Josh Hamilton hits first home run as an Angel in 16-8 win over Dodgers

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Josh Hamilton hit his first home run in an Angels uniform, Peter Bourjos hit a three-run triple, and Jered Weaver was solid in his exhibition debut on Friday as the Angels notched their first Cactus League victory, a 16-8 victory over a Dodgers split-squad team in Tempe Diablo Stadium.

Hamilton, the former Texas Rangers slugger who signed a five-year, $125-million deal in December, crushed a Hyun-Jin Ryu slider over the wall in right-center field for a two-run homer in the first inning.

He also stroked an opposite-field single to left in the third inning and saw 16 pitches in two at-bats, a significant achievement for the notoriously aggressive outfielder who is working to improve his plate discipline.

“Josh saw some pitches but was aggressive enough to turn it loose when he liked a pitch,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “He had two great at-bats.”

Bourjos capped a seven-run third inning off former Angels right-hander Matt Palmer with a bases-clearing triple to right-center field. Luis Rodriguez, who had three hits, Luis Jiminez and Andrew Romine each added run-scoring singles in the inning for the Angels, who were winless with two ties in seven exhibition games before Friday.

The teams combined for 24 runs, 30 hits and five errors, four of the miscues committed by the Dodgers.

Weaver gave up a single to Dee Gordon and an RBI double to Luis Cruz in the first inning but retired the side in order in the second, inducing two infield popups and a fly ball. He threw 41 pitches.

Angels reliever Kevin Jepsen had a rocky debut, giving up two runs on three hits, including RBI doubles by Yasiel Puig and Cruz, in the third inning. He was followed by right-hander Barry Enright, who gave up one run and four hits in two innings.

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