LAst Night's Action: Dodgers Lose Thrice

St. Louis Cardinals defeat LA Dodgers 10-0. Chad Billingsley started out strong for the Dodgers pitching a one-hit shutout after five innings. Then the sixth inning happened. Billingsley crumbled giving up two two-run singles and one one-run single. After the dust settled, the Cards put a six-spot on the Dodgers. After Claudio Vargas got two out in the eighth inning with a runner on third, Brent Leach came in and got no outs allowing the runner on third to score (run charged to Vargas) and giving up three more on his own. It got so bad manager Joe Torre put in utility infielder Mark Loretta to pitch to Matt Holliday. Although Loretta would hit Holliday with a pitch, he got Ryan Ludwick to fly out to left. It was Loretta's second time pitching in a Major League game, his first being with the Milwaukee Brewers against the Cincinnati Reds on June 20, 2001 in the eighth inning trailing 11-3 when he struck out two batters and allowed no runs. By the way the manager for the Brewers was Dodgers great Davey Lopes. The Dodgers have now lost three consecutive games for the first time of the season.

LA Angels defeat Cleveland Indians 7-6. With the Angels trailing the Indians 4-3 in the eighth inning Juan Rivera singled to left scoring Erick Aybar to tie the game. After loading the bases Gary Matthews, Jr. hit a bases clearing double to left-center to put the Angels up 7-4. The Angels needed every bit of those runs because for the second consecutive day Brian Fuentes was shaky. He gave up two hits and two walks giving up two runs. Not taking any changes manager Mike Scioscia replaced Fuentes with Jason Bulger and promptly got Victor Martinez to ground into a double play and Jhonny Peralta to ground out. It was Bulger's first career save.

Notable Notes

• This is something that everyone knows is inevitable, but at the end of next season Dodgers legend Vin Scully will retire from play-by-play duties. Since getting the job in 1950, Scully has called every Dodgers World Series victories in 1955 with Brooklyn and 1959, 1963, 1965, 1981 and 1988 in LA. Bill Plaschke of the LA Times his suggestion on how to honor Scully in the 15 months until he calls the final out for good. Plaschke writes, "How the McCourts handle this will say much about not only their credibility as Dodgers owners, but their place among Los Angeles citizens." And he is 100% correct.
• Philadelphia Eagle's defensive coordinator Jim Johnson died on Tuesday at the age of 68. Johnson took a leave of absence from the Eagles in May to battle a cancerous tumor found in his spine. Known for terrorizing the NFL with his defensive schemes he helped get the Eagles to one Super Bowl appearance and five NFC Championship games in his decade-long tenure. Johnson is survived by his wife, two children and four grandchildren.

Tonight's Action

LA Dodgers at St. Louis Cardinals. Clayton Kershaw vs. Joel Pinero. 5:15 pm FS Prime Ticket, AM 790 KABC.

Cleveland Indians at LA Angels. Aaron Laffey vs. John Lackey. 12:35 pm FSWest, AM 830 KLAA/AM 980 KFWB.