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Mookie Betts, Dodgers’ All-Stars lead way in 9th straight victory over Angels

July 8, 2023

Angels center fielder Jo Adell leaps to make a catch that robbed the Dodgers’ Max Muncy of a home run during the first inning on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Angels starting pitcher Griffin Canning throws to the plate during their game against the Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman, right, is congratulated by third base coach Dino Ebel as he runs the bases after hitting a solo home run during the first inning of their game against the Angels on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Fans reach for a ball hit for a home run by the Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman as Angels center fielder Jo Adell looks on during the first inning on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The Dodgers’ J.D. Martinez gestures as he crosses home plate after hitting a solo home run during the second inning of their game against the Angels on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The Dodgers’ Mookie Betts connects for a solo home run during the third inning of their game against the Angels on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. Betts homered again in the fifth. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The Dodgers’ Mookie Betts gestures as he runs the bases after hitting a solo home run during the third inning of their game against the Angels on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. Betts homered again in the fifth. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The Dodgers’ Mookie Betts, left, is greeted by teammate Freddie Freeman after hitting a solo home run during the third inning of their game against the Angels on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. Betts homered again in the fifth. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Angels starting pitcher Griffin Canning, right, hands the ball to Manager Phil Nevin after being removed during the third inning of their game against the Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani runs to first base after hitting a single during the fourth inning of their game against the Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Angels star Shohei Ohtani, left, and Dodgers star Mookie Betts share a laugh after Ohtani reached second base on a fielder’s choice during the fourth inning on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Angels star Shohei Ohtani, left, and Dodgers star Mookie Betts greet each other after Ohtani reached second base on a fielder’s choice during the fourth inning on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Angels star Shohei Ohtani, left, and Dodgers star Mookie Betts joke after Ohtani reached second base on a fielder’s choice during the fourth inning on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Dodgers starting pitcher Tony Gonsolin throws to the plate during their game against the Angels on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The Angels’ Mickey Moniak gestures as he finishes running the bases after hitting a three-run home run during the fourth inning of their game against the Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The Angels’ Mickey Moniak, right, is greeted by teammate Shohei Ohtani after hitting a three-run home run during the fourth inning of their game against the Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The Angels’ Mickey Moniak celebrates in the dugout after hitting a three-run home run during the fourth inning of their game against the Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Dodgers second baseman Mookie Betts dives for but can’t get to a ball hit by the Angels’ Matt Thaiss during the seventh inning on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Dodgers and Angels fans watch batting practice before a game between the regional rivals on Friday at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

USC quarterback Caleb Williams throws out a ceremonial first pitch before a game between the Dodgers and the Angels on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Injured Angels star Mike Trout sits in the dugout with his left hand wrapped during their game against the Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. Trout had wrist surgery this week and will be out for 1-2 months. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Angels star Shohei Ohtani waits to take batting practice before their game against the Dodgers on Friday at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Angels star Shohei Ohtani waves to fans during batting practice before their game against the Dodgers on Friday at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Fans gather behind home plate to watch Angels star Shohei Ohtani, not pictured, take batting practice before a game against the Dodgers on Friday at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Angels star Shohei Ohtani gets loose during batting practice before their game against the Dodgers on Friday at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Angels star Shohei Ohtani, left, and his interpreter walk off the field after warming up before a game against the Dodgers on Friday at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

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LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers’ All-Stars are steaming toward Seattle on hot streaks.

Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, J.D. Martinez and Will Smith, who are all headed to the All-Star Game next week, each hit homers as the Dodgers beat the free-falling Angels, 11-4, in the Freeway Series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium.

“It’s great and it’s contagious,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “It’s hard not to say it started with Mookie. But Mookie, Freddie, Will, J.D. – when those guys are swinging the bats the way they are, we put up a lot of runs. Everyone followed suit tonight. A lot of action on the bases.”

Betts hit a pair of homers, and Freeman, Martinez and Smith each hit one. All told, the four players combined for nine hits and nine RBIs. Betts is now 15 for 31 with five homers in the past nine games.

