KOLE CALHOUN homered twice in the Angels’ 3-2 loss to the Dodgers (Angels photo).

By Chris Abdelmalek 

The Los Angeles Angels took on the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium Friday night. The drive up the Golden State Freeway was not a promising one for the Halos, as they dropped the opener of this three-game series 3-2 to fall to 47-46 on the season.

Angels’ pitcher Felix Pena took the mound tonight for the boys in red and pitched well for the Halos. He gave up an early home run to home run derby participant Max Muncy to give the dodgers an early 1-0 lead.  The Angels would respond in the top of the third inning as Kole Calhoun hit his seventh home run of the season to tie the game at 1-1. Calhoun homered again in the top of fifth inning to take the lead for the Halos 2-1.

Pena held the dodgers to just one run over four innings, and since the Angels were playing at a National League stadium the pitcher spot was in play as far as hitting was concerned so he was lifted in the top of the fifth. The bullpen came in and held the game for a good portion until seventh inning when Cam Bedrosian gave up two runs to Muncy who singled off Bedrosian to give the Dodgers a 3-2 lead. An overthrow to home by Calhoun aided in the Dodger rally.

The Halos had opportunities in the eighth and ninth innings to tie the game up or take the lead but the Dodgers bullpen came to life and shut down the Angels offense tonight. In the ninth inning the Angels had runners on the corners with only one out when David Fletcher grounded into a game- ending double play. The final in this one was 3-2.

The one good thing the Halos can take away from this game is Calhoun’s resurgence with the bat. After struggling for most of the season to find his swing, Calhoun has been on the upswing as of late, batting .286 for the month of July with three home runs and eight RBI’s.

The Halos will face off against Alex Wood (5-5). Andrew Heaney (5-6) will take the mound for the Angels. He along with Tyler Skaggs have been the two most consistent pitchers for the team this season. Heaney was part of the trade that sent former infielder for the Angels Howie Kendrick to the Dodgers in exchange for Heaney. He took the victory against the Dodgers last time out and will look to do the same again tomorrow.