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LAst Night's Action: Sick Ethier Lifts Anemic Dodger Offense over Padres
LA Dodgers defeat San Diego Padres 2-0. For six innings the Dodgers offense continued to be anemic. It wasn’t until Andre Ethier, who was pulled from the starting lineup due to illness, pinch hit in the seventh inning with the bases loaded and two outs and grounded a single to left center field to bring in two runs. Thankfully for the Dodgers the starting pitching has been lights out with Chad Billingsley (W, 9-5) continuing to carry the torch with six shutout innings. Hong-Chih Kuo pitched two shutout innings striking out five while Jonathan Broxton got his 20th save by striking out nemesis Matt Stairs to end the game. Former Dodger Jon Garland (L, 9-7) did a good job of matching Billingsley inning for inning, but after the Ethier single he was done.
Boston Red Sox defeat LA Angels 4-2. A crucial error in the ninth inning on a ball hit by David Ortiz scored a run and doomed the Angels comeback giving the Red Sox the 4-2 lead. John Lackey (W, 10-5) in his return to Angel Stadium was good going 7 1/3 innings giving up two runs: a third inning RBI double and eighth inning solo homer by Bobby Abreu. Jered Weaver (L, 9-7) despite a good outing where he also gave up two runs in his seven innings of work, but the Angel bullpen and MIA offense decided to revert to their early season ways tagging him with the loss.
NOTABLE NOTES
DODGERS WELCOME THE OLD. The Dodgers have welcomed back veteran utility infielder Juan Castro Tuesday signing him to a Minor League contract. The 38-year old was released by the Philadelphia Phillies on July 18 after batting .198 in 54 games. In 57 games with the Dodgers in 2009 Castro batted .277 and will boost a system that is lacking infielders with Nick Green opting for free agency and Chin-Lung Hu out after thumb surgery.
KINGS BAG THE RUSSIAN. Unfortunately the Russian ends with an -ovsky rather a -chuk. It is 30-year old left winger Alexei Ponikarovsky who recorded 21 goals last season with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Toronto Maple Leafs. He has four 20-goal seasons in his last five. The contract is for one year and $3 million. Poni will take the place of 28-year old left winger Alexander Frolov who signed a one-year $3 million deal with the New York Rangers.
HAREN ALL RIGHT. After getting a Kevin Youkilis line drive to his pitching forearm, Haren’s x-rays checked out okay and will make his next scheduled start against the Texas Rangers on Saturday. Angels’ orthopedist Dr. Lewis Yocum told him the liner missed his bone by about an inch. Haren has proven to be a durable player never missing his turn since emerging in the Oakland Athletics’ rotation in 2005.
TONIGHT’S ACTION
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Boston Red Sox (57-44) at LA Angels (52-51). Josh Beckett (1-1, 6.66 ERA) vs. Joel Pineiro (10-7, 4.18 ERA). 12:35 pm FSWest, AM 830 KLAA.
LA Dodgers (54-46) at San Diego Padres (58-40). Hiroki Kuroda (8-8, 3.48 ERA) vs. Clayton Richard (7-5, 3.57 ERA). 7:05 pm FS Prime Ticket, AM 790 KABC.
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