Freeway Series Face-off

 By: Kaila Morales 

Whether you are an Angels or a Dodgers fan, You know when the two play each other it is a VERY big deal. 

The freeway series becomes the fun highlight of the season for the players and fans. 

There is this unspoken rivalry between the fans, which makes it more interesting for the players as they know the fans get really into it. 

Feeding off this energy makes for some competitive baseball when these two teams meet. 

With the Angels being in the American League and Dodgers in the National league this makes for an inter-league matchup.

 Wins and losses will affect the team individually, but since the two are from different leagues they aren’t competing against each other in division standings.

 So if you consider this fact it does not make the two teams ACTUAL rivals. Instead it comes down to picking sides, you either root for one team or the other. 

Angels are placed second in the AL West division with the Dodgers taking first place in the NL West. 

The series was split 2-2. Prior to the match up the Dodgers had a 10 game win streak that was broken up the first game of the series with a shutout. 

Interesting enough rookie Cody Bellinger who has been the hot topic of baseball with 24 home runs was not able to hit any homers off the Angels starters and their bullpen. 

Joc Pederson made up for it by hitting two three-run homers one in game two and the other in game four. 

Pitching for the Angels seemed to be working, especially for Ricky Nolasco who did not give up a run in 6 1/3 innings resulting in the 4-0 shutout. 

Angels were able to get a win walk off style in game three. When Ben Revere reached home on a throwing error by Yasmani Grandal after the third strike to Cameron Maybin. 

The series also featured a little bench clearing action in game four, after Brandon Marrow hit Yunel Escobar in the shoulder with a 96-mph fastball. 

 Although no punches were thrown, the two teams were warned and the game was resumed. 

The freeway series wrapped up with many records and streaks being broken.

The Angels recorded the second largest crowd since 1998 with 44,807 in attendance, and Pederson’s homer in game four marked the 50th in June, giving the Dodgers a new franchise record. 

The two teams will resume to their division schedule, but as always fans will look forward until the next freeway series.