LAst Night's Action: The Worst of Times, The Best of Times

Ghana defeats US 2-1 (ET). Read my recap of the game. Perhaps the most disheartening development is that the US played four matches in the World Cup without putting together a great game.

LA Dodgers defeat NY Yankees 9-4. Read Caleb’s recap of the game. By the way, did anyone else catch the Dodgers pregame show on the radio? Charley Steiner had Yankees’ radio color commentator Suzyn Waldman on as a guest. Oh my goodness gracious!

LA Angels defeat Colorado Rockies 4-2. The Angels exploded in the first inning when Hideki Matsui playing left field hit his sixth career grand slam off of Aaron Cook for the quick 4-0 lead. The Rockies tried to come back with a solo homer by Clint Barmes to lead off the third inning and an RBI single by Melvin Mora in the fourth inning to cut the Angels’ lead to 4-2. Angels’ starter Joe Saunders (6-8) went seven innings ceding only those two runs while striking out eight batters and notched the win. Rockies’ starter Aaron Cook (2-5) recovered after that disastrous first inning where he gave up three hits to pitch eight innings giving up only one more hit and a walk. Fernando Rodney gave up a hit in the scoreless eighth, and closer Brian Fuentes got his 13th save of the season giving up only a one-out walk to Melvin Mora.

LA Galaxy draws Toronto FC 0-0. Amid G20 protests nearby, an almost empty BMO Field played host to a scoreless tie. The Galaxy now have a 10-1-3 record with 33 points, nine points ahead of second place Real Salt Lake in the Western Conference.

FC Dallas defeat Chivas USA 2-1. Chivas couldn’t get out of their own way in their ninth defeat of the season. At the end of the first half, Ante Jazic hit an own goal to give FC Dallas the 1-0 lead. Osael Romero leveled the match for Chivas in the 59th minute with a header for his first MLS goal, but a foul by Jazic in the box gave FC Dallas a penalty shot which David Ferreira capitalized on. Chivas USA at 3-9-1 remain in the basement of the Western Conference with 10 points.

NOTABLE NOTES

• WIMBLEDON NOTES. While a lot of the American media are trying to get into Rafael Nadal’s capris, I continue to hold on to my reservations. Ranked number one in the world and seeded second in the tournament, Nadal needed a fifth set to advance for the second match in a row. This time Germany’s 41st-ranked Philipp Petzschner in a 3 ½ hour endurance test that Nadal won 6-4, 4-6, 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-3 despite a trainer four separate times for treatment for his left arm and right leg. Nadal’s reckless play has given him knee problems throughout his career and forced him to pull out last year’s Wimbledon unable to defend his 2008 title. Also the chair umpire Cedric Mourier issued Nadal a warning at 2-2 in the fifth set for receiving coaching from the players’ box, something Nadal and his coach and uncle Toni Nadal are notorious for. On Thursday Nadal defeated the 151st-ranked Dutchman Robin Haase 5-7, 6-2, 3-6, 6-0, 6-3. It remains to be seen if injuries will hamper him for the remainder of the season.
• COLLEGE WORLD SERIES. The final two teams have been set at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, NE for the College World Series. It will be USC facing UCLA for the national championship. And by USC I mean the gamecocks of South Carolina, not the Trojans of Southern California. This is only the third appearance in the College World Series for the Bruins and this is the first time they have won a game. The sixth-ranked Bruins beat the underdog TCU Horned Frogs in the elimination game 10-3 while South Carolina held off their intrastate rivals Clemson Tigers 4-3. The Gamecocks and Bruins play a best-of-three series on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday if necessary.

TONIGHTS’S ACTION

NY Yankees (46-28) at LA Dodgers (40-34). Andy Pettitte (9-2, 2.48 ERA) vs. Clayton Kershaw (7-4, 3.24 ERA). 5:00 pm ESPN, AM 790 KABC.

Colorado Rockies (39-35) at LA Angels (42-35). Jhoulys Chacin (4-6, 3.56 ERA) vs. Ervin Santana (7-5, 3.91 ERA). 12.35 pm FSWest, AM 830 KLAA/AM 710 KSPN.