Results tagged “sanfranciscogiants”

X-Dodger Brad Penny gave the Dodgers Stadium crowd of 52,438 quite a thrill on Saturday afternoon. And in doing so he lost his first game as a San Francisco Giant, 12-1.

6’4” power-pitcher Brad Penny was a Dodger. He had a few good years in Dodgertown, and even dated Hollywood starlets. Today, he returns to Chavez-Ravine as a San Francisco Giant.

LA Angels defeat Texas Rangers 2-0. The score would seem to dictate this was a quick moving game, but quite the contrary happened. Walks and foul balls kept this game a three-hour grinder. Scott Kazmir went six shutout innings for the Angels yielding only six hits and no walks. Torii Hunter got the Angels on the board in the first inning with an RBI single scoring Maicer Izturis from second base. Although it would be the only run the Angels would need Vladimir Guerrero provided some insurance in the top of the third with a lead off booming home run. The Angels bullpen yielded only two hits and two walks in the three innings they pitched. This win gives the Angels a 7 1/2 game buffer in the NL West.

In a battle of the bullpens the Dodgers lost 8-4. After both starting pitchers gave up four runs, the San Francisco bullpen kept the Dodgers scoreless throughout the remainder of the game. “They pitched better than we did it’s as simple as that,” manager Joe Torre said. “Their bullpen came in and did a heck of a job.” A total of six Giants relievers pitched a combined 4 2/3 scoreless innings giving up only three hits and two walks while striking out five.

Earlier this season, I wrote a post that chronicled the absolutely awful decision to feature Journey’s karaoke jam “Don’t Stop Believin’” during the 8th inning of Dodger games. Feel free to read back for the laundry list of reasons why this song and the Dodgers go together worse than an handful of glass and a slap in the face.

San Francisco Giants defeat LA Dodgers 4-2 (10 innings). With Tim Lincecum starting for the Giants and the Dodgers countering with a string of bullpen pitchers, things didn't look good for the Dodgers. However the Dodgers hung in tight down 2-1 in the top of the ninth. After a questionable safe call to Rafael Furcal at first who then tagged up to second on Russell Martin's deep fly ball to center, Andre Ethier hit an RBI single to tie the game. But Guillermo Mota in the 10th inning would give up a two-run walk off to Juan Uribe (of all people) to give the Giants a win. In the fifth inning with Pablo Sandoval at the plate, Jame McDonald made a pitch inside. Sandoval took exception taking a couple of steps towards the mound pointing his bat at McDonald while yammering. Martin tried to get at Sandoval protecting his pitcher leading to a benches-clearing scuffle. Once order was restored no ejections were issued. By the way that pitch was called a strike.

LA Dodgers defeat San Francisco Giants 9-1. "It's all over at AT&T," Vin Scully proclaimed after Matt Kemp hit an Earl Weaver to give the Dodgers a 9-1 lead in the seventh inning. "Sorry, wrong number for the Giants." In the fifth inning with Rafael Furcal on first, Russell Martin hit a grounder up the middle fielded behind the back by Giants starter Joe Martinez. What looked like a sure double play was muffed by second baseman Eugenio Velez at second leaving both Furcal and Martin safe. Andre Ethier and Manny Ramirez would hit back-to-back doubles and James Loney would single in Manny giving the Dodgers a four-run inning. In the seventh inning Manny would hit a two-run homer and Kemp hit his three-run shot to deflate the sold out crowd in San Francisco. The Dodgers with this win break the streak of three straight losing series.

LA Dodgers defeat San Francisco Giants 4-2. Well if only the Dodgers could play the NL West all 162 games. Dodgers starter Hiroki Kuroda made only one mistake that Travis Ishikawa took out over the right field wall. The Dodgers took out their frustration in the fourth inning when with the bases loaded Matt Kemp hit a bases-clearing double. Mark Loretta would hit a single to score Kemp. All was quiet until the bottom of the ninth when Jonathan Broxton gave up a home run to Bengie Molina with on out then gave up a single to Randy Winn to bring up the tying run at the plate. But Fred Lewis would ground into a force out at second and Ryan Garko would ground to second to end the game. Before the game it was announced the Chad Billingsley was scratched from his start on Wednesday.

LA Dodgers defeat Oakland Athletics 5-4 (10 innings). A's starter Dallas Braden had a perfect game going for 4 2/3 innings when I decided I had to do something. At the game merely as a spectator I yelled out to my top deck brethren, "Braden's throwing a perfect game!" Matt Kemp then promptly hit a double to break up the perfect and no-hit game. In the bottom of the sixth inning I wondered if I could jinx a shutout.

It really did seem inevitable, didn’t it? Oh yeah. I was steadfast in my belief that the Lakers would win the NBA title. Oh that blip after Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals was another person. Wasn’t me. I was possessed by TJ Simers! In all seriousness, watching the Magic steadfastly break apart the Cleveland Cavaliers while the Lakers were at that time having problems with the Denver Nuggets was cause for concern.

