Ducks Pull Off Stunning Comeback In Game 5

May 5, 2017

The Ducks pulled off the unthinkable on Friday night at the Honda Center. Trailing 3-0 with about three minutes left, Anaheim rallied to score three goals to tie the game. Then Corey Perry scored the game-winner in double OT to defeat the Oilers 4-3 in the pivotal game 5 of their second round series. Anaheim now has a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Perry took a centering pass from Ryan Getzlaf at the 6:57 mark of the 2nd OT, and slid the puck past Cam Talbot, completing the miraculous comeback.

“Right to the net,” Perry said. “He had eyes up, and he had time, and I was yelling for that puck the whole way.”

The Ducks became the first team in Stanley Cup playoff history to force overtime or win a playoff game after trailing by three goals with less than four minutes left in regulation.

Anaheim pulled goaltender John Gibson with under four minutes to go in regulation, providing the Ducks with a 6-on-5 man advantage. Getzlaf got the Ducks on the board with a slap shot from the blue line with 3:16 left. Cam Fowler scored 35 seconds later with wrist shot from the blue line, which found the back of the net after getting past numerous bodies in front of the net. Finally, Rikard Rakell put a backhand shot past Talbot, which got through another pile up of bodies in front of Talbot.

“That’s will,” said Getzlaf. “We willed it through, and did whatever we had to do. We scratched and clawed at the end and found a way to get ourselves back in that game and give ourselves an opportunity.”

After a scoreless 1st period, the Oilers began to take control in the 2nd period. Leon Draisatl scored 15 seconds into the 2nd period, which was his 8th goal in the last 10 games against Anaheim. Connor McDavid made it 2-0 on a 2-man advantage at the 2:55 mark, batting the puck past Gibson after taking a pass from Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Drake Caggiula made it 3-0 after scoring on a 4-on-1 break.

Talbot made 60 saves on the evening for the Oilers, including a pair of big saves on Getzlaf early on. The Ducks captain also missed high on a penalty shot in the 1st period.

Gibson made 35 saves for the Ducks, who have now won three straight games after losing the first two of the series at home.

The Ducks will try to close out the series on Sunday afternoon in Edmonton. A win will send the Ducks into the Western Conference Finals, where they would play either the Nashville Predators or the St. Louis Blues.

Bellinger Still Hot As Dodgers Top Padres

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May 5, 2017

Dodger rookie Cody Bellinger had his 2nd two-homer game in the last 7 days, and the Dodgers beat up the Padres 8-2 on Friday night at Petco Park.

Bellinger started at 1st base after the Dodgers put Adrian Gonzales on the disabled list for the first time in his 14-year career. Bellinger delivered a solo homer in the 4th inning, and a 3-run homer in the 9th, which highlighted LA’s victory.

“I’ve said it before, him going on the DL, you never want to see it,” Bellinger said. “He’s been awesome to me. He’s been a guy that I looked up to growing up and he’s kind of taken me under his wing. A healthy Adrian is a scary Adrian for opposing pitchers.”

Kenta Maeda got the start for the Dodgers. He went 5 innings, giving up 2 runs (1 earned) on 3 hits, while walking 3 and striking out 8. Sergio Romo (1-1) got credit for the win after getting the final two outs of the 6th with the based loaded. Josh Fields threw 1 1/3 innings for his first save of the season. Maeda and 5 relievers combined on four-hitter.

After Bellinger put the Dodgers up 1-0 in the 4th, the Padres tied it in their half of the 4th after Cory Spangenberg came through with a leadoff double, which was the Friars first hit of the night off Maeda. Yangervis Solarte walked and Ryan Schimpf delivered an RBI single, knotting the game at 1-1. Solarte was thrown out by Yasiel Puig on the play.

San Diego actually took a 2-1 lead in the 5th inning after Manuel Margot had a sacrifice fly, which was an unearned run. The Padres took advantage of a Bellinger throwing error on a sacrifice bunt by Jhoulys Chacin just before Margot’s sac fly.

Chacin allowed just one run on four hits in 5 1/3 innings. Jose Torres (1-2) took the loss for San Diego after allowing a 2-run double by Andrew Toles in the 7th inning, which put the Dodgers back in front 3-2.

