Kuo Hits DL with Elbow Problem

Hong-Chih Kuo was placed on the 15-day disabled list with an elbow injury. Kuo has been shaky this year as the eighth-inning set-up man, posting an ERA of 6.75 in less than six innings of work. Kuo has had four operations on the same elbow, including two Tommy John surgeries. He was handled very delicately last season, with the staff careful not to use him on back-t0-back days or have him pitch long outings. According to Jon Weisman of the LA Times, the Dodgers called up Brent Leach to replace Kuo. The left-handed Leach has struck out 17, walked 8, and given up 12 hits in his time with Double-A Chattanooga, though he has only allowed one run.

Walk-Off-Walk Gives Dodgers the Win

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Diego Padres 1-0, their 16th win of the season. The game was scoreless going into the bottom of the ninth, but the Dodgers loaded the bases and Russell Martin drew a walk with two outs to force the winning run home. Clayton Kershaw threw a gem, shutting out the Friars in seven innings on four hits and two walks. Jake Peavy was just as dominant, giving LA only goose-eggs for eight innings and allowing just two hits and one walk while striking out eight. Jonathan Broxton pitched a perfect eighth for his second win of the season. Orlando Hudson scored the winning run as the Boys in Blue collected just three hits. Duaner Sanchez walked three to get the loss for the Padres, and Kevin Kouzmanoff was the only player to reach base twice for San Diego, doubling and walking. The Friars went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position.

A Prince is Crowned

Coach Rick Neuheisal named Kevin Prince as UCLA's starting quarterback for the 2009 season. Prince is a redshirt freshman who competed with Kevin Craft and Richard Brehaut for the job. Craft was the starter last season, getting the job after injuries piled up on first-string QB Ben Olson and second-string Patrick Cowan. Prince has had a decent spring practice, completing 11 of 24 passes with 134 yards, one touchdown and one turnover.

Weaver Returns to Push Dodgers To Win

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Diego Padres 8-5, their 15th win of the season. James McDonald was pulled in the second inning after giving up two hits, four walks, and three runs in the inning. However, Jeff Weaver made his first appearance for the Dodgers since 2005, pitching four scoreless innings, allowing only four hits and one walk. Orlando Hudson and Manny Ramirez had back-to-back homers, and Matt Kemp had a double, RBI, and two runs scored. Andre Ethier had two hits and knock in one, and Casey Blake had two hits, an RBI, and a run. Jonathan Broxton had his seventh save of the season. Adrian Gonzalez provided the Padres with a single, double, RBI, and two runs scored.

Lakers Set to Face Houston

The Houston Rockets eliminated the Portland Trail Blazers 92-78, winning the series four games to two. The Rockets will now face the Los Angeles Lakers in the the Western Conference semi-finals. The Lakers won the season series with Houston 4-0 during the regular season. Facing Houston is a relief for most Laker fans, as LA finished the season 2-2 against the Blazers, with the home team winning each time.

Dodgers Promote Weaver

The Los Angeles Dodgers purchased the contract of minor-league pitcher Jeff Weaver to help contribute to a thin bullpen and even spot-start. Weaver has been stellar for Triple-A affiliate Albuquerque, with an ERA of 3.55 in 12.2 innings for the Isotopes, striking out 12 while walking just two. Consequently, Scott Elbert was demoted to Double-A Chattanooga. Elbert gave up five runs in less than seven innings, translating into a 7.11 ERA. Corey Wade was activated from the disabled list, and Doug Mientkiewicz was put on the 60-day DL to make room for Weaver. Blake DeWitt was optioned to Albuquerque to make room for Wade.

Lincecum Looks Sharp as Dodgers Fall

The Los Angeles Dodgers fell to the San Francisco Giants 9-4, dropping the series two games to one. LA finished the road-trip going 4-5. Cy Young-winner Tim Lincecum was solid, keeping the Dodgers scoreless up to the eighth inning when he left the game with runners on. He finished giving up three runs and striking out eight. Eric Stults was shaky, allowing five runs on seven hits in less than three innings of work. Orlando Hudson had two hits, including a double, and an RBI, and Manny Ramirez had a hit and scored a run. Juan Pierre had two hits, an RBI, and a run scored. Bengie Molina was money for the Giants, getting a single, triple, and homer, finishing with four runs-batted-in. Edgar Renteria had four hits, knocked in two, and scored twice.

Dodgers Escape Giants' Clutches

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Francisco Giants 5-3, snapping a small two-game losing streak. Chad Billingsley was solid, allowing only two runs, one earned, before giving the ball to Jonathan Broxton with one out in the eighth and two aboard with the Dodgers leading 3-2. However, Broxton walked two, sending the tying run home. The run was charged to Billingsley, who ended up missing a chance to get his fifth win of the season. However, Manny Ramirez led the ninth off with a double, Andre Ethier then doubled, and Matt Kemp tripled. Manny finished with three doubles and two runs scored. James Loney knocked in two and walked three times. Defense played a big part in the win, with a tag at the plate by Russell Martin with assists from Rafael Furcal and Kemp in the first inning, a line-drive caught by Loney with runners on that ended up being a double-play, and a diving catch by Casey Blake with runners at second and third that saved two runs. Giant pitchers were very wild, uncorking three wild pitches. Pablo Sandoval had two hits and an RBI for the Hated Ones, and Aaron Rowand scored the go-ahead run in the eighth.

