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Dodgers Hold Off Reds For Sweep

June 18, 2017

Logan Forsythe and Justin Turner homered as the Dodgers held on to beat the Reds 8-7 on Sunday afternoon at Great American Ball Park. The win gave LA a 3-game sweep over Cincinnati.

Kenta Maeda (5-3) got the win after pitching five strong innings, and driving in two runs. Kike Hernandez also made a game-saving catch in the 8th inning to help LA get the win.

The victory was the Dodgers’ ninth in the last ten games. It also completed a six game road trip in which they went 5-1 against the Indians and Reds.

“It got a little close for us,” Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts said. “Our bullpen has been lights out all year. They put some good at-bats against us. Like I’ve said, that’s a very good offensive club. To get out of here with three (wins) is huge.”

Maeda, in his first appearance since June 9 and first start since June 4, allowed just three hits and one run in five innings.

Kenley Jansen came in to record the last three outs for his fifteenth save of the season.

The Reds rallied for six runs against the Dodger bullpen, including three home runs by Scooter Gennett, Adam Duvall, and Eugenio Suarez. They came against Grant Dayton, Josh Fields, and Pedro Baez.

Bronson Arroyo took the loss, falling to 3-6 on the season. He gave up five runs on seven hits in just three innings of work.

The Dodgers now return home to begin a four-game series with the Mets beginning Monday night at Chavez Ravine. Clayton Kershaw (9-2, 2.23 ERA) gets the ball for LA. Zack Wheeler (3-4, 4.48 ERA) goes for New York.

Dodgers Power Past Reds

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June 17, 2017

Yasiel Puig hit a pair of homers, as the Dodgers defeated the Reds 10-2 on Saturday afternoon at Great American ballpark.

Cody Bellinger hit his 19th homer of the season as well, and Joc Pederson also homered for the 2nd straight day.

Hyun-Jin Ryu (3-6) got the win after pitching 5 innings. He gave up 2 runs on 8 hits.

Bellinger had three hits and three RBI. He also tied Gary Sanchez for the most homers in a major league players first 49 games.

”The offense today was the star – team offense,” manager Dave Roberts said. ”It’s an offense that’s relentless and pretty constant at putting pressure on you.”

Asher Wojciechowski (1-1) took the loss after yielding six runs on five hits in 2 1/3 innings of work.

The Reds have lost eight straight games, and seven straight to LA.

Pete Rose unveiled a bronze sculpture of his headfirst slide in front of Great American Ball Park before the game. That was the only enjoyable part of the night for the Reds’ fans.

Justin Turner had the day off. He has hit safely in 12 straight games. Logan Forsythe started at 3rd base.

The Dodgers will go for the sweep on Sunday afternoon. Kenta Maeda (4-3, 4.95 ERA) will be on the hill for the Boys In Blue. Bronson Arroyo (3-5, 7.01 ERA) goes for the Reds.

Angels’ Bats Come Alive Against KC

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June 17, 2017

Alex Meyer threw six shutout innings and the Angels hit three home runs, as they defeated the Royals 9-0 on Saturday night at the Big A.

Cameron Maybin, Luis Valbuena, and Albert Pujols hit home runs. The Halos put together a 13-hit attack.

Maybin hit a leadoff homer in the first inning, Pujols had a two-run shot in the fifth and Valbuena added a three-run homer in the seventh.

The story was Meyer though. He improved his record to 3-3 on the season. He gave up only a pair of singles, struck out nine, and walked one.

“The more you go out there, the more confident you get,” Meyer said. “I definitely feel it’s another step in the right direction.”

Blake Parker, Cam Bedrosian and Yusmeiro Petit came out of the bullpen to combine for the Angels’ fourth shutout of the season.

Jake Junis (2-1) got the first loss of his career, surrendering five runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings.

The Angels placed pitcher Matt Shoemaker on the 10-day DL on Saturday with forearm tightness. Parker Bridwell was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake to take his roster spot. Bedrosian (groin) was also activated from the DL and RHP Daniel Wright returned to Salt Lake.

The Angels will try to salvage a split of their four-game series with KC on Sunday afternoon at the Big A. JC Ramirez (6-4, 4.19 ERA) gets the ball for the Halos. The Royals will counter with Jason Vargas (9-3, 2.10 ERA). Vargas has the 2nd lowest ERA in the majors this season.

Angels Still Can’t Solve Royals

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June 16, 2017

Lorenzo Cain hit a pair of home runs and had 3 RBI, as the Royals defeated the Angels 3-1 on Friday night at the Big A.

Ian Kennedy (1-6) picked up the win, retiring the first 17 batters that he faced. It was the Royals sixth straight win and ended his sixteen-start winless streak.