LA would add to the lead in the 8th inning on an infield single from Chris Taylor, which scored Puig. Yasmani Grandal made it 4-2 in the 9th, which another infield single, scoring Corey Seager. Then it was Bellinger delivering the big 3-run blow to make it 8-2.

Even after Gonzales is healthy enough to return, the veteran 1st baseman feels that there still could be a place for Bellinger. “If he keeps playing well, obviously there should be a spot in the lineup for him,” Gonzalez said.

The Dodgers and Padres will be back at it on Saturday evening at Petco Park. It will be a pair of Clayton’s going at it. LA will give the ball to their ace, Clayton Kershaw (4-2; 2.61 ERA), while the Padres go with Clayton Richard (2-3; 4.29 ERA).

Angels Rally But Astros Win In 10

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May 5, 2017

The Angels have had some big comebacks in the 1st month of the baseball season. They had another one on Friday night at the Big A, but this one fell short, with the Astros winning 7-6 in 10 innings.

Houston blew a 4-run lead in the 9th inning, but Carlos Correa singled home Jose Altuve in the 10th inning, which was the decisive run in the Astros victory.

The Angels trailed 6-2 heading into the 9th inning. However, three straight singles chased Houston starter Dallas Keuchel. That forced the Astros to bring in Ken Giles to face Mike Trout with the bases loaded and nobody out. Trout singled to make it 6-3. After an Albert Pujols strikeout, pinch-hitter Luis Valbuena had an RBI groundout, pulling the Angels within 2 runs. An Andrelton Simmons infield single, followed by a pinch-hit single to right from Kole Calhoun would tie the score 6-6. The Halos had a chance to win it, but Ben Revere flied out to left, which sent the game to extra innings.

“We’ve been coming from behind all year,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. “We put together a great inning in the ninth, great at-bats all the way around. We just couldn’t get that last hit to push us through.”

Giles (1-1) was charged with one of the four runs in the 9th, but still got credit for the win. Chris Devenski retired the Angels in order in the 10th inning to pick up his 2nd save of the season.

Keuchel came into the game with a 5-0 record, and was pitching well until the 9th inning. He ended up getting charged with 7 hits and 5 runs, but the AL Pitcher of the Month of April remained undefeated.

Things looked good for the Angels earlier in the game when Albert Pujols hit his 595th career homer to give the Halos a 1-0 lead in the 4th.

The Astros tied it at 1-1 in the 3rd when Josh Reddick countered with a solo shot of his own, his 3rd long ball of the season.

Martin Maldonado put the Angels back in front with solo home run to center field, but the Angels 2-1 lead wouldn’t last long.

Brian McCann would connect on a 3-run homer in the 7th inning, then Reddick and McCann delivered run-scoring singles in the 8th and 9th inning, which made it 6-2.

Bud Norris (0-1) ended up taking the loss for the Angels, giving up the game-winning RBI single to Correa in the 10th inning. Jesse Chavez started for the Halos, going 6 1/3 innings, yielding 3 runs on 4 hits. He left in the 7th inning with two runners on, before Jose Alvarez surrendered McCann’s homer.

The Astros have the best record in the American League, and matched their best 30-game start in club history with the victory.

Game 2 of the series will be on Saturday night in Anaheim. JC Ramirez (3-2, 4.23 ERA) will make his 5th start of the season for the Angels, while the Astros will go with Lance McCullers Jr. (2-1, 4.08 ERA).

Mariners Dominate Angels

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May 4, 2017

Danny Valencia had four hits, including a home run, and the Mariners dominated the Angels on Thursday night 11-3 at Safeco Field.

Ariel Miranda (3-2) pitched seven strong innings for the Mariners, giving up just 2 runs on 7 hits to collect the win.

Alex Meyer (0-1) got roughed up in his first start of the year for the Halos. He went 4 innings, giving up 6 runs on 8 hits. Meyer made 90 pitches, consistently delivering his powerful 97-mph fastball, but struggled to command it.

“He showed flashes of why we’re excited about him,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said afterward. However, Scioscia wasn’t sure what Meyer can do to fulfill that potential. “Right now, that’s the $64,000 question,” he said.

