The Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim began their four-game Freeway Series last night at Dodger Stadium in a matchup of the teams with the second- and fifth-best records in Major League Baseball.
The Angels’ 7-5 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays Sunday improved their record to 66-44, bringing them within one game of the American League West Division-leading Oakland Athletics (67-43).
The Dodgers’ 7-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs Sunday dropped their record to 63-49, putting them percentage points behind the Detroit Tigers (61-47) and Baltimore Orioles (62-48).
Zack Greinke (12-6) will be the Dodgers starting pitcher, opposing Garrett Richards (11-4).
Greinke is 1-4 in nine career games against the Angels with a 4.10 ERA. He most recently faced the Angels on May 27, 2013, allowing six runs (four earned) in four innings and did not figure in on the decision in the Dodgers 8-7 victory. Greinke made 13 starts for the Angels in 2012.
Richards has no record in four games against the Dodgers with a 2.63 ERA.
The Angels and Dodgers split four games in 2013, with each team winning both home games. The Angels have a 56-40 lead in the series, which began in 1997. The teams are 24-24 at what the Angels continue to refer to as Chavez Ravine, continuing a policy that began when they used Dodger Stadium as their home field from 1962-65.
The Angels have a 91-48 record in interleague play since 2007, the best in Major League Baseball over that span.
The teams will play again at Dodger Stadium Tuesday, with the series then shifting to Angel Stadium for games Wednesday and Thursday.
Singer Tony Orlando will throw the ceremonial first pitch. The national anthem will be sung by Ruby Lewis, who stars in the musical “We Will Rock You,” which will run at the Ahmanson Theatre through Aug. 24.
Al Ferrara, an outfielder with the Dodgers in 1963 and 1965-68, will sign autographs in the right field pavilion plaza from 5-7 p.m., the same time as Derrel Thomas, an infielder-outfielder on the Dodgers 1981 World Series
championship team, will be signing autographs in the left field pavilion plaza.
U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Sean Mc Tague of Temecula will be honored as the Veteran of the Game. Mc Tague is an avionics electrical technician and MH-65D flight mechanic, responsible for maintaining and repairing electrical systems. He also serves as a flight safety observer.
Mc Tague has served deployments to the Bering Sea and provided support during Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Ike. His accolades include the Meritorious Service Medal and Coast Guard Achievement Medal.
All auto gates will open at 4:30 p.m. and all stadium gates at 5 p.m. for the 7:10 p.m. game.
