It wasn’t a great pitching performance from Clayton Kershaw or a power hitting display from the loaded lineup that gave the Los Angeles Dodgers a 5-4 win over the Los Angeles Angels to call it a draw in their two game series, but an error from David Freese on his throw to home which allowed Juan Uribe to score the winning run.

Andre Ethier grounded into third on the pitch from Kevin Jepsen who found himself in something of a bind but it was Freese rocketing a ball to home plate that made it difficult for Chris Iannetta to hold on. Uribe, who was having an excellent day at the plate with 2-for-4 and 3 RBIs ended up scoring his second run of the game by simply running through, getting luck by the terrible decision from the third baseman.

Kershaw started for the Dodgers but didn’t get to pick up the win as Brian Wilson blew his third lead of the season. The Dodgers entered the 8th inning with a 4-3 lead but Albert Pujols hit his 513th career home run (21st all-time past Ernie Banks and Eddie Mathews) and 21st of the season to make it a tied game. Wilson did finish the inning, striking out two batters, but his ERA continues to be worrying with a 5.05.

Kenley Jansen picked up the win by striking out all three batters who faced him in the ninth inning, but it was another good display although less than perfect from the best pitcher in baseball. Kershaw allowed seven hits and three runs during seven innings of baseball, including giving up an RBI double to Pujols which scored Mike Trout. He did strike out seven batters as well, giving up three runs, two of them in the second inning as Iannetta hit a two-RBI double.

As always, the Dodgers batters had just enough run support to make it through. Juan Uribe hit a three-run homer to take back the lead in the second inning, his sixth time going deep this season. Scott Van Slyke hit a sacrifice fly that brought home Matt Kemp to give the Dodgers the lead for one more time before the slightly dramatic finish.

The ball just didn’t have enough pace on it for David to get it and make a throw in one motion. On the defensive end, we hurt ourselves. Against a good club, we’ve got to play a clean game, especially against a guy like Clayton Kershaw.

Much was made before the game of Mike Trout facing off against Clayton Kershaw for the first time in their careers. Trout did finish with 2-for-3 against Kershaw, but finished with 0 RBIs and eventually ended up on the losing side, keeping the Angels a bit behind the Oakland A’s in the AL West.

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