It was a tough go for Meyer from the beginning. He hit the 1st batter he faced, walked the second, then allowed an RBI double to Nelson Cruz, all in the 1st inning.

Meyer gave up a leadoff walk in the 3rd, then struck out a pair of Mariners. Just when it started to look like he was settling down, Kyle Seager and Valencia delivered a couple of singles, and it was 2-0. Guillermo Heredia’s bloop single drove in another run. Seattle would tack on two more in the 4th inning, and it was 6-2.

“You gotta get ahead early,” Meyer said. “Here’s my fastball for a strike. Here’s my breaking ball. You’ve gotta pound the zone. Otherwise, it puts them in a position where they can swing the bat more comfortably.”

The Angels couldn’t generate much offense in this one either. Juan Graterol had a 2-run single in the 2nd inning, and Andrelton Simmons produced an RBI groundout in the 8th inning. Yunel Escobar had four hits on the night.

Mike Trout had the night off after Mike Scioscia said the slugger’s hamstring was a little tight.

The Angels will return home for a 3-game set with the Astros next over the weekend. Jesse Chavez (2-4, 4.50 ERA) starts for the Halos on Friday, opposed by Houston lefty Dallas Keuchel (5-0, 1.21 ERA).

Giants Get 3 in 11th to Beat Dodgers

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May 3, 2017

Brandon Belt and Gorkys Hernandez each had an RBI single in the 11th, and Hunter Pence added a sac fly, as the Giants defeated the Dodgers 4-1 on Wednesday night at Chavez Ravine. San Francisco won two of the three games in the series.

The Giants got a very strong start from Jeff Samardzija, who pitched 8 strong innings, giving up just 1 run on 3 hits, while striking out 11. He did not walk a batter.

Steven Okert (1-0) pitched 1 2/3 innings to get credit for the win. Mark Melancon earned his 6th save of the season after pitching in the 11th.

Grant Dayton (1-1) took the loss for LA, after giving up the 3 runs to the Giants in the 11th inning. Julio Urias started for the Dodgers and pitched well. He went 5 innings, giving up only 4 hits, and shutting out the San Francisco. Urias threw 88 pitches and did not factor in the decision.

The Dodgers only run of the game came on an RBI single from Chris Taylor in the bottom of the 6th inning, which scored Yasiel Puig.

However, the Giants tied the score in the 8th inning against Ross Stripling. Buster Posey had an RBI groundout to 2nd base, which scored Hunter Pence.

Before the game, Los Angeles inducted longtime broadcaster Vin Scully into the team’s ring of honor. Rather than retire a number for Scully, the Dodgers hung a sign with a microphone and Scully’s name.

The Dodgers now head to San Diego for a weekend series with the Padres. Kenta Maeda (2-2; 6.58 ERA) will get the start for LA on Friday. Jhoulys Chacin (3-3; 5.82 ERA) will be on the mound for the Padres.

Mariners Rally Past Halos

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May 3, 2017

Jarrod Dyson delievered a 2-out, 2-run double in the 8th inning, and former Angel Jean Segura tacked on a 2-run single after that, as the Mariners defeated the Angels 8-7 on Wednesday night at Safeco Field.

The Angels tried to rally in the 9th inning when Kole Calhoun drilled a solo homer to left field, pulling the Halos within 8-7, but that was as close as they would get.

The Angels trailed 4-0 heading into the 6th and rallied for four runs at that point. Mike Trout got the Halos going with a 2-run shot to center field. A sac fly from Andelton Simmons, a run-scoring single from Cliff Pennington , and a 2-run double from Yunel Escobar put the Angels ahead 6-4.

The Mariners hit a couple of long balls earlier in the game to take a 4-0 lead. Robinson Cano hit a solo blast in the 1st inning off of Ricky Nolasco, then Segura added a 2-run homer in the 5th. Nelson Cruz hit an RBI single in the same inning, and the Mariners looked like they would cruise to an easy victory at that point.

Nolasco lasted 4 1/3 innings, giving up 4 runs on 8 hits. He struck out 6 and walked 2, while also giving up both Mariner home runs. He did not factor in the decision.

