Angels bullpen gets the job done

The game was in the hands of the bullpen.

Trouble for the Angels?

Not Friday night.

Justin Speier, Darren Oliver, Jose Arredondo and Brian Fuentes combined for four scoreless innings.

The bullpen that broke on this night was the Dodgers', as setup man Cory Wade served up a bases-loaded, two-run single to Chone Figgins in the eighth inning that sent the Angels to a 3-1 victory at Dodger Stadium.

"The bullpen has been coming together in the last week or so," Angels Manager Mike Scioscia said. "It's an important part of our club and it's great to see."

The Angels' bullpen entered the game with a 5.82 earned-run average that ranked last in the American League. But the unit has now given up only 11 runs in its last 44 innings, posting a 2.25 ERA in its last 11 appearances.

On paper, this wasn't the way the game was supposed to unfold. The 3.78 ERA that the Dodgers' relievers had entering this game ranked among the best in the National League.

With the victory, the Angels remained only two games behind first-place Texas in the AL West. The Dodgers' lead in the NL West was trimmed to 8 1/2 games as San Diego leapfrogged San Francisco into second place.

The events that caused so much jubilation in the Angels' clubhouse were the sources of frustration in the Dodgers'.

"We had 50 guys in scoring position," Orlando Hudson muttered as he raced past reporters on his way to the showers.

Six Dodgers reached third base. Only one of them scored. The Dodgers were one for 14 with men in scoring position.

Dodgers Manager Joe Torre tipped his hat to the Angels' pitchers.

"It was a good baseball game," Torre said, "and a very frustrating baseball game."

Torre admitted that his team looked like it was slowing down offensively. The Dodgers have been held to three or fewer runs in four of their last six games -- and 36 games remain on Manny Ramirez's suspension.

"We're scuffling," Torre said. "The longer it goes, the worse it gets."

Russell Martin had a particularly rough day.

Martin struck out with one out and the bases loaded in the fifth, which James Loney ended by grounding out to first. The All-Star catcher struck out again in the seventh, this time with men on the corners and one out.

"You get guys on third with less than two outs, you're supposed to put the ball in play," Martin said.