Trout's 3 RBIs secure Freeway Series sweep

April 3rd, 2016

ANAHEIM -- Angels center fielder Mike Trout, who missed the first two games of the exhibition Freeway Series against the Dodgers because of a stomach virus, returned in midseason form for Saturday night's finale.
Trout had a pair of doubles and a walk in three plate appearances, scored a run and drove in three as the Angels completed a sweep with an 8-1 victory at Angel Stadium in front of 42,643. Albert Pujols added a three-run home run in the sixth inning and Ji-Man Choi slugged a pinch-hit homer in the eighth as the Angels piled on.

Dodgers starter Alex Wood, No. 4 in their season-opening rotation, had said he felt the best he had since 2014 after his last spring outing. He wasn't as sharp in this one, allowing the Angels four earned runs on eight hits in 3 2/3 innings. He left with a 1-1 tie and the bases loaded, before Trout greeted reliever Zach Lee with his three-run double in the fourth inning. All the runs were charged to Wood.
"It was OK," said Wood, who threw 41 strikes in 68 pitches. "I didn't command it the way I did last time, but I was really excited about the way it came out of my hand.
"I feel good. That's the biggest thing. Now, I have to strap it on. The last tuneup, it's over. It's exciting to move on. ... I haven't felt this good in a while."

The Angels loaded the bases in the second inning on two hits and a hit batter, but Wood escaped damage on a Yunel Escobar double-play ball. Trout hit his first double in the third, and he scored when C.J. Cron lined a double over the head of Dodgers center fielder Joc Pederson.
With another bases-loaded situation in the fourth, Wood said he'd hoped to pitch to Trout, but manager Dave Roberts opted to go with Lee. Trout's second double made it 4-1.
Angels starter Nick Tropeano, who will open the season with Triple-A Salt Lake, pitched out of a two-out, first-and-third situation in the third inning by striking out Yasiel Puig. Tropeano allowed one run in four innings, striking out two.

The Dodgers scored a run off him in the fourth on a double-play grounder that brought home Corey Seager, who had hustled out a double to open the inning.
Angels left-hander Tyler Skaggs, in his second impressive outing after Tommy John surgery, pitched three scoreless innings in relief.
"I was extremely nervous running out of the bullpen," Skaggs said. "I haven't done that in a long time. It was just great to be back on the mound here. Surreal feeling."
Up next for Angels: The Angels and Cubs will play a final exhibition game at 12:05 p.m. PT on Sunday at Angel Stadium. Right-hander Matt Shoemaker will go against Cubs right-hander Kyle Hendricks. The same two teams will open the regular season Monday in Anaheim.
Up next for Dodgers: The Dodgers are off Sunday and open the regular season on Monday, with left-hander Clayton Kershaw pitching against the Padres' Tyson Ross at Petco Park at 4:05 p.m. PT.