The Los Angeles Angels rebounded with an 11-4 win in the series finale against the Colorado Rockies to avoid being swept Wednesday ahead of the second edition of the Freeway Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers beginning Friday.
It was a much-needed win for the Angels, which had lost its last three games going into the matchup. The Angels were powered by four-hit games for infielder Nick Madrigal and left fielder Wade Meckler, who combined to go 8-for-10 with three runs scored and an RBI.
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First baseman Vaughn Grissom had a big night as well, going 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBI. The Angels had 16 hits in the game and walked three times, getting most of its damage against Rockies starter Michael Lorenzen.
Lorenzen took his eighth loss of the season after pitching 3.1 innings and allowing eight runs on 10 hits and two walks while striking out five. He was outdueled by Angels young rookie right-hander Walbert Urena, who has been excellent since moving to the starting rotation.
Urena tossed six innings of three-run ball on three hits and three walks while punching out seven, earning his fifth quality start and third win in the big leagues. He is now 3-4 with a 2.68 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 48 strikeouts through 11 games (nine starts, 50.1 innings).
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The Angels turn its attention to the Dodgers, which had its way with the Angels during the first meeting of the Freeway Series in mid-May. The Dodgers swept and outscored the Halos 31-3 over three games.
Game 1 of this series will feature a pitching matchup between Angels lefty Reid Detmers and Dodgers righty Roki Sasaki.
Detmers has been solid over his last few starts, including an eight-inning, 14-strikeout performance against the Texas Rangers on May 24. He is 2-5 with a 4.63 ERA and 1.18 WHIP with 82 strikeouts (tied-eighth) through 12 starts (68 innings).
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Detmers last worked against the Tampa Bay Rays and allowed three runs on five hits and three walks with seven strikeouts over five innings to earn just his second win this year.
Sasaki has had a similar season, posting a 3-3 record with a 4.59 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 50 strikeouts through 10 starts (51 innings). He last pitched against the Philadelphia Phillies and allowed one run on three hits and one walk while fanning seven in 5.1 innings.
On May 17, a 10-1 blowout win for the Dodgers, Sasaki threw seven innings of one-run ball on four hits with eight strikeouts.
First pitch is at 7:10 p.m. PDT on MLB.TV and regional sports networks.
