Walk-Off-Walk Gives Dodgers Win over Angels

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 5-4 in 10 innings, their 30th win of the season. The Dodgers were in an early hole after Torii Hunter hit a 3-run homer to give the Angels a 4-1 lead in the top of the fifth. However, LA came back, scoring twice in the bottom of the inning, and tying up the game in the eighth on an RBI-single from Casey Blake. Juan Pierre walked with the bases loaded in the 10th to get the Dodgers the victory. Andre Ethier showed signs of life, getting a single and a double and scoring twice before leaving the game with an injury. Russell Martin also doubled and singled, plus he drove in two runs. Blake doubled and singled twice, and James Loney had a single, double, a run scored, and an RBI. Juan Rivera had three hits for the Angels, including a solo-homer, and scored twice.

Andre Ethier had to leave the game after he split open the toenail on his right big-toe. His condition is uncertain.

Jason Schmidt was hit in the head by a line-drive in a rehab start with Albuquerque. The injury is not serious.

Jonathan Broxton pitched two scoreless innings to receive his fifth win of the season. His five wins are second on the team behind Chad Billingsley's six.

Game 3: Rocky-Mountain Comeback

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Denver Nuggets 103-97, taking a 2-1 lead in the Western Conference Finals. Denver had an 8 point lead going into the fourth quarter, but the Lakers roared back, out-scoring the Nuggets 32-18 in the final period. Trevor Ariza had another game-changing play as he stole an inbounds pass, was fouled, and converted both free-throws to give the Lakers a 4-point lead with just seconds left. LA struggled to convert at the foul line though, going 31-for-45. Denver shot just .393 in the game, missing 22 of 27 3-pointers. Kobe Bryant sliced and diced the Nuggets' defense, scoring 41 points, including a clutch 3-pointer that gave LA the lead for good in the fourth. Pau Gasol had 20 points and 11 rebounds, and Ariza added 16 points, 9 of which came on 3-pointers. Carmelo Anthony was cooled off, scoring just 20 points before fouling out late in the game, and Chauncey Billups had 18 points, 7 assists, and 6 rebounds. Chris Andersen added 15 points off the bench, and also blocked three shots.

Editor's Note: Lakers Must Be Road-Warriors

This is a tough series, there's no doubt about that. These are two evenly matched teams with evenly matched stats. But that doesn't mean the Lakers can't improve. They can, and it all starts in the frontcourt. Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol have become lazy on defense, allowing easy layups and dunks. If they want to win Game 3, they have to clamp down. The fouls are another problem. The Lakers have to limit their fouls in the fourth quarter. If not, Denver can just shoot free-throws all game. The perimiter offense needs to continue its hot streak; 3-pointers can make or break these games since they are so closely knotted up. But most importantly, the Lakers have to show Denver that they have the best road-record in the NBA for a reason.

Dodgers Out-Clutched by Angels

The Los Angeles Dodgers fell to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 3-2, snapping a four-game winning streak. Both teams struggled to produce with runners in scoring position; Anaheim went 2-for-17 and the Dodgers went 1-or-14. However, the Angels got the key hit from Chone Figgins as he singled with the bases-loaded to score two runs in the eighth. Rafael Furcal doubled twice but never scored, and James Loney had two hits and the lone RBI. Russell Martin scored the only run, and both Juan Pierre and Matt Kemp each had two hits. Gary Matthews, Jr. had two hits, a run scored, and an RBI, and Figgins was just a homer short of the cycle. Torii Hunter doubled and scored.

Dodgers Replace Paul with Hoffmann

The Los Angeles Dodgers put OF Xavier Paul on the disabled list with a skin infection. To replace him, the Dodgers called up rookie Jamie Hoffmann. Hoffmann was with Triple-A Albuquerque before being promoted. Paul was used as a backup-outfielder after Manny Ramirez's suspension. Paul collected three hits in his first 14 big-league at-bats, including a home run.

