Dodgers take three of four from Angels

Going into this week’s four-game home and home series with the Angels, it figured to be the Dodgers’ aces, Clayton Kershaw and Zack Grienke, against Angels’ sluggers Mike Trout, Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton.

But when the dust settled Thursday night, Greinke had been shelled in a 5-0 loss ad Kershaw had a rocky start and left without a decision. The Dodgers heroes were Dan Haren, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Matt Kemp and Hanley Ramirez.

Haren, who was 0-5 in his last five starts with a 10 plus ERA, tossed a three-hitter through 7.1 innings to beat the Angels 2-1 Wednesday night. Haren retired the first 16 batters he faced to get the win.

Matt Kemp homered to continue his resurgence and Andre Ethier slashed a run-scoring double to pace the Dodgers.

Ryu pitched last night and tossed a masterful two-hitter through seven innings with Jamey Wright and Pedro Baez pitching in relief in the Dodgers’ 7-0 win. Baez showed a strong arm, hitting the gun at 98-99 mph.

Ramirez and Adrian Gonzalez had bases-loaded hits, Miguel Rojas played a suffocating shortstop and Yasiel Puig made a run-saving catch off the wall in left center to keep the Angels off the scoreboard.

On Wednesday night, Puig showed off his arm, gunning down Hank Conger trying to move from first to third on a single to center.

After sweeping the Giants and the Braves and then stumbling against Chicago, the Dodgers dropped the first game against the Angels then rolled off three straight wins over  one of the top teams in the American League.

Los Angeles faces a grueling road trip this week with games at Milwaukee and Atlanta before returning to Chavez Ravine next Friday.

The Dodgers head out of town with a 3.5 game lead in the National League West.