Angels close out spring in style

This could be really cool. As the Angels played at home for the first time this season, they unveiled their brand new tilted infield.

Maybe the two balls were flukes. Maybe not. But this really happened on Saturday at Angel Stadium: Two ground balls squirted down the third-base line, rolled foul -- and then spun back into fair territory for base hits.

The Angels and Dodgers wrapped the exhibition season on Saturday, then set sail for October. The Angels won the Freeway Series finale, 4-2, with a tag team of arms -- Joe Saunders, Chris Bootcheck, Chris Resop, Darren Oliver and Francisco Rodriguez -- holding the Dodgers scoreless over the final eight innings.

Rodriguez earned the save, electrifying the packed house and working the ninth inning for the only time this spring. Rodriguez, who led the American League in saves each of the last two seasons, retired the side on eight pitches -- all strikes -- against overmatched Dodgers minor leaguers Ivan DeJesus, Lucas May and Adam Godwin.

Saunders, who gave up nine hits in four innings, got the victory. Brad Penny, who gave up seven hits in five innings, took the loss. The Angels scored three runs in the fourth inning, but one was unearned after right fielder Matt Kemp cut in front of center fielder Brady Clark, then dropped a fly ball for an error.

Neither starting pitcher sparkled this spring.

Penny, the National League starter in last year’s All-Star game, gave up 28 hits in 16 innings, walking 12 and striking out six.

Saunders, who could be displaced by Bartolo Colon within the first month of the season, gave up 34 hits in 23 innings. He faced 19 batters Saturday and struck out none.

In the third inning, the Dodgers’ Wilson Valdez dropped a bunt down the third-base line. It rolled foul -- then rolled back fair, and Valdez had a hit.

In the fourth, the Angels’ Maicer Izturis chopped a ball up the third-base line. The ball veered foul, and Dodgers third baseman Wilson Betemit let up. Then the ball veered back fair, and Betemit was helpless. Izturis had a hit, and the Angels had a little chuckle.

“It was kind of funny,” Angels catcher Mike Napoli said.

It all could have been fluky, and good stuff for the blooper reels. The Angels won’t mind if other teams start worrying about whether the Anaheim groundskeepers actually are tilting the field, but Napoli is all for it.

“Good for our team,” he said. “We’ve got some speed on our team, and some good bunters. It works out for our team, so it’s good.”

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bill.shaikin@latimes.com