Game 2: Lakers Can't Repeat

The Los Angeles Lakers fell to the Denver Nuggets 106-103, evening the series at a game apiece. The Lakers started off hot, leading by 8 after the first quarter, but the lead fell to just one-point at halftime. Denver stepped up in the fourth quarter, scoring 26 points to take Game 2 and split the series heading into Denver. The Lakers caught the Nuggets' free-throw bug, going only 27-for-35 at the stripe. The missed free-throws proved to be the difference, as both teams were evenly matched in every category, including rebounds, offensive rebounds, assists, turnovers, 3-pointers, and blocked shots. Kobe Bryant led LA with 32 points, and Trevor Ariza added 20 points and 4 steals, but had a pivotal turnover as he lost the ball after Pau Gasol tipped it to him on a jump-ball with just seconds left in the game. Gasol had 17 points and 17 rebounds. Carmelo Anthony led all scorers with 34 points and added 9 rebounds, and Chancey Billups put up 27 points.

Dodgers Break Out Brooms for Mets

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Mets 2-1, sweeping the three-game series. Jeff Weaver allowed only one run in five innings in his spot-start, and Brent Leach received the first win of his career. Juan Pierre had two hits and scored a run, and Orlando Hudson spent no time on the bench after hurting his shoulder yesterday; he doubled and scored. Russell Martin had the game-winning RBI. Jonathan Broxton had a scoreless ninth to get his 11th save of the season. Carlos Beltran doubled twice and drove in Luis Castillo for the Mets' only run of the game.

Editor's Note: Manny vs. Predator

In the season finale of Saturday Night Live, Will Ferral reprised his role as the late Harry Caray, Chicago's famed play-by-play man. Seth Myers tries to talk with Caray about Manny Ramirez, but Caray does everything to stay off topic.

Editor's Note: Best Damn Sports Day Period

It's a good time to be an LA sports fan. The Lakers are smack-dab in the middle of the playoffs, and have a 1-0 lead over Denver in the Western Conference Finals. The Dodgers have the best record in baseball and are steamrolling through the eastern division. The Clippers received the first overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, and look to select Blake Griffin, the college player of the year. Everywhere you look in LA, people are excited. It's great to be in Los Angeles today.

Blake Powers Dodgers to Win

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Mets 5-3, their third win in a row. Chad Billingsley struggled, giving up three runs on four hits and five walks, but got his sixth win of the season after Casey Blake hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning. Juan Pierre scored a run in the first inning, and Orlando Hudson drove in a run before leaving the game with a bruised shoulder. Matt Kemp and James Loney each had a hit and a run scored, and Billingsley helped his own cause with an RBI-double. David Wright had a hit, RBI, and run scored for the Mets, and pitcher John Maine drove in two runs. Jonathan Broxton had a perfect ninth for his 10th save of the season.

Hudson suffered a bruised left shoulder after landing akwardly while trying to make an over-the-shoulder catch. He will be day-to-day.

Eric Stults was scratched from his start tomorrow due to a sore thumb. Jeff Weaver will make the start instead, and Eric Milton's spot will be skipped due to Thursday's off-day.

Game 1: Lakers Escape Denver's Clutches

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Denver Nuggets 105-103, taking an early 1-0 lead in the Western Conference Finals. The Lakers nearly lost the game, at one point trailing by 13, before they took the lead for good in the last seconds of the fourth quarter. Derek Fisher hit a 3-pointer as time expired at halftime to put the Lakers up by one, but Denver came back to take a 2-point lead at the end of the third. LA out-rebounded the Nuggets 46-37, including 17-7 on the offensive boards. Denver's key flaw came at the charity stripe, as they were just 23-for-35. Kobe Bryant led all scorers with 40 points, and Pau Gasol added 13 points and 13 boards. Derek Fisher scored 13 as well, and Trevor Ariza grabbed 3 steals, including one on an inbounds in the last seconds with Denver down by two. The Laker bench was outstanding, scoring a total of 27 points as opposed to Denver's 16. Carmelo Anthony ripped LA's interior defense apart as he scored 39 points, and Chauncey Billups added 18 points and 8 assists.

