Dan Haren mystifies Angels in Dodgers' 2-1 win

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Dodgers starter Dan Haren delivers a pitch during the sixth inning of Wednesday’s game against the Angels. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Dodgers outfielders Yasiel Puig, center, and Carl Crawford, right, celebrate with their teammates after a 2-1 win over the Angels on Wednesday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Angels center fielder Mike Trout reacts after striking out with a man in scoring position in the ninth inning of the team’s 2-1 loss to the Dodgers on Wednesday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Dodgers center fielder Yasiel Puig gestures to his teammates heading into the ninth inning of the team’s 2-1 win over the Angels on Wednesday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Dodgers second baseman Dee Gordon throws out Angels baserunner Hank Conger (not pictured) during the third inning of the team’s 2-1 win Wednesday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Dodgers starter Dan Haren sits in the dugout during the team’s 2-1 win over the Angels on Wednesday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Dodgers left fielder Carl Crawford is congratulated by his teammates after scoring on a double by Andre Ethier (not pictured) against the Angels on Wednesday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Dodgers designated hitter Matt Kemp hits a solo home run during the second inning of Wednesday’s game against the Angels. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Dodgers designated hitter Matt Kemp celebrates after hitting a solo home run in the second inning of Wednesday’s game against the Angels. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Dodgers center fielder Yasiel Puig, left, speaks with Angels first baseman Albert Pujols before the start of Wednesday’s game. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Dodgers teammates Adrian Gonzalez, left, and Yasiel Puig talk before Wednesday’s game against the Angels. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Dodgers teammates (from left to right) Matt Kemp, Miguel Rojas, Andre Ethier, Juan Uribe and Carl Crawford celebrate the team’s 5-4 walk-off win over the Angels on Tuesday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Dodgers pinch hitter Andre Ethier, left, celebrates with teammate Adrian Gonzalez after the Dodgers’ 5-4 walk-off win over the Angels on Tuesday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Dodgers pinch-hitter Andre Ethier hits a bouncer to third base, allowing teammate Juan Uribe (not pictured) to score the winning run on a throwing error in the ninth inning of the Dodgers’ 5-4 win over the Angels on Tuesday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Dodgers third baseman Juan Uribe, right, celebrates next to Angels catcher Chris Iannetta after scoring on a walk-off error in the ninth inning of the team’s 5-4 win Tuesday at Dodger Stadium. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Angels teammates Josh Hamilton, left, and Mike Trout joke around before Tuesday’s game against the Dodgers. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw delivers a pitch during the second inning of Tuesday’s game against the Angels. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Dodgers third baseman Juan Uribe reacts after his throw to first base is too late to force out Mike Trout during the first inning of Tuesday’s game. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Angels teammates Howie Kendrick, left, and David Freese, center, celebrate after scoring as Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis looks on during the second inning of Tuesday’s game. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Angels baserunner Mike Trout, left, shares a laugh with Dodgers right fielder Matt Kemp after being called out on a double play during the first inning of a game on Aug. 5. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Dodgers third baseman Juan Uribe hits a three-run home run in the second inning against the Angels on Tuesday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Dodgers fans cheer as Matt Kemp scores a run during the sixth inning of Tuesday’s game against the Angels. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Angels first baseman Albert Pujols hits a solo home run in the eighth inning of the team’s 5-4 loss to the Dodgers on Tuesday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Garrett Richards is 12-4 with a 2.54 earned-run average. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Angels center fielder Mike Trout stretches before Monday’s Freeway Series game against the Dodgers. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Dodgers center fielder gestures during batting practice before Monday’s game against the Angels. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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A fan wearing a Mike Trout shirt and a Dodgers hat arrives at Dodger Stadium before the start of Monday’s interleague game between the Dodgers and Angels. (Danny Moloshok / Associated Press)

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Dodgers and Angels players greet one another before the start of Monday’s game. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Angels Manager Mike Scioscia, left, and Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly meet at home plate before the start of Monday’s game. (Danny Moloshok / Associated Press)

