Field Level Media
Sep 27, 2020
Six pitchers combined to throw a three-hit shutout to lead the playoff-bound Los Angeles Dodgers to a 5-0 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday afternoon at Dodger Stadium in the final regular-season game for both teams.
A.J. Pollock homered twice to propel the Dodgers. Pollock also singled, drove in three runs and scored twice as the Dodgers finished 43-17, the best record in the majors.
The Dodgers have qualified for the playoffs in seven consecutive seasons, while the Angels finished 26-34 and out of the postseason for the sixth year in a row. Billy Eppler, the Angels' general manager for five of those seasons, was fired by the club on Sunday.
Left-hander Victor Gonzalez opened for the Dodgers and threw a scoreless first inning. Dustin May (3-1) took the ball to start the second inning and threw four innings, allowing just two hits and two walks while striking out five.
From there, Pedro Baez, Blake Treinen, Brusdar Graterol and Kenley Jansen followed with one scoreless inning each, none of them allowing a hit.
Leading off the bottom of the first inning, Pollock took the first two pitches. Then on a 2-0 pitch, he homered to left-center field, giving the Dodgers a 1-0 lead. The home run, off Angels starter Patrick Sandoval (1-5), was Pollock's 15th of the season.
The Dodgers added to their lead with two runs in the third, scoring without a hit. Sandoval walked the bases loaded before getting Corey Seager to ground into a double play, as Austin Barnes scored from third.
Justin Turner followed with a grounder to first, but Angels first baseman Jared Walsh mishandled the ball for an error. Turner reached first and Joc Pederson scored from third to put the Dodgers up 3-0.
After Pederson singled to lead off the seventh, Pollock followed with his 16th homer of the year to put the Dodgers on top 5-0.
Of the Angels' three hits, two came from rookie second baseman Jahmai Jones in his third career game. Angels center fielder Mike Trout and third baseman Anthony Rendon were given the day off.
--Field Level Media