Angels lose 3-0 to Dodgers, look ahead to Weaver's return to mound

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Angels are getting Jered Weaver back just in time.

They lost 3-0 to the Dodgers on Tuesday night, getting two-hit by rookie left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu for their second straight defeat in the Freeway Series.

Weaver is set to start Wednesday for the first time at home this season when the rivalry moves to Anaheim for two more games.

The right-hander will come off the disabled list, where he's been since April 9 with a broken bone in his non-pitching arm that occurred when he was trying to get out of the way of a line drive at Texas.

"It's hard to believe it's been two months since he's been out there," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "Weave is a guy who sets the tone for our whole rotation. I know he's itching to go, and hopefully he'll give us a lift."

Weaver was 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA in his first two starts. He is 5-2 with a 2.63 ERA in nine career starts against the Dodgers.

"I don't think we'll see him go out there and throw 100-110 pitches tomorrow," Scioscia said, "but he'll have enough to get to a certain point in the game, hopefully, and our bullpen can help out."

Joe Blanton (1-8) gave up three runs and seven hits in seven innings while facing his former teammates for the first time since the right-hander signed with the Angels in the offseason after pitching the final two months of last season for the Dodgers. He struck out five and walked none.

"You feel for him. I mean, obviously we haven't scored many runs for him, but he pitches better than his record shows," Albert Pujols said. "He never complains and he works so hard, so you want the best for him."

The Angels played without slugger Josh Hamilton, who was scratched just before the game because of back spasms.

The Angels' only hits were a single by Howie Kendrick in the second and a double by Chris Iannetta in the eighth.

Hyun-Jin Ryu pitched a two-hitter for his first complete game in the major leagues and Luis Cruz hit his first homer of the season for the Dodgers.

Ryu (6-2) struck out seven and walked none. The left-hander from South Korea retired 19 consecutive batters during one stretch. His six victories lead all rookie pitchers in the majors, while his 71 2-3 innings pitched lead all rookies this season.

"He threw the ball well and didn't make too many mistakes," Pujols said. "He kept the ball down and pretty much kept us off-balance. We couldn't make him uncomfortable out there."

Ryu didn't just dominate on the mound. He showed off some skills in the field and at the plate. The rookie outsprinted Alberto Callaspo in a foot race to first base to record the second out of the second inning. Ryu slugged a one-hop double to deep right field in the third for the Dodgers' first hit.

That drew applause from a smiling Clayton Kershaw, who raised his arms in celebration from the dugout.

Cruz, batting a paltry .105 with two RBIs, gave the Dodgers a 2-0 lead in the fifth with a two-run shot into the left field pavilion.

"I felt like I made one mistake," Blanton said. "It was almost where I wanted it, but the pitch didn't do what it was supposed to do. It just kind of flattened out and didn't sink, but I had command of all of my pitches."

With one out in the sixth, Matt Kemp doubled and scored on A.J. Ellis' RBI single to make it 3-0. Kemp had been 5 for 38 with one homer and two RBIs going into the at-bat.

The Dodgers rallied from a five-run deficit to win the series opener 8-7 on Monday, snapping the Angels' eight-game winning streak.

NOTES: Ryu has pitched six or more innings in 10 of his 11 starts. ... Angels LHP Sean Burnett was placed on the 15-day DL, retroactive to Monday, with left elbow impingement, and RHP Tommy Hanson was reinstated from the restricted list. ... The Angels mourned longtime team orthopedist Lewis Yocum, whose weekend death from liver cancer was announced Tuesday. He was 65. ... The Angels fell to 1-4 in interleague play.