ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) – Mike Trout homered his first time up in Southern California since being selected AL MVP, and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Dodgers 3-2 Thursday night after Yasiel Puig was shaken up in a violent collision with new teammate Howie Kendrick.
In the opening game of the exhibition Freeway Series, Puig and Kendrick collided in the fifth inning while chasing a shallow fly by Trout that fell for a leadoff triple. Kendrick, who spent his first nine big league seasons playing second base for the Angels before they traded him to the Dodgers in December, peeled off when he heard Puig call for the ball at the last instant – but could not avoid hitting him.
Puig went down and was tended to by a trainer before walking off the field under his own power. The Dodgers said he was removed from the game as a precaution and was expected to be fine.