LAst Night's Action: Bad Night for Angels

Boston Red Sox defeat LA Angels 6-3. Well the Angels debut of Dan Haren (L, 0-1) didn’t go as planned. First of all having been upstaged by Matt Garza’s no-hitter that concluded just minutes before first pitch, he would eventually leave after being struck in the arm by Kevin Youkilis’ line drive back up the middle with two outs in the fifth inning. David Ortiz hit two homers which the Angels couldn’t overcome despite scoring twice in the eighth inning to get to within a run. But J.D. Drew hit a two-run double in the ninth to put the exclamation point on it. Haren despite not completing five innings struck out eight hitters while walking none. Red Sox starter Clay Buchholz (W, 11-5) wound up with the win going seven innings striking out seven while walking one.

NOTABLE NOTES

FINALLY FOR TAMPA BAY. After having a perfect game thrown against them by Mark Buehrle of the Chicago White Sox last season, a perfecto by Oakland Athletics’ Dallas Braden and a no-hitter by Arizona Diamondbacks’ Edwin Jackson this season, the Rays finally have their no-hitter. Against the Detroit Tigers, Matt Garza made 120 pitches in the Rays first franchise no-hitter and the 5-0 victory. Tigers’ starter Max Scherzer also had a no-hitter going into the sixth inning, but he gave up his first hit to Matt Joyce - a grand slam homer thanks to two walks and a catcher’s interference error on Gerald Laird - to end that. Coming into the game with six starts against the Tigers in his career, Garza was 0-4 with a 5.85 ERA. Perhaps I should move to Tampa and cover the Rays so I can hope for a glimpse of a no-hitter.

OH LANE. Those in Knoxville were very familiar with Lane Kiffin’s antics, and a return to USC hasn’t changed anything. Over the weekend Kiffin lured Tennessee Titans’ running backs coach Kennedy Pola to USC as offensive coordinator and running backs coach. There was one problem: Kiffin didn’t notify Titans’ head coach and USC alum Jeff Fisher saying he was interested in talking to Pola.

The Titans have struck back and filed a complaint against Kiffin and USC in the chancery court of Davidson County - a court that hears contract issues, employment lawsuits and constitutional issues among others in the state of Tennessee. In court documents filed on Monday the Titans assert that according to Pola’s employment contract he must receive prior written permission by the Titans or NFL commissioner Roger Goodell before pursuing another job. The Titans contend that Kiffin was fully aware of Pola’s contract and by getting Pola to move to USC Kiffin induced a breach of contract by Pola.

You can read the entire complaint here.

BELISARIO IS BACK. According to Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times, relief pitcher Ronald Belisario is back working out at Dodger Stadium three weeks after being put on the restricted list for personal reasons. There is no timetable for his return meaning he will still be on the restricted list and off the 40-man roster. Hernandez reported that the “personal reason” was Belisario seeking alcohol abuse treatment, however no one with the Dodgers or Belisario’s agent Paul Kinzer would comment on the issue.

KERSHAW SUSPENSION. Dodgers left-handed starter Clayton Kershaw dropped the appeal for his five-game suspension on Monday and will begin serving it on Tuesday. Kershaw was suspended and fined an undisclosed amount by MLB vice president Bob Watson for “intentionally throwing at” Aaron Rowand in the seventh inning of their game against the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday. Manager Joe Torre was also fined and suspended for Wednesday’s Giants game while bench coach Bob Schaefer was fined and suspended for Thursday’s game against the New York Mets for arguing with home plate umpire Adrian Johnson after Giants’ starter Tim Lincecum brushed back Russell Martin with two pitches in Tuesday’s game. Lincecum was neither fined nor suspended for his actions. Kershaw will be available to pitch on Sunday night’s ESPN game against the Giants in San Francisco.

TONIGHT’S ACTION

LA Dodgers (53-46) at San Diego Padres (58-39). Chad Billingsley (8-5, 4.22 ERA)vs. Jon Garland (9-6, 3.61 ERA). 7:05 pm KCAL9, AM 790 KABC.

Boston Red Sox (56-44) at LA Angels (52-50). John Lackey (9-5, 4.36 ERA) vs. Jered Weaver (9-6, 3.22 ERA). 7:05 pm FSWest, AM 830 KLAA.