Dodgers 5 HRs, bounce Angels 9-5; Astros get last AL spot

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Justin Turner homered twice and AJ Pollock, Will Smith and Edwin Ríos also went deep as the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied to beat the Angels 9-5 on Friday to open the first-ever season-closing Freeway Series.

The loss mathematically eliminated the Angels from postseason contention in Joe Maddon’s first season as manager, and gave the final AL playoff spot to the Houston Astros.

The Angels' longshot hopes had rested on sweeping the Dodgers in the Freeway Series and Houston losing its final three games. The Astros kept the Angels’ optimism flickering when they dropped a 5-4 decision at Texas in 10 innings. The Angels led 5-3 at the time.

But Turner hit a solo shot leading off the fifth and Max Muncy singled to chase Andrew Heaney. Smith followed with a two-run drive off Matt Andriese (2-4) that gave the Dodgers a 6-5 lead. It was the major league-leading 112th homer of the season for the team with the best record in baseball.

Corey Seager's diving stop of Mike Trout at short saved the potential tying run for the third out in the seventh. Trout earlier homered off Clayton Kershaw.

The Dodgers' victory allowed the Astros to finish second in the AL West and qualify for the 16-team postseason. Los Angeles lost to Houston in the 2017 World Series; the Astros' sign-stealing scandal was later exposed.

The Angels got homers from Trout, Justin Upton and Jared Walsh, but blew three leads in the game. Trout’s three-run drivet — his 17th of the season — gave them a 3-1 lead in the third. Trout's runs were unearned after Seager's fielding error. Seager was charged with a second error after dropping a foul ball by Shohei Otani in the ninth.

Turner's two-out solo shot landed in the Dodgers' bullpen in right, pulling them to 3-2 in the third. Pollock...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Dodgers-5-HRs-bounce-Angels-9-5-Astros-get-last-15598946.php