LA Dodgers defeat San Francisco Giants 5-3. In the past when the Dodgers would lose a stretch of games they could look to Brad Penny or Derek Lowe and be pretty assured they would win. Chad Billingsley is starting to look like that this season for the Dodgers despite not getting a decision in his 7 1/3 innings pitched. The Giants would score the game tying run in the eighth inning on a bases loaded walk with Jonathan Broxton pitching to deny Bills the win. But true to form the Dodgers MVPs came through in the ninth inning with Manny Ramirez doubling, taking third on a wild pitch and scoring after Russell Martin struck out on an Andre Ethier double. Matt Kemp would emerge from his slump to hit a triple to right field scoring Ethier for the insurance run. Will Ohman would get the save pitching a perfect ninth. As Vin Scully pointed out with nine hits, nine walks and two errors the Dodgers should have scored more runs. But a win is a win.

LA Lakers defeat Utah Jazz 107-96. When the Lakers led by 22 points, it really did look like the Lakers would shut the door on the Jazz. But it wouldn't be a Laker win without the opponent making a comeback, wouldn't it? The Jazz's second unit made a strong comeback in the fourth quarter cutting it down to six points late the in quarter mostly due to the effort of backup guard Ronnie Price. Well that and the Lakers refusal to play defense down the stretch. But once the starters came back in with five minutes left in the game, they clamped down a gave the Lakers the victory. Kobe Bryant was his usual self with 31 points and Lamar Odom was a complete beast with 26 points and 15 rebounds. The Lakers win the series four games to one and will face the winner of the Houston Rockets - Portland Trail Blazers series.

LA Dodgers defeat San Francisco Giants 7-2. The week is always rosier when the Dodgers sweep the Giants. Eric Stults getting another start in the placed of injured Hiroki Kuroda went five innings giving up two runs on five hits and three walks with two strikeouts. It's really hard to follow Chad Billingsley and Clayton Kershaw who combined for 24 strikeouts in the first two games of the series. But the bullpen atoned for Wednesday's game with James McDonald, Ronald Belisario and Will Ohman combined for four scoreless innings. So far the pitching is holding up better than expected.

LA Dodgers defeat San Francisco Giants 5-4. Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw had the best outing of his young career going seven innings giving up only one run on one hit (a homer by catcher Bengie Molina) on one walk with 13 strikeouts. His 13 Ks were the most by a Dodger lefty since Fernando Valenzuela in 1987. As fabulous as Kershaw was, that's how bad the bullpen and offense was denying him the win. The Dodgers got three walks and two singles in the first inning yet only plated one run. In fact they stranded five runners on base in the first two innings. In the eighth inning, Hong-Chih Kuo and Ronald Belisario combined to give up three runs in relief to give the Giants their first lead of the series. But the Dodgers fight back culminating in James Loney's walk-off walk in the bottom of the ninth. A great win, but still very disappointing for Kershaw not to get the decision despite his great performance.

Before I start the recaps, Monday was another sad day for baseball. First word came out that legendary Phillies play-by-play broadcaster Harry Kalas passed away after collapsing in the broadcasting booth in Washington, DC while preparing for the Phillies game against the Nationals. Starting in 1965 as the voice of the Houston Astros, Kalas joined the Phillies in 1971. He also was the narrator of NFL Films since 1975 and did voiceover for "Inside the NFL" from 1977 to 2008. Kalas' deep baritone voice called the biggest moments in Phillies history culminating in Brad Lidge's final strikeout in the World Series last season. Kalas was 73.

Agent Scott Boras sent a letter to the Dodgers this morning on behalf of Manny Ramirez rejecting the Dodgers' latest two-year offer. Resigned to starting over from scratch, Dodgers owner Frank McCourt said, "When [Manny's] agent finds those 'serious offers' from other clubs, we'll be happy to restart the negotiations."

LA Lakers defeat Dallas Mavericks 106-99. The Lakers should have lost this game. They were outrebounded 58-48 by the Mavericks and lost the three-point shooting battle going 15.4% compared to the Mavericks 27.3%. But the Lakers defense came alive in the second half outscoring the Mavs 52-39. The second team anchored by Trevor Ariza on defense and a +/- differential of +16 (the Lakers scored 16 more points than the Mavs when Ariza was on the floor). Last season the Lakers would have lost this game. But this season, well you know. The Lakers are now 6-0 along with the surprising Atlanta Hawks and will play the second game of the back-to-back at New Orleans Hornets tonight.

LA Angels defeat Boston Red Sox 9-2. All the Manny Ramirez bull aside, the Angels annihilated the Red Sox in this series. Josh Beckett getting the start for the Red Sox didn't phase Angels hitter any. In 5 1/3 innings the Angels got seven runs off of Beckett on 11 hits. And they did it all with newly acquired Mark Teixeira going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts batting third in the lineup. Make this eight straight games the Angels have defeated the Red Sox, and the second consecutive series the Angels have taken from the Sox.

