Potent Angels Sweep Freeway Series

If the trends that developed over the Freeway Series hold up over the next couple of months, the Angels and Dodgers could be playing for vastly different stakes when they next meet June 25.

The Angels, who finished a three-game sweep Sunday with a 13-5 victory in front of 39,368 at Angel Stadium, could have the inside track on their second playoff berth in three seasons.

The Dodgers, who appeared overwhelmed while being outscored, 29-13, over the three games, could be doing little more than playing out the string.

For now, the Dodgers can take solace in the fact that they open the season today against the San Diego Padres tied with their National League West rivals for first place. They can take comfort in little else, having finished the spring with a 12-22 record that was their worst since moving to Los Angeles.

The Dodgers’ hitting has been predictably weak, but their pitching -- an expected strength -- also has failed them. Kazuhisa Ishii on Sunday turned in another ineffective start, giving up eight runs in three innings, including consecutive home runs by Darin Erstad and Tim Salmon in the second inning.

The Angels swept the Freeway Series for the first time since 1994 to finish the spring with a 19-13 record, their best since going 21-10 in 1996. The Angels, who open the season Tuesday in Seattle, played especially well over the last two weeks, winning 10 of their last 13 games, with one tie.

“The way we were winning the last 10 days was important to us,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “Everything from running the bases aggressively to clutch hitting to working counts started to fall into place. We swung the bats well this weekend and want to continue that going into Tuesday.”

Barry Wesson turned in another strong performance Sunday, hitting two doubles and driving in two runs. Wesson, who won the Fresco Thompson Award as the Series’ most valuable player, had hit a tiebreaking two-run double Friday and a three-run homer Saturday. He will open the season at triple-A Salt Lake.

Alex Cora had two hits for the Dodgers, who stranded nine runners. They did have 12 hits off three Angel pitchers.