The Angels finally broke up Kennedy’s perfect game in the 6th on a solo home run from Cliff Pennington. It was Pennington’s first homer since last August.

Kelvin Herrera pitched the ninth for his 14th save in 16 chances for Kansas City. The Royals improved to 5-0 against the Angels this season.

Jesse Chavez (5-7) took the loss after yielding two runs on nine hits. He went seven innings but he has now allowed at least one homer in 12 straight appearances. That’s the longest streak in the majors.

The Halos will try to find the win column on Saturday night. Alex Meyer (2-3, 4.05 ERA) will be on the mound for the Angels. Jakob Junis (2-0, 4.67 ERA) gets the start for KC.

Wood Dominates Again In Dodger Win

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June 16, 2017

Alex Wood was dominant in eight spectacular innings on Friday night, improving to 7-0, as the Dodgers defeated the Reds 3-1 at Great American Ball Park.

Wood gave up just one right on four hits, while striking out five batters during an efficient 89-pitch performance.

Wood is the first Dodgers’ pitcher to get so deep into a season without a loss since 1985, when Orel Hershiser made his first 11 starts without a loss. He has been using a fastball, breaking ball, and change up to get hitters out.

“That’s always the way I’ve pitched,” Wood said. “I like to try to attack. But all three pitches have been as sharp together as they’ve ever been.”

The Reds only run came on a solo homer from Devin Mesoraco in the 8th inning, ending Wood’s shutout bid.

Kenley Jansen came in for the 9th inning to record his 14th save, despite giving up a double.

Joc Pederson hit a solo homer off of Tim Adleman (4-3), who took the loss. That gave the Dodgers a 1-0 lead. Adeleman gave up two runs in six innings of work.

Chris Taylor had an RBI double, and Wood added a run-scoring single in the 8th, as the Dodgers won for the seventh time in the last eight games.

Justin Turner also singled twice, extending his hit streak to twelve games.

Game 2 of the series will be Saturday afternoon at Great American Park. Hyun-Jin Ryu (2-6; 4.42 ERA) will be on the mound for LA. Asher Wojciechowski (1-0, 5.21 ERA) gets the ball for the Reds.

Rams Trade Robinson To Lions

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June 15, 2017

The Rams have traded offensive tackle and former #2 overall pick Greg Robinson to Detroit. In exchange, LA received a 2018 sixth-round selection.

Robinson, 24, has played in 44 career games with the Rams, starting 40 of them. The team tried moving him to guard and right tackle before eventually deciding to trade him to Detroit with one year left on his rookie contract.

“Since we drafted Greg, he has been committed to our organization, his teammates and community outreach,” Rams general manager Les Snead said. “We appreciate his dedication and the effort he’s put forth over the past three seasons. We wish him the best as he embarks on this new chapter.”

Robinson tenure with the Rams was characterized by penalties and protection issues that plagued him as an overmatched left tackle.

After new coach Sean McVay moved Robinson to the right side and evaluated him through off-season workouts and mini-camps, the Rams finally made a move.

There are only two players remaining on the Rams roster from the eight players they acquired through the 2012 trade that enabled the Redskins to acquire Robert Griffin III. There are Linebacker Alec Ogletree and defensive tackle Michael Brockers.

Jamon Brown supplanted Robinson on the right side of the line during mini-camp.

“It wasn’t anything we didn’t see” from Robinson, coach Sean McVay said. “It was more of a product of what we’ve seen from Jamon Brown.”

Robinson is scheduled to earn about $6.7 million this season in salary and bonuses. He originally signed a four-year, $21.3-million contract, including a $13.8-million signing bonus.

Mini-camp ended on Wednesday. McVay said he decided to cancel the final day of mini-camp to reward players for their work during the off-season program.

Rookies report for training camp at UC Irvine on July 26. The first workout is July 29.

The Rams also waived quarterback Dylan Thompson.

Royals Beat Up Angels

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June 15, 2017

Lorenzo Cain and Alex Gordon came through with solo homers, as the Royals beat up the Angels 7-2 on Thursday night at the Big A.

It was another tough outing for Angel starter Ricky Nolasco (2-8), who lost his sixth straight start. Nolasco gave up five runs on ten hits in six innings of work.

The Royals have now won five straight games, and provided plenty of run support for starter Matt Strahm (2-3). Strahm went five innings, striking out three while giving up three hits and one walk. It was his first-career start after working as a reliever over the past two seasons.

The Halos took a 1-0 lead after Kole Calhoun scored an unearned run after a single by Albert Pujols. Calhoun had reached second base after an error by Gordon.