LA Dodgers defeat San Francisco Giants 2-0. The Dodgers get their major league-leading ninth shutout of the season as they quiet the Giants. Dodger starter Jason Johnson in his first start in two years went six scoreless innings giving up only five hits. On a very strange play in the sixth inning, Fred Lewis bobbled a line drive by Casey Blake into the left field stands, grabbed the ball and got James Loney out at home. However since the ball got bobbled into the stands, it was considered an overthrow allowing Loney to score the second run.

LA Angels over Boston Red Sox 7-5. The Angels crushed Red Sox starter Daisuke Matsuzaka to the tune of six runs on seven hits in five plus innings. The small ball team went big ball as Casey Kotchman hit a two-run homer and Torii Hunter hit an Earl Weaver to account for five of the six runs in that fateful sixth inning. The Angels relievers did just enough to get the win for Jered Weaver who went 5 2/3 innings giving up three runs on six hits and three walks. Francisco Rodriguez despite giving up a solo homer to Manny Ramirez notched his 44th save of the season. The Angels have now defeated the Red Sox six consecutive times, the best record and best road record in baseball.

Sometimes going to a Dodger game gets to be more than a spectator sport, especially when team rivalries are enacted in the stands.

Barry Bonds was in federal court today to face the music ... sort of. Southern California's least favorite son pleaded not guilty to four counts of perjury and one count of obstruction of justice. After showing off his latest threads (the wire reports had little else to say so they raved about his "impeccably tailored" look), Bonds walked back out a free man. He was essentially released on his own recognizances, but would owe Uncle...

Some more updates to the Mudslide that happened earlier today on Forest Lawn Drive. An estimated 27,000 DWP customers lost power due to rain and lightning. And the rain only seemed to hit hard in select parts of the Los Angeles area. And because of all this rain dumping crazy stuff into the ocean, stay away for at least three days. "Why am I consistently one of the only white people riding the bus...

Seattle 2, Angels 0 - After piling up the runs against the Detroit, the Halos couldn't connect in Seattle. Kelvim Escobar pitched all eight innings with seven strikeouts in the loss. Appropriately, Ichiro Suzuki had three hits, a run, and an RBI on Japanese Baseball Night. Rivalry Week - While LA develops a split personality disorder during that "other" rivalry week (Trojans-Bruins), the city unites in loathing of the San Francisco Giants whenever the ol'...

With a weekend 3-game sweep of the elderly San Francisco Giants under their collective belt, the Dodgers (4-2) open their regular season home schedule at Dodger Stadium this afternoon against the Colorado Rockies (3-3). Prized off-season acquisition Jason Schmidt (1-0) is scheduled to start, and his first pitch is scheduled for 1:10pm. For those taking an extra long lunch today (and you know who you are, as this one's already sold out), here's what to know in advance of today's home opener:

Brad Penny is the man of my dreams. Ok not really, but any man who can pitch seven scoreless innings to beat the San Francisco Giants 2-1 on the road deserves a little nookie, right?

The New York Daily News is reporting that big fat hulking Frisco Gyro Barry Bonds tested positive for amphetamines last season. The paper goes on to say that when Bonds was told of this he blamed it on teammate Mark Sweeney from whom he claimed to have swiped some "substances". Bonds was not punished for his transgression, but instead was referred to treatment and counseling. While amphetamines are considered performance-enhancing drugs, they are treated differently...

A year after ending up 20 games under .500, the Dodgers have clinched a playoff spot after their sixth straight win. The champagne couldn't have tasted any better because the decisive game was against their longtime rivals, the San Fran Giants up in Frisco, thanks to the 40 year old arm of Greg Maddux (pictured, left), who also stole a base in the 4-2 win. "If you're going to cinch it, you want to...

The only things sweeter than the Dodgers winning their 15th game out of 16 yesterday in the bottom of the 10th from a walk-off home run were how they made it to the 10th, and who they beat. Recently-acquired starter Greg Maddux is how they got there, as he shut out Frisco for the eight innings that he pitched, totally baffling the struggling visitors on just 68 pitches. Sadly, his textbook schooling of the...

Well at least the weather was good. The Dodgers, as well as Major League Baseball celebrated Jackie Robinson Day Saturday April 15th. The Blue Crew looked to improve their record against arch rival San Francisco Giants but found themselves falling short and wondering what happened. It was an eventful and dare we say, entertaining series if not a successful one. The Dodgers dropped 2 of 3 to the Giants and fell below .500 (6-7) with a sad 2-4 record at home. Jackie Robinson Day itself was a success as the Odalis Perez pitched seven strong innings to get a 3-1 victory over Giants ace Jason Schmidt in front of over 53,000 in attendance. The other two games however found the Dodgers searching for their hitting stroke as well as for answers. They managed only 4 runs in 3 games as opposed to the offensive explosion against the Pirates in their previous series which featured a 13 run game on Thursday. Also noted in the games was the absent bat of one Barry Bonds. The San Francisco slugger failed to hit his first homerun of the season against LA and that is something that LAist can take solace in.