Angels have their way with Dodgers, as usual, in 5-3 win

Despite what some might say, there really is a rivalry between the Dodgers and Angels. It’s just that it’s a completely one-sided rivalry.

It’s all Angels, and was again Sunday afternoon when the Angels knocked off the Dodgers, 5-3, before a third consecutive sellout crowd at Angel Stadium, this one at 43,975.

The Angels have now won six consecutive series against the Dodgers, and 13 of their last 18 games. Since 2005, the Angels are 18-7 vs. the Dodgers at Angel Stadium.

The Angels won it with a two-out rally against Josh Lindblom in the seventh after Albert Pujols drew the 1,000^th walk of his career, a historic number that almost cried out for significance.

It came after Lindblom hit Kendrys Morales with a pitch and then Mark Trumbo blooped a run-scoring single to center. Howie Kendrick followed with another base hit to score Morales and the Angels had their two-run lead.

The Dodgers opened the scoring with a two-out rally off right-hander Garrett Richards in the first. Andre Ethier blooped a hit into left that he hustled into a double, and then scored when Bobby Abreu lined a single up the middle.

The Dodgers made a 2-0 lead in the second after Adam Kennedy and Tony Gwynn Jr.led off with singles. After Matt Treanor’s sacrifice bunt advanced the runners, Dee Gordon grounded out to second to score Kennedy.

The Angels tied it in the bottom of the inning against Aaron Harang. After Erick Aybar’s one-out walk, Peter Bourjos sliced a ball that Ethier dove for and missed as it appeared to hit the right-field chalk line.

Instead, first base umpire Bill Miller ruled it foul, a mistake the Angels ended up happy to be the victims of when Bourjos then drilled a game-tying, two-run homer into the left-field stands.

The Angels took the lead with a run in the bottom of the fifth after Mike Trout led off with a base hit, and one out later, stole second. Pujols bounced a hit up the middle to score Trout.

When Morales then blooped a hit to left and Pujols tried to take third. Rivera threw him out on a close play that umpire Dan Iassogna appeared to get correct. Angels Manager Mike Scioscia disagreed a tad too vehemently and was ultimately ejected.

Scioscia wasn’t around to see the Dodgers tie it 3-3 with a run in the sixth. Rivera doubled, took third on a James Loney groundout and scored on a Kennedy sacrifice fly to center.

Harang went six innings for the Dodgers, allowing three runs on eight hits. He walked two and did not strike out a batter.

Richards threw 6 2/3 innings for the Angels. He gave up three runs on nine hits and a pair of walks. He struck out five.

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