LOS ANGELES -- It was a win in extra innings against the rival Dodgers on Friday, but it came at a cost, with left-hander Patrick Sandoval exiting the game due to injury in the third inning.

Taylor Ward was the hero with a go-ahead RBI single with two outs in the 10th inning of a 3-2 victory at Dodger Stadium, but it was marred by Sandoval’s injury. The left-hander’s frustrating season continued, as he left the game in the third inning with left forearm tightness after walking former teammate Shohei Ohtani on seven pitches. He is set to undergo further testing on his forearm and elbow on Saturday and had obvious concern about the potential severity of the injury.

“[Feeling] not the best, I’ll do some tests in the morning and see what we’ve got,” Sandoval said. “It was really painful. It was something I’ve never really felt before, so that was pretty scary. I’ve felt normal aches and bruises, but nothing like that.”

Sandoval immediately signaled to the dugout after throwing an 89 mph sinker out of the zone and was met at the mound by manager Ron Washington and trainer Matt Biancuzzo. He shook his elbow and forearm area as he walked off the field and was replaced by right-hander Hunter Strickland. Sandoval, who threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings and 34 pitches before leaving with the injury, said he felt it during the at-bat with Ohtani but especially after the last pitch. He said he’s not sure what to expect from his MRI exam.

“My spirits are pretty low right now, just because it's pretty fresh,” Sandoval said. “But we'll see.”

He hasn’t had elbow issues in the past, as the only major ailment he’s suffered since making his Major League debut in 2019 was a season-ending lower back injury in August 2021. But he’s otherwise been durable, making 27 starts in ’22 and 28 starts in ’23 as part of a six-man rotation.

Sandoval was the club’s Opening Day starter this year but struggled throughout late March and April, posting a 6.33 ERA through his first six starts. But he had been pitching better recently, posting a 4.44 ERA over his last 10 starts, dating back to May 1, and a 3.96 ERA over his last five outings going back to May 30. Altogether, he's gone 2-8 with a 5.08 ERA and 81 strikeouts and 35 walks in 79 2/3 innings over 16 starts.

It would be a major blow for the Angels to lose Sandoval to a lengthy injury, as the rotation is already thin with lefty Reid Detmers at Triple-A Salt Lake and right-hander José Soriano on the injured list with an abdomen infection. Detmers is still trying to sort things out at Triple-A with a 5.50 ERA through his first three starts, while Soriano will be out until at least July 2.

Right-hander Zach Plesac was called up to join the rotation this week and will start the series finale against the Dodgers on Saturday. Fellow right-hander Chase Silseth could be an option going forward, as he made his third rehab start with Salt Lake on Friday after being out since April 7 with right elbow inflammation. But Silseth gave up five runs over 4 2/3 innings and has posted a 10.22 ERA in those Triple-A starts, so he might need more time before he’s ready.

With Sandoval only pitching into the third inning, the Angels were also forced to use five relievers ahead of Plesac’s second start of the year. But they saw strong performances from Strickland, Ben Joyce, Luis García and Carlos Estévez.

“The best part of the night for me was the bullpen coming in and keeping that game there after we lost Sandoval,” Washington said. “The bullpen did a tremendous job.”

Lefty Matt Moore gave up a towering two-run shot to Ohtani in the fifth that went a Statcast-projected 455 feet, but he was the only reliever to struggle. The Angels came back to tie it in the sixth, when they were helped by getting hit by three pitches from reliever Ryan Yarbrough.

Ward provided the game-winner with his two-out single in the 10th for the Angels’ first extra-innings win of the season, which also snapped a 10-game losing streak vs. the Dodgers dating back to August 2021. He was pleased with the way his team responded to Sandoval’s injury.

“That was a bummer,” Ward said. “I haven't had a chance to talk to him yet but I hope everything's good with him and he’ll be back on the field quickly. But to see the guys rally around him and shut down the door, that was really good.”