Monthly Archives: May 2017

Tigers Pound Angels

May 11, 2017

Justin Upton and former Angel Andrew Romine homered in the first two innings, as the Tigers dominated the Angels 7-1 on Thursday night at the Big A.

Upton hit a 3-run homer in the 1st inning off of JC Ramirez, giving the Tigers a quick lead they would never relinquish.

“The first inning has been huge for me in all the games I’ve been starting,” Ramirez said. “I don’t know why. Then I bounce back. Maybe I need to be more focused, be more mentally prepared for that first inning.”

Romine made it 5-0 in the 2nd with a 2-run blast, his 2nd long ball of the season. Ramirez did settle down after that, retiring 10 straight batters at one point.

Ramirez (3-3) took the loss, giving up 5 runs on 8 hits in 7 innings of work. He managed to spare the bullpen a long evening, but the Halos couldn’t give him any run support.

The only Angel run came on an RBI double from Yunel Escobar in the 5th inning. It was also 1 of only 4 hits on the night for the Halos.

In 11 of their last 17 games, the Angels have been held to three runs or fewer. Mike Trout did return to the lineup and started as the teams Designated Hitter, but he was 0-4 on the night.

Michael Fulmer (4-1) picked up the win, pitching 7 strong innings for the Tigers. He allowed just 1 run on 3 hits, while striking out 7.

“We have probably a handful of guys in our lineup right now struggling to find their rhythm,” manager Mike Scioscia said. “They’re not seeing the ball as well as they can. We have some guys just fighting themselves who need to just exhale and take a step back, and that’s what we’re working on.

The Angels and Tigers will do it again on Friday night in Anaheim. It will be Matt Shoemaker (1-2; 5.21 ERA) for the Halos and Jordan Zimmermann (3-1; 6.21 ERA) for Detroit.

Bellinger & Dodgers Keep Rolling

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May 10, 2017

Cody Bellinger continued his offensive onslaught, and the Dodgers completed a sweep of the Pirates with a 5-2 victory on Wednesday night at the Ravine.

Bellinger connected on a 2-run homer in the 1st inning, which was his 6th long ball on the season. That was part of a 3-run first inning after Chase Utley delivered an RBI single later on in the 1st, which scored Yasmani Grandal.

Kenta Maeda (3-2) got the win after pitching a career-high 8 1/3 innings, giving up just 2 runs on 5 hits. He struck out 5 and did not walk anybody. He made 104 pitches.

Utley added to the lead in the 4th inning, knocking in Chris Taylor with an RBI double. Utley started at 1st base after Bellinger was moved back to left field due to the season-ending knee injury to Andrew Toles.

Chad Kuhl (1-3) took the loss for the Bucs. He went 5 innings, giving up 4 runs on 6 hits. He was lifted for a pinch hitter in the 6th inning, and ultimately was buried by the two-out rally the Dodgers put together in the 1st inning.

Yasmani Grandal made it 5-0 in the 8th inning with an RBI double, scoring Corey Seager. Grandal was 3-3 on the night, with a walk and a run scored.

Grant Dayton came in to record the final two outs of the game for the Dodgers. He came into the game after Francisco Cervelli broke the shutout with a 2-run homer in the 9th of of Maeda.

With the sweep, the Dodgers have now won 5 straight games and improved their record 20-14. They lead the NL in run differential. LA is now 1.5 games back of 1st place Colorado in the NL West.

Speaking of the Rockies, the Dodgers will open a four-game series against Colorado beginning Thursday evening at Coors Field. Hyun-Jin Ryu (1-4; 4.05 ERA) will get the ball for LA in game 1, while the Rockies go with Tyler Anderson (2-3; 6.69 ERA).

Ducks Overcome Demons & Win Game 7

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May 10, 2017

The Ducks finally snapped their streak of game 7 futility on Wednesday night. Anaheim defeated the Oilers 2-1 in game 7 at the Honda Center, propelling them into the Western Conference Finals.

Nick Ritchie scored the game-winning goal 3:21 into the 3rd period. He fired a wrist shot from the right circle, which snuck right under the arm of Oilers’ goaltender Cam Talbot.

Ritchie’s goal gave the Ducks their first lead in a game 7 over the last five years. Anaheim had lost four consecutive game 7’s at home after leading a playoff series 3-2 dating back to 2013.

