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Napoli Homers Twice For Angels In Rout Of Dodgers

Sunday, May 18, 2008

(Sports Network) - Mike Napoli swatted two home runs and the LA Angels of Anaheim delivered a 10-2 thumping of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the weekend 'Freeway Series' finale at Angel Stadium.

Napoli drove in a career-high five runs and Torii Hunter was 2-for-3, driving in a pair of runs, walked and scored a run. Casey Kotchman was a perfect 3-for-3, scoring two runs with a walk and an RBI helping Anaheim take two of three in the series.

"I'm feeling pretty good at the plate," Napoli said. "I'm trying to hit to the gap. It's nice to help our pitchers offensively."

Jered Weaver (3-5) was cruising until the fourth when he allowed the only two runs of the day for the Angels. He lasted only 5 1/3 innings, allowing five hits and two walks while striking out seven.

"I was able to locate my pitches and hit Nap's glove," Weaver said. "Mike did it both today. He put the right fingers down and hit the crap out of the ball."

Derek Lowe (2-4) got the start for the Dodgers on three days rest, taking Brad Penny's spot in the rotation after Penny experienced stiffness in his right arm following his last bullpen session. Lowe surrendered seven runs on 10 hits in five innings. The Dodgers have dropped seven of their last 10 outings.

Jeff Kent drove in both runs for the Dodgers and Russell Martin was 2-for-4 with a run scored.

"We need to play better," Dodgers manager Joe Torre said. "We put too much pressure on ourselves. You can't give up 10 runs. We need to get back to being consistent."

LA got on the board in the second with four runs. Hunter drew a one-out walk and Kotchman singled to left, advancing the runner to third. Erick Aybar followed with a grounder to first baseman James Loney who threw the ball into left center trying to get the runner at second. Hunter scored easily and Napoli followed with a three-run blast to left, giving Anaheim a 4-0 lead.

Juan Pierre and Martin singled and executed a double steal with one out in the fourth. Kent then ripped a single to center plating two.

The Angels got one back in the bottom half on a Napoli RBI single to center.

Maicer Izturis and Gary Matthews Jr. led off the fifth with back-to-back singles and Hunter singled back up the middle scoring one. Kotchman singled to left to bring in Matthews and make it a 7-2 game.

A one-out single and walk in the sixth ended Weaver's day after 5 1/3 innings but Jose Arredondo got Loney to ground into a double play to end the inning and keep the Dodgers four back.

LA extended their lead in the bottom half with Napoli's second homer of the day, a solo shot off Dodgers reliever Scott Proctor.

The Dodgers went to Yhency Brazoban in the seventh. Matthews, Garret Anderson and Hunter all doubled around one out to put two more runs on the board, making the score 10-2.

Game Notes

The Dodgers, who lost five of six versus the Angels last year, including all three road tests, had lost six straight at Angel Stadium before a 6-3 victory on Saturday...The Dodgers were 5-10 in interleague play last season, while the Angels finished 14-4 against the Senior Circuit...Anderson's double in the seventh extended his hitting streak to eight games...Napoli's home runs were his ninth and tenth of the season...It was Napoli's third multi-homer game of his career and second against the Dodgers.

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