Chris Taylor homered for the second consecutive game as the Los Angeles Dodgers concluded exhibition play with a 6-4 victory over the Los Angeles Angels Tuesday evening at Dodger Stadium.
Taylor hit a three-run homer in the third inning off reliever Jaime Barria to increase the Dodgers lead to 5-1 in their third victory in three days.
The Angels cut the lead to 5-4 in the seventh on back-to-back home runs by Albert Pujols and Brian Goodwin off Jake McGee. The Dodgers announced earlier Tuesday they had signed the 33-year-old left-hander, four days after he was placed on waivers by the Colorado Rockies after four seasons with team.
McGee replaces right-handed pitcher Jimmy Nelson on the Dodgers 40-man roster. Nelson was transferred to the 45-day injured list Tuesday. He had season-ending lumbar surgery on July 6.
Rookie Zach McKinstry homered in the eighth to give the Dodgers a 6-4 lead.
Kike Hernandez opened the scoring for the Dodgers in the second with a two-run double.
Pujols’ fourth-inning ground out drove in Justin Upton, who led off with a double, with the Angels second run.
Rookie Josiah Gray (1-0), the first of seven Dodger pitchers, was credited with the victory, allowing two runs and three hits, including Tommy La Stella’s second-inning homer, in 3 2/3 innings, striking out two and walking one.
Kenley Jansen was credited with the save. The Dodgers requested the inning begin with a runner one first. Jansen induced the first bater he faced, Anthony Bemboom, to ground into a double play, then struck out another rookie, Elliot Soto, on a 2-2 cutter for the save.
Felix Pena (0-1), the first of six Angel pitchers, was charged with the loss, allowing two runs and two hits in two innings, striking out two and walking two.
The Dodgers will open the 60-game regular season Thursday night by playing host to the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium. The Angels will conclude exhibition play Wednesday night at Angel Stadium against the San Diego Padres. They will begin the regular season Friday at Oakland.