It was a tough start for Anaheim after Drake Caggiula forced Shea Theodore to turn the puck over right in front of the Ducks’ net, fluttering the puck past John Gibson, which gave the Oilers a 1-0 lead.

Gibson settled down after that. He made 23 saves on the evening, and avenged his previous game 7 failures.

The Ducks tied the game at 1-1 at 8:55 of the 2nd period on a goal by Andrew Cogliano. The puck was kept alive by Ryan Kessler on the play, after Talbot was out of position. Cogliano slipped the puck past the sprawled goaltender, and Anaheim suddenly had the momentum.

The 2nd period was dominated by the Ducks, who regained their confidence. Anaheim outshot the Oilers 16-3 in the middle frame, and had 11 scoring chances to the Oilers 6. Despite the flurry of pressure, the score was still tied 1-1 after two periods.

After Ritchie gave the Ducks the lead in the 3rd, they still continued to control most of the play. Gibson made a couple of saves late, including one on a deflection from Anton Slepyshev, and another on Leon Draisaitl.

Talbot made 28 saves on the night, and left the net in favor of an extra attacker with 2:06 left in the game. However, the Ducks were content to repeatedly ice the puck, and the Oilers were unable to generate any scoring chances of significance.

The Ducks move on the the Western Conference Finals against the Nashville Predators, which will begin on Friday night at the Honda Center.

Triggs and A’s Top the Angels

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May 10, 2017

Andrew Triggs pitched 6 strong innings and Chad Pinder hit a 2-run shot, as the A’s knocked off the Angels 3-1 on Wednesday afternoon in the rubber game of their three-game set.

Triggs (5-2) threw 105 pitches, giving up just 1 run on 3 hits. He struck out 4, walked 3, and managed to escape trouble on numerous occasions.

Triggs began the game by walking three straight batters to load the bases. However, all the Angels could generate was an RBI fielders’ choice by Jefry Marte. The Angels were 0-8 with runners in scoring position on the day. Triggs found a way to pitch out of trouble repeatedly.

Liam Hendriks, Ryan Madsen, and Santiago Casilla gave up only 1 hit over the final 3 innings of play.

Jesse Chaves (2-5) took the loss for the Halos. He went 5 2/3 innings, giving up 2 runs on 3 hits, striking out 5 and walking 2.

“Jesse really pitched a strong game,” Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia said. “A broken-bat base hit, and then Pinder launched one that got up in the jet stream. I think at night time no way would that ball going to carry. He pitched really well for us.”

Pinder’s home run came on an 0-1 pitch after Mark Canha lead off the 5th inning with a single to right.

The A’s would an an insurance run in the bottom of the 8th inning when Khris Davis singled in Ryon Healy. That came against Angels reliever Yusmeiro Petit.

The Angels played the game without sluggers Mike Trout and Albert Pujols. Trout missed his 5th consecutive game with a hamstring injury, and Pujols was given the day off.

The Halos will now open a 7-game homestand starting Thursday night against Detroit. JC Ramirez (3-2, 3.74 ERA) will get the start in the first of a four game series. The Tigers will counter with Michael Fulmer (3-1; 2.77 ERA).

Dodgers Lose Toles To Torn ACL

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May 10, 2017

The Dodgers learned on Wednesday that outfielder Andrew Toles will miss the remainder of the season with a torn ACL.

Toles was injured in the 7th inning on Tuesday night after lunging for a ball hit by Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen, which ended up breaking up Julio Urias’ no hit bid.

Toles slid on the warning track but jammed his right knee in the process. He was removed from the game, yet managed to walk off the field.

“It’s disappointing,” Toles, on crutches, said outside the clubhouse. “I was swinging it pretty good, feeling good, playing pretty good defense, and it all kind of came to a halt.”

Toles was just getting hot too. In the past 11 games he hit .375 with a 1.005 OPS, 2 homers, 3 doubles and 7 RBIs. He was tied for second on the team with five home runs.

The Dodgers will now move Cody Bellinger to left field. They recalled 1st baseman/outfielder Scott Van Slyke, along with outfielder Brett Eibner. LA also placed reliever Adam Liberatore on the 10-day DL with a groin injury.

