ANAHEIM, Calif. — Mookie Betts was hitless in three at-bats in his first game since March 9 as the Dodgers concluded spring training play and the Freeway Series with a 4-1 victory over the Angels Tuesday evening at Angel Stadium.

The Dodger shortstop had been sidelined by an undiagnosed illness. He told reporters Sunday that he had lost 18 pounds in the span of two weeks, been throwing up every time he ate solid foods and could tolerate only liquids, such as smoothies.

Betts accompanied the team to Japan but returned to California before the first of two games against the Chicago Cubs to get more time to rebuild strength in a familiar environment, manager Dave Roberts told reporters in Tokyo.

Betts grounded out in the first, fouled out to first baseman Nolan Schanuel in the third and grounded out in the sixth.

Dustin May (2-0) and five relievers limited the Angels to one hit, a third-inning single by Logan O'Hoppe which drove in Jorge Soler. Soler had been hit by a pitch and advanced to second on Tim Anderson's ground out.

May struck out six and walked two in five innings.

Will Smith hit a two-run homer for the Dodgers in the second, following a walk to Max Muncy.

The Dodgers combined a one-out double by Joe Vetrano, a single by Sean McLain and a wild pitch by Brady Choban for their first run of the ninth. McLain scored on Miguel Rojas' sacrifice fly.

Angel starter Jack Kochanowicz (1-2) allowed two runs and two hits over seven innings, striking out three and walking two.

The Dodgers won two of three games to cut the Angels lead in the series that began in 1962 to 78-59, with five games ending in ties.

The Angels announced Monday Kochanowicz would be their fifth starter. Kochanowicz was chosen by the Angels in the third round of the 2019 draft and made his major league debut last July 11. He was 2-6 with a 3.99 ERA in 11 starts.

The Angels announced Tuesday they had released outfielder Mickey Moniak, who hit .219 with 14 home runs and 49 RBIs in 124 games last season.

Moniak was the first player chosen in the 2016 draft, reached the majors in 2020 and was traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to the Angels in 2022 with minor league outfielder Jadiel Sanchez in exchange for pitcher Noah Syndergaard.

The reigning World Series champion Dodgers will play their home opener Thursday against the Detroit Tigers.

The Angels will open the regular season Thursday in Chicago against the White Sox with left-hander Yusei Kikuchi making his debut with the team after signing a three-year $63 million contract in November.

Kikuchi was 9-10 with a 4.05 ERA in 32 starts in 2024, beginning the season with the Toronto Blue Jays and then being traded to the Houston Astros.

The Angels are trying to rebound from their worst record in their 64 seasons in the American League, 63-99.