Angels get HR from Hunter, rally with 2 in 9th to beat Dodgers 4-3

Angels beat Dodgers 4-3 with 2 in 9th

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Torii Hunter homered and Peter Bourjos scored the winning run on Chin-Lung Hu’s fielding error with two out in the ninth as the Angels rallied for a 4-3 victory over the Dodgers on Friday night.

The game was the opener of a home-and-home set that will conclude spring training for both of Southern California’s reigning division champions.

The Dodgers, shooting for their third straight NL West title, took a 3-2 lead in the sixth against reliever Jeremy Hill with a sacrifice fly by Rafael Furcal. But the Angels came back with two in the ninth against Justin Miller, who was given the ball by manager Joe Torre after regular closer Jonathan Broxton pitched a scoreless eighth.

Pinch-hitter Cory Aldridge ignited the rally with a leadoff triple and scored the tying run on Bourjos’ double inside third base. Freddy Sandoval reached on a bunt single, and Miller retired Robb Quinlan and Terry Evans before Hu booted Hainley Statia’s grounder toward the middle.

Kevin Jepsen pitched a scoreless ninth for the win, and Miller took the loss. After the game, the Dodgers reassigned Miller, right-hander Luis Ayala and catcher J.D. Closser to their Triple-A Albuquerque club.

Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw allowed two runs and three hits over four innings and struck out five in his final tuneup for next Thursday’s season debut at Pittsburgh. The right-hander, who just turned 22 on March 19, is beginning his third season in the big leagues after going 8-8 last year with a 2.79 ERA and 185 strikeouts in 171 innings. He was 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA this spring.

Angels starter Ervin Santana gave up two runs and five hits in 4 2-3 innings and struck out nine in his final dress rehearsal leading up to his scheduled start next Wednesday against Minnesota. The right-hander was 1-0 with a 4.20 ERA in his four spring training starts against major league competition. His first one was delayed because of inflammation in his elbow.

Dodgers manager Joe Torre gave Garret Anderson the start in left field at Angel Stadium, which he called home for his first 15 big league seasons. He was 1 for 2 with a walk in his homecoming to the Big A, leaving for a pinch-runner after a leadoff double in the fifth. Anderson, who spend last season with the Atlanta Braves, holds the Angels’ career franchise records for games played, hits, RBIs, at-bats, extra-base hits, doubles, total bases and runs scored.

Rafael Furcal opened the game with a double and scored on a wild pitch to Anderson. Johnson made it 2-0 in the second with a line-drive into the first row of seats above the short fence in the left field corner, the first homer allowed by Santana this spring. The Dodgers threatened again in the third, but Santana struck out Manny Ramirez, Matt Kemp and James Loney with runners at first and second.

The Angels tied it in the fourth. Torii Hunter sliced an opposite-field drive over the short fence in the right field corner with one out for the Halos’ first hit and the first home run given up this spring by Kershaw. Hideki Matsui singled and scored on Juan Rivera’s sacrifice fly.

NOTES: INF Doug Mientkiewicz also was released by the Dodgers, and RHP Luis Ayala and C J.D. Closser were reassigned to their Triple-A Albuquerque club. OF Jason Repko and LHP Eric Stults cleared waivers. Stults was officially sold to the Hiroshima Carp. … The Angels have invited Tim Salmon, the franchise’s career home run leader, to throw out the first pitch in Monday night’s season opener.