games against the Dodgers in a season, securing their second Freeway Series season sweep after going 4-0 against their rivals in 2019. It was also the Angels' first three-game sweep of the Dodgers at Angel Stadium since May 18-20, 2007.
"They still won the World Series, but for us, it was awesome for us to be able to do this against them,” said Taylor Ward, who set a club record with four homers against the Dodgers this year. “I’m excited for our group. And I’m looking forward to us building on it going forward.”
They also overcame Kyle Hendricks’ struggles, as he lasted just 3 1/3 innings, his second-shortest start of the year, and gave up five runs on six hits and three walks. But like the Angels have all year against the Dodgers, they simply found a way to win.
The Angels scored four runs in 4 1/3 innings against Ohtani, which was the most he’d allowed all season. He had given up a combined five runs in eight starts heading into his outing after not pitching last year because of a second elbow surgery to repair his ulnar collateral ligament.
"The resiliency has been there kind of all year,” said interim manager Ray Montgomery. “Just when you're in that atmosphere and you're facing Shohei, like we talked about before the game, there's probably more emotions in this one than other ones, just for that reason.”
The Angels kept chipping away against Ohtani, scoring twice in the second, including Ward connecting on a solo homer.
It was Ward’s 29th of the year and his 90th RBI of the season. Yoán Moncada followed with a double and later scored on a sacrifice fly. They made it a game in the fifth, when Zach Neto chased Ohtani with a two-run double to left.
Center fielder Bryce Teodosio kept the Angels in it by robbing Andy Pages of a two-run homer with a leaping catch up against the right-field fence in the seventh. And after the Angels loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth, it was O’Hoppe who came through with the game-winner, a night after Jo Adell walked off the Dodgers with an RBI single.
Fittingly, it was closer Kenley Jansen who shut the door on his former team in the ninth despite pitching for the third day in a row and the fourth time in five days.
Jansen, who recorded 350 of his 470 career saves with the Dodgers from 2010-21, said he hopes the Angels (59-62) bring the same energy they brought this series the rest of the season. They’re now five games out of the final AL Wild Card spot with the victory.
"I mean, to me, I think it's for the whole team,” Jansen said. “I hope this is a good wake-up call for all of us that whatever we do, however we prepare and get ready to play a world champ like that and we swept them, that's the same mentality, the same energy, same motivation we’ve got to have the rest of the way. It’s great to sweep them, but I want to get to the postseason.”