Kings Re-Sign Pearson

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May 10, 2017

The Kings have signed Tanner Pearson to a 4-year contract extension worth $15 million. Pearson would have been a restricted free agent on July 1st.

The 24-year-old left wing scored 24 goals and 44 points in 80 games for the Kings last season. In the past two years, he’s scored 39 goals for the Kings, and been one of the most reliable offensive players.

“We were able to come to a good deal, and we were both pretty happy about it,” Pearson said. “There’s obviously a bit of negotiating that had to be done. Other than that, it went pretty smoothly and I’m happy with staying in L.A.”

With a salary cap hit of $3.75 million, Pearson’s new contract should help the Kings manage their difficult salary cap situation a little better.

LA also traded the rights to goaltender Ben Bishop to the Dallas Start for a 4th round pick in 2017. The pick originally belonged to the Montreal Canadians.

Dallas has until July 1 to reach an agreement with Bishop, before he’ll be able to negotiate with all 30 other teams as a free agent.

The Kings will now look to re-sign forward Tyler Toffoli, who is also scheduled to be a restricted free agent on July 1st. Toffoli scored 16 goals last year in an injury-shortened season. He’s scored a total of 47 goals in the past two seasons.

Barnes Heroics Help Dodgers Beat Bucs

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May 9, 2017

Austin Barnes drilled a walk-off RBI double in the 10th inning, and the Dodgers defeated the Pirates 4-3 in 10 innings on Tuesday night at Chavez Ravine.

Barnes was used as a pinch-hitter with 1 out in the 10th, and Ross Stripling was used as a pinch-runner as well, scoring on the play.

Kenley Jansen (2-0) got the win after pitching a scoreless 10th inning. Julio Urias started for LA, taking a no-hitter into the 7th inning until Andrew McCutchen doubled to lead off the 7th inning. The 6 1/3 innings were a career-high for Urias, who allowed a run on two hits, two walks, with five strikeouts. He threw 95 pitches.

The Pirates took a 3-2 lead in the 8th inning when John Jaso connected on a pinch-hit home run off of reliever Pedro Baez. However, the Dodgers would tie he game in the 9th inning when Cody Bellinger delivered a run-scoring single, which brought home Corey Seager. LA nearly won the game at that point, but Jody Mercer turned a spectacular double play. Mercer scooped up the ball while keeping his foot on the bag after pitcher Tony Watson bounced a ball wide of second base.

After breaking up the no-hitter, the Pirates scored two in the 7th inning to tie the game at 2-2. Francisco Cervelli doubled in McCutchen, which put the Pirates on the board. Max Moroff followed with an RBI single, which scored Cervelli. That was Moroff’s first major league hit and first career RBI.

Yasmani Grandal gave the Dodgers a 2-0 lead in the 4th inning with a 2-run blast to center field off of ivan Nova. The ball landed int the center field bleachers, and was Grandal’s 4th homer of the season.

Nova pitched 6 1/3 innings, giving up only those 2 runs on 7 hits, striking out 2 and walking 2. Daniel Hudson (0-2) took the loss for the Bucs, after giving up the game-winning hit to Barnes.

The Dodgers will go for the sweep on Wednesday night at the Ravine. Kenta Maeda (2-2; 5.81 ERA) is on the mound for LA, while the Pirates give the ball to Chad Kuhl (1-2; 5.54 ERA).

Escobar Leads Angels Over A’s

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May 9, 2017

Yunel Escobar hit a 3-run homer and drove in 4 runs, and the Angels took down the A’s 7-3 on Tuesday night in Oakland.

Albert Pujols and Ben Revere also hit solo home runs for the Halos, who found some offense after Mike Trout sat out his 4th straight game with a hamstring injury.

Alex Meyer (1-1) picked up the win, pitching 5 1/3 innings, giving up 3 runs on 4 hits while striking out 7 and walking 5. Bud Norris pitched the 9th to pick up his 6th save of the season.

Pujols solo blast put the Angels up 1-0. The A’s responded with a 2-run blast form Yonder Alonso, which was his first of two homers on the evening. He added a solo shot in the 6th inning as well.

The Angels would put up four runs in the 2nd inning on the home runs by Revere and Escobar, suddenly giving them a 5-2 lead.