BINGO! Clippers Win Draft Lottery

The Los Angeles Clippers won the #1 pick in the 2009 NBA Finals after being chosen in the NBA Draft Lottery. The Clippers had a 17.7% chance of receiving the first-overall pick, behind the Washington Wizards and the Sacramento Kings. The Clips will be expected to select Blake Griffin of Oklahoma. Memphis will pick second, followed by Oklahoma City, then Sacramento and Washington.

Mets Gift-Wrap Win for Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Mets 3-2, their second win in a row. The game was tied at 2 apiece after Gary Sheffield hit a single to score Angel Pagan, and it eventually entered extra-innings. In the 11th, the wheels fell off for the Mets when Ryan Church, who singled, missed third-base as he headed home on a Pagan-triple, ending the inning. In the bottom of the inning, after Mark Loretta walked, Pagan and Carlos Beltran miscommunicated on a fly-ball from Xavier Paul and it dropped in. Juan Pierre was intentionally walked, and Orlando Hudson grounded a ball to Jeremy Reed at first. However, Reed threw the ball away as he tried to get Loretta at home. The Mets made a total of five errors. Rafael Furcal had two hits and scored a run, and Hudson singled twice and drove in a run. Pagan finished with four hits for the Mets, and David Wright doubled twice and scored a run.

Editor's Note: Breath a Sigh of Relief

Now that the series with the Rockets is over and the Lakers have prevailed, we are given a short day to breath a sigh of relief. Unfortunately, that day ended as I was writing this post. With an unbelievably short amount of time to prepare, the Lakers will play Denver tomorrow to begin the Western Conference Finals. Due to the recent play by both teams, the Lakers do in fact enter the game as somewhat of underdogs. But they can still win, and win handely. Chauncey Billups is good, but not as fast as Aaron Brooks and won't give Derek Fisher fits with his speed. Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum stand to have an easy time against Nene Hilario, and Kobe will eat up J.R. Smith. But Carmelo Anthony can be trouble for Trevor Ariza, and the bench will have a tough time containing Chris Anderson. Billups is always a plus, and Kenyon Martin is consistent. The Lakers will not coast through this series, but thanks to Houston, they can be well-prepared.

Game 7: Lakers Cruise to Series Victory

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Houston Rockets 89-70, winning the Western Conference Semi-Finals four games to three. The Lakers returned to form after struggling in Game 6, and used stifling defense to keep Houston from mounting a comeback. LA out-rebounded the Rockets 55-33, as well as 13-5 on the offensive glass, and blocked 10 of Houston's shots. The Rockets could not score more than 20 points in any quarter, and only shot .368 from the field. Pau Gasol dominated the inside, scoring 21 points, grabbing 18 rebounds, and collecting 3 blocks. Trevor Ariza had 15 points, and Kobe Bryant added 14, three steals, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists. Andrew Bynum scored 14 points, snagged 6 boards, and blocked 2 shots. Aaron Brooks led Houston with 13 points, and Luis Scola had 11.

The Lakers will play the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals.

Kershaw's Near No-No Leads Way for Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Florida Marlins 12-5, taking the series 2-1 and finishing their road-trip with a 4-2 record. The story of the day was Clayton Kershaw, who threw seven innings of no-hit ball before giving up a leadoff double to Cody Ross in the eighth. Kershaw finished the game allowing only one run on one hit and four walks while striking out nine. Both Mark Loretta and Juan Pierre had three hits, drove in three runs, and scored twice. Juan Castro had his first homer of the season, and he scored four runs. Orlando Hudson had two RBI's, and Xavier Paul scored two runs. Dan Uggla had a double for the Marlins, and Ross had a grand slam in the ninth.