Los Angeles @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 23, 2010 ) LA Dodgers 1, LA Angels 2

The week-long unraveling of the Los Angeles Dodgers can’t get any worse than it was on Wednesday night in Anaheim.

The Dodgers have been the punching bag of the Los Angeles Angels this season but how the game ended represented a knockout punch by the Angels that felt like a low blow to the baserunning-challenged Dodgers.

The residue of how the game ended will certainly be on the minds of the Dodgers on Thursday night as they attempt to keep from being swept by the Angels for the second time this season.

The Dodgers’ sixth consecutive loss was the worst of a skid that has dropped them four games behind the first-place San Diego Padres in the National League West. Making matters worse, it happened in embarrassing fashion.

Each of the Dodgers’ last two outs of a 2-1 loss to the Angels came on the bases. Matt Kemp was picked off second base by Angels closer Brian Fuentes and Russell Martin was thrown out at second after rounding the bag on what appeared to be a game-tying single by Jamey Carroll.

Angels left fielder Juan Rivera realized he had no chance to throw out Reed Johnson at home so he threw behind Martin, who was prepared to go to third base if Rivera threw home. Martin was tagged out just before Johnson scored the tying run.

Game over.

The victory was the fifth in a row for the Angels, who remain 3 1/2 games behind the red-hot Texas Rangers in the American League West.

Left-hander Scott Kazmir will attempt to finish off the sweep for the Angels on Thursday. Kazmir got a win against the Dodgers on June 12 when he gave up two runs and three hits in five innings.

Kazmir (7-5) has rebounded from a horrible start with four straight victories and a 5-1 mark in his last six starts. His earned-run average is still at a lofty 5.06 despite giving up just six earned runs over 23 innings in the four consecutive wins.

Kazmir beat the Chicago White Sox in his most recent outing, allowing just two runs and five hits in six innings.

Kazmir has pitched at home just once over the past six weeks, losing to the Seattle Mariners on May 28.

Struggling knuckleballer Charlie Haeger (0-4, 8.53 ERA) will start for the Dodgers. Haeger will be making just his second appearance since May 8.

Haeger has spent two stints on the disabled list – he pitched two innings against the Atlanta Braves on June 5 – since giving up five runs without a recording an out against Colorado on May 8.

Meanwhile, shortstop Rafael Furcal returned to the Dodgers lineup on Tuesday after leaving the team due to the death of his father in the Dominican Republic.

It was a rough return for Furcal – he went 0-for-4 with two errors, the second leading to the decisive run of the contest.