ANGELS defeated the Dodgers 6-2 on Friday.

By Pete Zarustica
Orange County Tribune

Two teams heading in different directions switched positions on Friday night as the visiting Los Angeles Angels defeated the host Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2 in Chavez Ravine.

Not even a late home run by former Angel Shohei Ohtani could keep the Halos from registering a relatively uncommon win over their regional rivals before 46,273 fans.

The Dodgers kept their one-game lead in the National League West over San Diego, as the Padres lost to the Seattle Mariners 5-1. The Angels remained in fifth place in the AL West.

The Angels got a strong pitching performance from Jack Kochanowicz (3-5). He worked 6.2 innings, yielding just five hits and one earned run. He struck out five batters and walked four.

Yoan Moncada gave the Halos a 2-0 first inning lead with a two-run homer to right. In the top of the fourth Zach Neto doubled in two runs for a 4-0 edge.

The Dodgers closed the gap with single runs in he fourth and eighth, the latter coming on Ohtani’s 16th homer of 2025. But the Angels extended their lead with two runs in the top of the ninth.

The top three in the Halo batting order knocked in all six runs. Neto was best, going 2-for-5 with two RBIs and a run scored. He’s now batting .273. best among starters.

Saturday’s game will feature the return of Clayton Kershaw on the mound for the Blue Crew, facing Tyler Anderson (2-1).