In the 4th, the Halos would add two more, off a Cliff Pennington run-scoring single, and an RBI groundout from Escobar.

Jharel Cotton (3-4) took the loss. He went 5 innings, giving up all 7 runs on 8 hits. Not even having Kevin Durant in the house could help the A’s on this night.

The Angels are now 6-0 this year on Tuesday night. Both teams will go at it in the rubber game on Wednesday afternoon. Jesse Chavez (2-4; 4.46 ERA) gets the ball for the Halos, and the A’s will go with Andrew Triggs (4-2, 2.34 ERA).

Dodgers Roll 12-1 Against Pirates

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May 8, 2017

Chris Taylor hit a a grand slam during a 6-run first inning, and the Dodgers crushed the Pirates 12-1 on Monday night at Chavez Ravine.

Yasiel Puig also homered in the 1st inning, and Alex Wood (3-0) pitched a 2-hit shutout in 5 innings of work. Wood struck out 11 Pirates and walked only 1.

“I’ve got to continue to be consistent,” Wood said. “I’m just going to build off that, and get ready for the next one.”

The Dodgers jumped all over Pittsburgh starter Trevor Williams (1-2). Williams lasted just 3 innings, giving up 8 runs (6 earned), on 7 hits. He was filling in for Jameson Taillon, who had surgery on Monday for suspected testicular cancer.

It was Taylor’s first inning blast that put LA in the drivers seat. “That really set the tone,” outfielder Joc Pederson said. “We built off that the rest of the game.”

Taylor and Pederson had three hits apiece. Pederson, Yasmani Grandal, and Enrique Hernandez each drove in a pair of runs.

Ross Stripling pitched 3 innings of relief, giving up 1 run on 3 hits for LA. Adam Liberatore pitched a scoreless 9th.

LA put Brandon McCarthy on the disabled list after he dislocated his nonthrowing shoulder in the weight room last week. That resulted in Liberatore getting called up, and Wood getting the start, which the team announced early Monday afternoon.

The Dodgers will try to keep it rolling tomorrow night in game 2. Julio Urias (0-0; 0.84 ERA) will get the start for the boys in blue, while the Bucs will give the ball to Ivan Nova (3-3, 2.14 ERA).

A’s Edge the Angels in 11 Innings

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May 8, 2017

Jed Lowrie belted a walk-off solo home run in the bottom of the 11th inning, as the A’s defeated the Angels 3-2 on Monday night in Oakland. It was the A’s 3rd straight walk-off win.

Lowrie connected on a 1-0 pitch, his 2nd homer of the game, drilling it 405 feet over the right center field wall. The home run came off of Halos reliever Deolis Guerra. Guerra (2-2) pitched 2 2/3 innings, and was shutting down the A’s until he faced Lowrie, who’s homer was the only hit Oakland generated off the Angels right-hander.

The Angels took a quick 2-0 lead in the 1st inning on a Luis Valbuena 2-run homer. Those were the only two runs given up by Oakland starter Kendall Graveman, who pitched 7 innings. Graveman got the no decision, but scattered 7 hits and just the 2 runs, while striking out 6 and walking 1.

Oakland got four innings of scoreless relief from Ryan Madsen, Santiago Casilla, and Liam Hendriks. The trio gave up only 2 hits in their 4 innings of work. Hendriks (1-0) got credit for the win.

Lowrie’s first home run of the game came in the 4th inning off of Angel starter Ricky Nolasco, which cut the Angels’ lead to 2-1.

Just one inning later, Oakland tied it on another solo home run, this time from Trevor Plouffe. Nolasco gave up the 2 runs on 5 hits, in 7 innings of work. He struck out 10 batters in 103 pitches.

Mike Trout sat out for the 4th time in 5 games, and the Angels offense struggled. The Halos were 0-6 with runners in scoring position, leaving 9 men on base on the night.

The news got even worse for the Angels when shortstop Andrelton Simmons got hit by a pitch in the first and left an inning later with a bruised left hand and right thumb. X-rays were negative and he is day to day.

The Angels and A’s will be back at it tomorrow night in Oakland. Alex Meyer (0-1; 9.39 ERA) will take the mound for the Halos, while the A’s will counter with Jharel Cotton (3-3; 4.64 ERA).