LOS ANGELES – Former Angel Juan Rivera hit a three-run home run and Andre Ethier added his 500th career RBI in the eighth inning, helping the Los Angeles Dodgers rally to beat the Angels 5-2 Tuesday night and end their 10-game road winning streak.
Jamey Wright (3-2) pitched a perfect eighth inning for the victory. Kenley Jansen retired the side in order in the ninth to earn his 10th save in 13 opportunities.
Ethier's run-scoring single tied the game 2-2 hours after the right fielder received an $85 million, five-year contract from the team. Angels pitching coach Mike Butcher visited the mound before Rivera drove Jerome Williams' next pitch to left field for a 5-2 lead. It was Williams' 102nd and final pitch.
The entire inning was set up when second base umpire Joe West called Dee Gordon safe on a two-out stolen base. Television replays appeared to show the throw from catcher Hank Conger beat the runner. Angels manager Mike Scioscia argued to no avail on his bobblehead night against his former team.
Williams (6-4) gave up five runs and six hits in 7 2-3 innings. He struck out seven and walked three in his first interleague start since July 4, 2004. The Angels' loss kept them from tying the club record for consecutive road wins, set in 1988.
Ethier showed off his defensive prowess with a diving catch of Maicer Izturis' sinking line drive to right field that ended the seventh with a runner on first.
The Dodgers tied the game 1-1 on Rivera's RBI single in the fourth, but the Angels regained the lead in the sixth on a bases-loaded error with two outs. Williams hit a fielder's choice grounder toward the middle that was fielded by former Angels second baseman Adam Kennedy, but Gordon got a late start covering the bag and dropped the toss from Kennedy as he reached the bag ahead of Conger.
Williams doubled with one out in the third and the Angels loaded the bases on a two-out walk by Torii Hunter and a single by Albert Pujols. Kendrys Morales hit a grounder to Kennedy, who was playing on the outfield grass as the Dodgers overshifted against Morales. But Kennedy booted the ball, allowing Williams to score the game's first run.
Aaron Harang started for the Dodgers and gave up two runs — both unearned — and six hits in seven innings, with five strikeouts and four walks.
NOTES: With his third-inning single, Pujols became one of nine active players with 4,000 career total bases. He now has 4,002. ... His double in the seventh gave Pujols multihit efforts in a career-high seven consecutive games. ... Gordon stole three bases. ... The Angels transferred OF Vernon Wells to the 60-day disabled list. ... They optioned OF Kole Calhoun to Triple-A Salt Lake after Monday night's game and selected RHP David Pauley to the major league roster. ... Angels C Bobby Wilson was to play in a rehab game Tuesday night with Inland Empire. ... The Kings will bring the Stanley Cup to Dodger Stadium on Wednesday night, with their players throwing out the first pitch.
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