LA Angels of Anaheim @ Los Angeles Dodgers (9/27/20) — Final: LAD 5, LAA 0

[rexkap]

The Los Angeles Dodgers cruise to the 5-0 victory over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, finishing the regular season with their fourth straight win.

Victor González, slated as the Dodgers’ opener, pitched a 1-2-3 opening frame, topping it off with a strike-out. AJ Pollock took Patrick Sandoval deep to leadoff the bottom half, getting LA on the board first and early. González remained in for the second, and Shohei Ohtani beat him to 1st for an infield single to start the inning. Dustin May entered at that point, tasked with a bulk relief appearance to simulate his probable postseason role. May ultimately faced the minimum, striking-out a batter before Austin Barnes cut down Ohtani attempting to steal 2nd. Sandoval struck-out Chris Taylor and Kiké Hernàndez to end the inning with a perfect frame. In the third, May worked around a single, and Barnes and Joc Pederson both walked to begin the home half. Sandoval got ahead of Pollock, but he battled back and worked a nine-pitch walk to load the bases with still no-outs. Corey Seager grounded into a double-play, but it brought home a run to give the Dodgers a 2-0 advantage. Sandoval got Justin Turner to pop-up on the infield, seemingly ending the inning; however, Jared Walsh plain and simply dropped the ball, allowing Pederson to score and make it 3-0. Despite walking a batter, May struck-out the side in the fourth. Hernàndez doubled with two-down in LA’s half, but he was left stranded. In the fifth, May erased a walk with a double-play and pitched a 1-2-3 frame to conclude his very good day. Earning the victory, the 23-year-old finished a spectacular rookie campaign with a 2-1 record and 2.57 ERA. In the home turn, Pollock singled and Turner walked — capping off his regular season with a 31 game on-base streak. Max Muncy grounded-out though, unable to take advantage of the opportunity. Pedro Báez got the ball in the sixth and worked around a two-out walk. Taylor singled in the bottom frame but that was all. Blake Treinen entered for the seventh, and he retired the Angels in order. Pederson punched a base hit up the middle on the first pitch he saw prior to Pollock going dead center for a two-run home run, adding a pair for the Dodgers.

Brusdar Graterol pitched a clean frame in the eighth, and LA went quietly offensively. Kenley Jansen was given the ninth, a non-save chance, and he struck-out a batter in a brief and spotless frame to end the ballgame.

The boys in blue complete the sweep of the Angels, and close the regular season with an MLB-best record of 43-17. In an unprecedented year, the Dodgers head into the postseason holding the #1 seed. They’ll have tomorrow and Tuesday off before hosting the Milwaukee Brewers in the best-of-3 NL Wild Card series from Dodger Stadium, with game 1 on Wednesday. Walker Buehler will be given the start, looking to lead LA to the all-important series opener win. A starter is undecided for the Brewers, who finished with a record of 29-31, just barely sneaking into the final playoff spot. Well, I guess it’s time for playoff baseball! We’ll see you Wednesday!