Blake Parker (0-2) took the loss for the Angels after giving up 4 runs in the 8th inning. Jean Machi (1-0) picked up the win in relief for Seattle, while Edwin Diaz recorded his 5th save.

The rubber game of the 3 game set will be on Thursday night at Safeco Field. Alex Meyer (0-1; 4.91 ERA) gets the start for the Angels, while the Mariners go with Ariel Miranda (2-2; 3.81 ERA).

Ducks Tie Series With OT Win

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May 3, 2017

Jakob Silfverberg scored the game-winning goal 45 seconds into overtime, and the Ducks defeated the Oilers 4-3 in game four of their best-of-seven series on Wednesday night in Alberta. The series is now tied 2-2, and heading back to Anaheim for game 5.

Silfverberg took a pass from Ryan Getzlaf for a one-timer from the left circle, which beat Cam Talbot for the winner. Getzlaf had two goals and two assists on the night.

Anaheim secured the win despite losing the lead with 1:42 left in the 3rd period. Drake Cagglula took a centering pass from Patrick Maroon and chipped the puck by John Gibson to tie the score and send the game to OT. Gibson made 29 saves on the night for the Ducks.

The Ducks scored three unanswered goals in the 2nd period to take a 3-2 lead. Ryan Getzlaf got the scoring started 1:37 into the period, after taking advantage of a turnover from Jordan Eberle. The goal had to be reviewed by the officials for goaltender interference, but it ended up counting.

Just under 4 minutes later, Rickard Rakell took a pass from Getzlaf across the crease on a broken play, and put the puck past Talbot to tie the score 2-2.

Then at the 14:25 mark, Getzlaf was at it again, pouncing on a rebound after a terrific initial save on Rakell. With the goal, he surpassed Teemu Selanne for the most playoff goals in team history, with the 36.

The Oilers jumped out to a 2-0 lead on a power play goal from Milan Lucic, followed by a goal from Connor McDavid late in the 1st period. Talbot made 35 saves for Edmonton.

Game 5 will be back in Anaheim on Friday night at 7:30 pm.

Angels Rally To Beat M’s in 11

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May 2, 2017

Albert Pujols knocked in the go-ahead RBI single that scored Mike Trout from 1st base in the top of the 11th inning, as the Angels defeated the Mariners 6-4 in extra innings on Tuesday night at Safeco Field.

Pujols drove a pitch to right field off of reliever James Pazos, which forced Ben Gamel to dive for the ball. He came up short in his attempt, and the ball bounced up against the wall, allowing Trout to score. It was the 1,840th RBI of Pujols’ career and he passed Al Simmons and Ted Williams for 14th on the all-time list.

Pujols would then steal 3rd base, and then score later in the inning on a fielders choice by Andrelton Simmons.

Pazos (0-1) took the loss and Deolis Guerra (2-1) pitched the last two innings to get credit for the victory.

Matt Shoemaker got the start for the Angels, pitching 5 1/3 innings, giving up 3 runs on 4 hits while striking out 5. The Angels used 6 relievers after that, who only allowed 1 run on 3 hits over the next 6 innings.

James Paxton started for the Mariners and also did not factor into the decision. Paxton went 5 1/3 inning, giving up 2 runs on 5 hits.

The Angels took a 4-3 lead in the 8th inning after a 2-run shot from Kole Calhoun. However, the Mariners would tie it at 4-4 in the 9th, when Robinson Canoe singled in Jarrod Dyson.

Danny Valencia also went deep for the Mariners, giving them a 3-2 lead in the 6th inning with his 2nd homer of the season.

The Angels fell behind 2-0 in the 3rd inning, but after a Cameron Maybin RBI double in the 4th, and a Jefry Mare sac fly in the 5th, they had tied the score 2-2.

Game 2 of the series will be Wednesday night at Safeco Field. Ricky Nolasco (2-2; 4.13 ERA) gets the start for the Angels, while the Mariners go with Hisashi Iwakuma (0-2; 4.15 ERA)

Dodgers’ Offense Comes Alive Against Giants

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May 2, 2017

Yasiel Puig drove in four runs and Cody Bellinger delivered a 3-run triple as the Dodgers hammered the Giants 13-5 at the Ravine on Tuesday night.