However, the Royals scored four unanswered runs over the next two innings. That rally was highlighted by Cain and Gordon’s solo blasts in the 3rd and 4th innings, respectively.

The Halos second run of the game came on an RBI single by Yunel Escobar. However, the Royals answered with three more runs in the 7th inning.

Game two of the series is tomorrow night at the Big A. Jesse Chavez (5-6, 5.06 ERA) will try to keep the ball in the yard against a red hot Royals team. Ian Kennedy (0-6, 5.40 ERA) looks for his first win of the season for KC.

Dodgers Crushed By Indians

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June 15, 2017

Rich Hill got trashed for seven runs on eight hits in only four innings of work, and the Indians roughed up the Dodgers 12-5 on Thursday afternoon at Progressive Field.

Hill fell to 3-3 after making an exhausting 105 pitches, in what was a career-worst performance. The Dodgers fell behind 4-0 by the 2nd inning. The Indians got a pair of run-scoring singles in the 1st from Jose Ramirez and Bradley Zimmer, as well as a bases-loaded walk. Ramirez added an RBI double in the 2nd, while Edwin Encarnacion hit a solo shot.

The Dodgers rallied behind home runs by Cody Bellinger and Chris Taylor. Yasiel Puig would add an RBI double as well. However, 5-4 was as close as they would get.

Lonnie Chisenhall delivered a pinch-hit three-run homer in the 5th off of Ross Stripling, which opened up a four-run lead.

Josh Tomlin (4-8) got the win for the Tribe, but struggled after the early 5-0 lead.

Chisenhall added a two-run single in the sixth, making him just the third Cleveland player since 1913 to come off the bench and record five RBIs or more.

Stripling gave up four runs on five hits in 1 1/3 innings out of the bullpen.

The Dodgers head over to Cincinnati on Friday to open a three-game series with the Reds. Alex Wood (6-0; 2.01 ERA) puts his undefeated record in the line for the Dodgers. Tim Adleman (4-2, 4.34 ERA) gets the ball for the Cincy.

Jerry West Joins Clippers

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June 14, 2017

Jerry West is joining the Clippers as a consultant. West informed the media that he is leaving the Golden State Warriors to take on a similar role with the Clippers.

“Sometimes you need to be challenged. I’ve kind of been defiant my whole life, the way I was raised, and I think this is like the defiant streak in me. I don’t know,” West said.

The move was first reported by Sports Illustrated, and the Clippers’ interest in West was first reported nearly two weeks ago by ESPN’s Marc Stein.

The move is huge for the Clippers, who will leverage West’s expertise as part of their strategy to retain their key free agents Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and JJ Redick.

The move is somewhat awkward for West’s former team, the Lakers, who he desired to return to. However, West’s vision reportedly didn’t fit with what the Lakers were looking to do according to NBA sources.

Although he was a Hall of Fame player with the Lakers, West is also considered one of the greatest NBA executives in the history of the game.

He served as General Manager of the Lakers from 1982-2002, and was the architect of six championship teams. They included the Showtime Laker Championship Teams in ’85, ’87, ’88. As well as the Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant Championship teams of 2000, 2001, and 2002. West later helped the Memphis Grizzlies become a playoff team, and is widely cited for his role in advising the Warriors over the last few years in building their championship team.

Speaking of the Lakers, they may have some concern that Jerry may now try to lure his son, Ryan, away from the Lakers to join the Clipper front office. Ryan is currently the Lakers assistant General Manager.

Angels Beat Yanks But Lose Shoemaker

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June 14, 2017

Danny Espinosa and Andrelton Simmons hit home runs, and the Angels rallied past the Yankees 7-5 on Wednesday night at the Big A.

Unfortunately for the Halos, starter Matt Shoemaker left the game with an injury. Shoemaker departed in the 4th inning with tightness in his forearm.

“I’m really annoyed and frustrated by it because I wanted to go out and pitch and help our team win,” Shoemaker said. “I’m not really concerned about it at all. We’re going to see the next couple days how it reacts. It should be fine.”

Eric Young Jr. had two more hits including an RBI single. He also threw out a runner at the plate and made a diving catch. Young’s single snapped a 4-4 tie, after the Halos fell behind 4-0.

Simmons homer came in the 7th inning off of Yankees rookie Ronald Herrera, who was making his major league debut. Herrera took the loss.

Blake Parker (1-1) got credit for the win after pitching 1 1/3 innings of solid relief. David Hernandez pitched the 9th inning to record his 1st save.

Up the next the Angels will open a four-game series against the Royals beginning Thursday at the Big A. Ricky Nolasco (2-7, 4.81 ERA) tries to find the win column for the Halos against Matt Strahm (1-3, 4.50 ERA).