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Angels center fielder Mike Trout hits a run-scoring double during the first inning of Monday’s game against the Dodgers. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Angels second baseman Howie Kendrick, center, scores past Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis, left, as umpire Manny Gonzalez looks on during the first inning of Monday’s game. (Danny Moloshok / Associated Press)

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Dodgers starter Zack Greinke reacts after giving up four runs during the first inning of Monday’s game against the Angels. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Angels Manager Mike Scioscia, left, congratulates center fielder Mike Trout after he scores a run against the Dodgers on Monday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Dodgers starter Zack Greinke sits in the dugout after giving up four runs in the first inning of Monday’s game against the Angels. (Danny Moloshok / Associated Press)

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Dodgers batter Yasiel Puig can’t beat the throw to Angels first baseman Albert Pujols during the first inning of Monday’s game. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Angels pitcher Garrett Richards, left, speaks with catcher Hank Conger during Richards’ complete-game shutout over the Dodgers on Monday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Dodgers center fielder Yasiel Puig makes a catch during the sixth inning of the team’s 5-0 loss to the Angels on Monday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Angels starter Garrett Richards delivers a pitch during the first inning of the Angels’ 5-0 win over the Dodgers on Monday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

By Steve Dilbeck

Aug. 6, 2014 10:26 PM PT

Enlighten us. Your explanation will be as good as anyone’s.

The stars aligned, the body snatchers have returned, a blind squirrel, mirrors, Jobu was offered a cigar and rum.

Something strange and wonderful happened to Dan Haren on Wednesday night, something about as expected as discovering a pot of gold in the backyard.

Haren had been one lost-looking pitcher for weeks. He had gone 0-5 with a 10.03 earned-run average and a 1.93 WHIP in his last five games. His spot in the rotation had become, at best, precarious. Some figured one more outing and he would be replaced by somebody.

Haren on Wednesday looked like someone who very much wants to stay in the rotation, retiring the first 16 consecutive Angels and pitching the Dodgers to a 2-1 victory before a crowd of 43,669 at Angel Stadium.

Haren went 7 1/3 rather remarkable innings, holding the Angels to a mere three singles. He looked like a completely different pitcher than the one the Dodgers have been watching since the middle of May (3-8, 6.04 ERA).

He left the game with a runner on first, and the bullpen allowed him to score, so he was charged with one run on the three hits. He did not walk a batter and struck out four.

He was sharp and precise, and looking very much at home in the ballpark he pitched in for the Angels for parts of three seasons, and pitched rather well (3.25 ERA in 45 games).

And for the first time in their three games against the Angels, it was the Dodgers who struck first.

Matt Kemp worked the count full to lead off the second and then drilled a home run to left-center.

For Kemp, it was a continuation of his recent power display. He now has six home runs in his last nine games.

The Dodgers continued to apply the pressure against Angels starter Matt Shoemaker in the second. Carl Crawford was safe on an infield single that Howie Kendrick momentarily bobbled. He stole second and then scored on a double by Andre Ethier. It was Ethier’s first hit and RBI since July 22.

The Dodgers ended up loading the bases with two outs, but Adrian Gonzalez bounced out to second.

Then everything got real quiet.

Shoemaker regained command, and if he allowed a few hits, the Dodgers could not cash in on any attack. Meanwhile, the Angels -- the second-highest-scoring team in the majors -- went down almost eerily quietly against Haren (9-9).

Hank Conger ended Haren’s perfect game with his one-out single in the sixth. When John McDonald followed with a single to Yasiel Puig in center, Conger made the mistake of trying to take third. Another laser throw by Puig threw him out.

Haren retired the Angels in order in the seventh and then Erick Aybar led off the eighth with a bunt single. Haren got one out before turning the game over to the bullpen. J.P. Howell gave up a single to C.J. Cron that moved Aybar to third. He scored when Chris Iannetta hit a sacrifice fly off Brandon Leauge.

Kenley Jansen pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his 32nd save and maintain the Dodgers’ 2 1/2-game lead in the National League West.