Puig went 2-5 with 3 hits and scored 2 runs to go along with his 4 RBI. Bellinger had 2 hits, 2 runs that went with his 3 RBI. Franklin Gutierrez hit his 1st homer of the season, and the Dodgers rallied from a 4-run deficit to win for the 5th time in 6 tries.

Alex Wood (2-0) got the win for the Dodgers, pitching 5 innings, yielding 5 runs (4 of them earned) on 7 hits. He struck out 8 and walked 1. He threw 82 pitches in the first three innings, but fought through it to get the victory.

Matt Moore (1-4) took the loss for the Giants. He only lasted 3 1/3 innings, giving up 9 runs on 6 hits.

The Dodgers fell behind 2-0 in the 1st inning after Moore hit a 2-run single to right center with the bases loaded. Brandon Belt connected on a 2-run double to right in the 2nd, and it was 4-0.

Gutierrez got the Dodgers on the board with his solo blast in the 2nd, and Bellinger’s triple tied the game at 4-4. Alex Wood helped his own cause with an RBI single, and then Justin Turner hit a sacrifice fly to right, which capped a 6-run rally for LA.

San Francisco got 1 back in the 3rd on an RBI single by Joe Panic. However, the Dodgers would blitz the Giants for four more runs in the 4th, and another four in the 6th, capped off by an RBI single from Adrian Gonzales.

LA is now 15-13 on the season, and they are 2 games back of 1st place in the NL West.

The rubber game of the three game set will be on Wednesday night at the Ravine. Julio Urias (0-0; 1.59 ERA) will be on the mound for LA, and Jeff Samardzija (0-4; 6.32 ERA)

Giants Get By Dodgers

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May 1, 2017

The Dodgers usually don’t lose when Clayton Kershaw is on the mound, but the unusual happened on Monday at Chavez Ravine. The Giants beat Kershaw and the Dodgers 4-3.

Hunter Pence and Buster Posey hit home runs off of Kershaw, and Johnny Cueto went 7 strong innings to improve his record to 4-2 on the season.

Kershaw did not look as invincible as he usually does on this night. The Dodger ace pitched 6 innings, giving up four runs (three of them earned) on eight hits, striking out five, and yielding a pair of home runs.

The Giants didn’t waste much time getting on the board in this one. With one out in the 1st inning, Christian Arroyo singled, then Hunter Pence hit a 2-run shot to left, and it was 2-0 San Francisco.

The Dodgers got one back in their half of the 1st inning on an RBI groundout from Yasmani Grandal. They had a chance for more, but Adrian Gonzales struck out, which stranded Corey Seager at 2nd base.

Kershaw would help his own cause in the bottom of the 2nd inning, delivering an RBI single that scored Cody Bellinger, which tied the game 2-2. Bellinger led off the inning with a ground rule double.

In the 3rd, the Giants got to Kershaw again, with Buster Posey smacking a 2-run homer to left field, giving San Francisco a 3-2 lead.

Arroyo added to the lead in the 5th, delivering a run scoring single that scored Gorkys Hernandez.

Chris Taylor pinch-hit in the 7th inning, and got the Dodgers a little bit closer with an RBI single that scored Bellinger. Taylor is now hitting .607 since he was recalled from the minor leagues. However, the Dodgers would not get any closer than 4-3.

Over the course of Cueto’s 7 innings, he gave up 3 runs on 6 hits , striking out 6 and walking 1. Derek law recorded the final out of the game, earning him his 1st save of the season.

Justin Turner went 0-4, which ended his 16-game hit streak. He lined out twice. The loss also snapped the Dodgers four game winning streak.

Pence came into the game batting just .100 in his career against Kershaw, without a home run. The Giants also entered the game with a season-low 16 home runs, prior to hitting a pair against the Dodger ace.

The Dodgers will try to get back in the win column on Tuesday night at the Ravine. Alex Wood (1-0; 2.29 ERA) gets the start for LA, while the Giants will send Matt More to the hill (1-3; 4.80 ERA).