“I don’t know,” Betts said. “I’m just trying to get good pitches to hit. I’ve got Freddie behind me so that always helps getting me some pitches to hit. And Smitty as well. It’s really just getting good pitches to hit and not missing them.”

The four All-Stars alone produced more than enough for the Dodgers to win their ninth consecutive game against the Angels, the longest streak since the teams began meeting in interleague play in 1997.

The Angels are desperate for a victory against anyone, let alone their rivals from up the freeway. The Angels have lost eight of their last nine games.

“It’s been rough,” Angels manager Phil Nevin said. “I said it the other day, we’ve got to play better. It’s little things in a lot of different areas that need to get better. Making no excuses.”

The Angels had two players selected to start the All-Star Game, but only Shohei Ohtani will actually be there. Mike Trout is hurt, as are Brandon Drury, Anthony Rendon, Zach Neto, Logan O’Hoppe and Gio Urshela.

The patchwork lineup that remained could not keep up with the Dodgers’ four All-Star hitters, who will be joined in Seattle by left-hander Clayton Kershaw (who will sit out the game).

Angels starter Griffin Canning gave up Freeman’s 16th homer of the season on a hanging curveball in the first inning. He allowed solo homers to Martinez and Betts in each of the next two innings.

Canning would have given up another homer, but center fielder Jo Adell robbed Max Muncy of a homer with a leap at the fence to end the first inning. Adell’s defense has been an issue for most of his major league career, but he’s improved enough for the Angels to trust him in center now.

“He really looks good out there,” Nevin said.

Martinez, who came into the game in a 2-for-28 slump, then doubled home a run to put the Dodgers ahead 4-0 in the third.

“My stuff just wasn’t very sharp,” Canning said. “Left some pitches up. And with good hitters, that’s what they’re going to do.”

Canning had been on a roll with a 2.25 ERA over six starts, but he’s now allowed nine runs in 8⅔ innings in his last two starts.

At that point, the Angels summoned former Dodger Tyler Anderson, who was available out of the bullpen because they didn’t pick him for a start in one of the final two games before the All-Star break.

Anderson saved the bullpen by pitching 4⅓ innings. He gave up Betts’ second homer of the game and his two-run double in the sixth, but before that, the Angels briefly had hope of getting back in the game against recently struggling Dodgers right-hander Tony Gonsolin.

Gonsolin retired all nine hitters he faced in the first three innings, but he gave up singles to Ohtani and Taylor Ward in the fourth. He then left a curveball to Mickey Moniak up in the zone, and Moniak drilled it for a three-run homer, pulling the Angels within 4-3.

That also snapped the Angels’ 23-inning scoreless streak against the Dodgers, which dated to last season.

Gonsolin also surrendered a Mike Moustakas homer in the seventh, but that was all he gave up in 6⅔ innings, which showed improvement from his recent work. Gonsolin had given up 15 earned runs in 14⅓ innings in his previous three games, all Dodgers losses.

“Take out the four runs tonight on a couple bad pitches and I’m very pleased with the outing overall,” Gonsolin said. “I felt I was really efficient, attacked the zone, attacked all the hitters.”

Coming on the heels of Julio Urías’ six-inning performance on Thursday, the Dodgers have had starters finish the sixth in consecutive games for the first time since June 13-14.

Angels starters have struggled throughout the team’s 1-8 stretch, posting a 6.96 ERA in that span. They’ve allowed 11 homers in 42⅔ innings.

“We talk about hitting being contagious,” Nevin said. “Pitching can be too. You look for a stopper here now and again. I believe we have that tomorrow with Reid (Detmers). He’s been throwing the ball great. We just haven’t jumped out to good starts. Runs are scoring early. We’re not scoring early. You get behind early and it puts a lot of pressure on a lot of people. There’s a lot of areas we have to play much better and we’re not doing that right now.”

Staff writer Bill Plunkett contributed to this story.

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