Editor's Note: Just Move On

The Lakers advanced to the Western Conference Semi-Finals, but you can hardly hear anyone cheering. The Lakers lost another big lead, but managed to hang on and win. Unfortunately, that's becoming a recurring theme, and it falls squarely on the bench. Without Luke Walton, Lamar Odom, and Trevor Ariza, the bench loses a lot of the pop it once had. Andrew Bynum struggled against a much smaller Jazz team, piling up fouls but not points. Sasha Vujacic is no longer the machine he once was, and Jordan Farmar has fallen into Phil Jackson's doghouse. Farmar has a problem with his foot, keeping him out. DJ Mbenga, Josh Powell, and Adam Morrison will never touch the hardwood unless it's garbage time, leaving Shannon Brown (above) to pick up the slack. Brown, however, cannot carry this bench when he plays at guard, where Kobe and Derek Fisher control the time. The bench will ultimately become the Lakers' deciding factor, but the problem needs to be addressed now.

Game 5: Lakers Clinch Second-Round Berth

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Utah Jazz , winning the series 4 games to one and advancing to the Western Conference Semi-Finals. LA will face either Houston or Portland in the next round. The Lakers held Utah to .402 shooting, and shot 45% themselves, as well as 9-for-21 from behind the arc. The Lakers entered the fourth quarter leading by 19, but the lead fell down to six before they bounced back and held on. Kobe Bryant led all scorers with 31 points and 4 steals, and Lamar Odom added 26 points and 15 rebounds. Pau Gasol had 17 points and 11 rebounds, and Trevor Ariza had a solid game despite a sore ankle, scoring 12 points and grabbing 7 rebounds. Deron Williams scored 14 points for Utah, and Paul Millsap had 16 points and 6 rebounds off the bench.

Dodgers Can't Finish Giants

The Los Angeles Dodgers fell to the San Francisco Giants 5-4, their second loss in a row. The Giants took an early 3-0 lead after the first inning, but Randy Wolf held on to keep San Fran to just the three. In the seventh, the Dodgers exploded for four runs, but Ronald Belisario surrendered the lead after giving up two runs in the eighth. Casey Blake had a two-run homer, and Manny Ramirez had two hits and an RBI. Juan Pierre had a pinch-hit single and scored the game-tying run. Edgar Renteria had a double and scored twice for the Giants, and Randy Winn had a triple, RBI, and run scored. Bengie Molina had the game-winning RBI.

Ariza In, Walton Out

Trevor Ariza will start, despite concerns over a sprained ankle he suffered before Game 4 in Utah. Ariza left the court during the first half, but returned for the second. However, Luke Walton will be out for the rest of the series with a torn ligament in his left ankle. Adam Morrison will be activated after being in street-clothes for the series against the Jazz.

NFL Draft: Day Two

More Trojans were selected in the second day of the NFL Draft.

David Buehler, K: Dallas Cowboys, Round 5, pick 36
Kevin Ellison, S: San Diego Chargers, Round 6, pick 16
Cary Harris, CB: Buffalo Bills, Round 6, pick 10
Kaluka Maiava, ILB: Cleveland Browns, Round 4, pick 4
Kyle Moore, DE: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Round 4, pick 17
Patrick Turner, WR: Miami Dolphins, Round 3, pick 23

Kershaw Doesn't Hold Up in Loss

The Los Angeles Dodgers fell to the Colorado Rockies 10-4, falling short of the series sweep. Clayton Kershaw got roughed up for his second loss of the season, giving up nine runs, eight hits (two homers), and four walks. Jason Marquis was solid for the Rockies, allowing just three runs on six hits while striking out five. James Loney doubled twice and knocked in three runs, and Russell Martin also had a double. Andre Ethier and Juan Pierre both had two hits. Clint Barmes had a two-run homer for Colorado and scored twice, and Ryan Spillborghs also homered and knocked in three. Dexter Fowler had three hits, and Jeff Baker had a three-run triple.

Editor's Note: They Woke the Sleeping Giant

They teased him. They said he was soft. They said he lost his spark. They questioned his skills and his mettle. Little did the Jazz know that they were waking the sleeping giant. You don't make Kobe angry. You won't like him when he's angry. Utah learned that the hard way. After quite possibly his worst playoff performance, Kobe Bryant showed the world that he's a machine, and like all machines, he's got an "on" switch. Turn him on, and the Jazz go off. Utah invariably sealed their doom with Thursday's game. After all, the Lakers had the visiting-team disadvantage, which in Salt Lake City translates into certain death. On top of that, Kobe had wasn't even Kobe, missing 19 of his 24 shots. But the Purple and Gold stayed in the game, and only lost by two points. If their was ever a loss that could inspire confidence, it was Game 3. Then Mehmet Okur returned, and the Jazz thought their prayers were answered. As it turned out, Okur was just an unnecessary body taking up space on the court, playing 13 minutes with just 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and no points. Kobe and the Lakers proved their worth in Saturday's game. Not only that, they proved that they have the killer-instinct. They just need the proper motivation.