Bruins Drop Pac-10 Opener

STANFORD 24 - UCLA 16

Not UCLA's prettiest game. Kevin Craft was 22-for-34 in pass attempts as the Bruins fell in their Pac-10 opener against the Cardinal. The ground game was terrible, with UCLA collecting only 98 yards while the defense allowed 176 rushing yards. The third-down conversion rate was also starkly different, as the Bruins were 2-for-7 while Stanford was 7-for-13.

Photo courtesy of the Associated Press

Dodgers Cutting it Way Too Close

The Dodgers' race to the pennant is a little too close for comfort. I'm not just talking uneasiness. It's a full-blown ulcer because of this race. While it does add drama to the end of the season, I would settle for the Tigers/Twins. Not this. I'm not a drama guy. Not when it directly affects me. Not when Manny Ramirez is striking out four times and setting his LOB total at a staggering six. Not when the #3, 4, and 5 hitters are a combined 0-for-12. Not when Matt Kemp falls into an 0-for-4 spiral that only gets worse with his LOB of five. And definitely not when it just seems like the Dodgers cannot win a game for the rest of the regular season. I know postseason play does not hinge on how a team finishes the regular season. But it's just so gosh-darn depressing watching failed attempt after failed attempt. When the opponent gets a runner aboard, I feel like he will score. If the Boys in Blue get a runner aboard, I fell like he will either be erased or stranded. That's not really how I want to feel right now.

I'm Back!

Yes, Mr. LA Sports Fan is back, and better than ever. Over the next few days, you might notice a lot of differences to LASS. Since I'm now pulling double-duty at SoCal Sports Hub, I find I have little time to post about big things happening with the Dodgers, the Lakers, and anything else happening. In order to cut back on the workload, I will no longer cover Kings hockey or college basketball except for March Madness. I apologize for their removal. I will continue to cover the Dodgers, the Lakers, USC Football, UCLA Football, and of course, the Clippers. I will try to add a little more flavor to the posts and make them more interesting to the readers. It's the start of a brand new day here, and I thank all of you for sticking around.

Please Stand By

The LA Sports Scene is currently on hiatus until further notice.

Dodgers Add Padilla

The Los Angeles Dodgers added Vicente Padilla to their rotation, signing him to a minor-league contract worth $100,000. The Dodgers felt the need to bring in a pitcher to help with an exhausted pitching staff, especially after Hiroki Kuroda's injury. Padilla will start one game in the minors, then will be called up. He previously pitched with the Texas Rangers, compiling an 8-6 record with a 4.92 ERA. LA was also considering John Smoltz, but he was picked up by St. Louis.

Series Recap: Kuroda Feelin' Fine

The series against Arizona took a gruesome turn when Hiroki Kuroda was struck in the head by a line-drive. Medical analysis shows he will make a full recovery, and could begin pitching very soon this season. His Thursday start is doubtful.

SAT - The injury to Kuroda set the stage for a heart-wrenching 4-3 loss, where Jonathan Broxton gave up back-to-back home runs to Mark Reynolds and Miguel Montero to tie the game. Ramon Troncoso continued to struggle, giving up a hit and two walks before allowing a deep single to center to drive in the winning run.

SUN - The Dodgers managed to salvage their series with the D-Backs with a 9-3 blowout. Randy Wolf cruised through seven innings before hitting trouble in the eighth, and even contributed with the bat, falling a triple short of the cycle. Andre Ethier hit a three-run homer before the first out of the game could be recorded, and Orlando Hudson drove in two runs with his own home run.

D-Backs Down Dodgers in Opener

The Los Angeles Dodgers fell to the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-1, their second loss in a row. Dan Haren shut LA down for eight innings, holding them to just one run on six hits while striking out eight. Clayton Kershaw hit trouble in the second, giving up four runs on three hits and three walks. Matt Kemp hit his 17th home run of the season, and Manny Ramirez had three hits.

The Dodgers signed second-round draft pick Garrett Gould to a contract. Gould is a first-round talent who dropped to the second due to signability issues.

Corp Breaks Leg in Practice

Aaron Corp, USC's first-string quarterback, has a fracture in his small left knee as a result of an injury sustained during practice. He will be out for two weeks. Freshman Matt Barkley will be moved into the starter role.

Dodgers Can't Hang On in Extras

The Los Angeles Dodgers fell to the San Francisco Giants 4-2 in 10 innings, but still took the series two games to one. Tim Lincecum was nails, allowing only one run in eight innings of work before going into the ninth. After Rafael Furcal singled and tagged up to second, Andre Ethier singled him home with two out to tie the game at two runs apiece. The match entered extra innings, and Guillermo Mota surrendered a two-run homer to Juan Uribe that ended the game. The Dodgers had only four hits, two coming from Ethier. Juan Pierre tripled and scored a run, and Rafael Furcal had the only other hit and RBI. Freddy Sanchez had two hits, a run scored, and an RBI for the Giants.

Clips Get Butler

The Los Angeles Clippers traded for Rasual Butler from New Orleans, and in exchange the Hornets will receive a conditional second-round pick in 2016. The transaction comes as the Clippers try to start a rebuilding process built around Blake Griffin and Eric Gordon. New Orleans' reasons for trading Butler, who enjoyed a career-season with an average of 11.2 points a game, for just a draft pick in the distant future was to lower payroll.

T-Wolves Introduce Rambis as Coach

The Minnesota Timberwolves inked their deal with former Laker assitant-coach Kurt Rambis, making him their newest head coach. Rambis will succeed Kevin McHale, a former Boston Celtic. The two engaged in an altercation after McHale fouled Rambis in the 1984 NBA Finals. The former Laker will get the chance to build a team around players like Ricky Rubio, Kevin Love and Al Jefferson.

Dodgers Take Series with Blowout Against Giants

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Francisco Giants 9-1, sealing a series victory against the Giants. Just like in the first game, San Francisco struck first, scoring a run in the third inning. The Dodgers came right back with four runs in the fifth, and for good measure they scored five in the seventh to clinch the victory. Randy Wolf went eight innings, allowing just the one run on three hits and one walk. Manny Ramirez had a double and a homer, collecting three RBI's and two runs scored when all was said and done. Matt Kemp had a three-run home run, and James Loney had two hits. Andre Ethier doubled twice, scoring twice and driving in two. Edgar Renteria had two hits for the Giants, and Fred Lewis scored the lone run.

Eric Stults was demoted to Triple-A Albuquerque. Knuckleballer Charlie Haeger was called up to replace him.

Dodgers Pad Lead with Win

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Francisco Giants 4-2, snapping a three-game losing streak. The Dodgers hit Jonathan Sanchez for four runs in the fourth inning, the back-breaker being Matt Kemp's bases-loaded double that drove in all three runners. Mark Loretta then singled to drive in Kemp. Manny Ramirez had two hits and a run scored. Hiroki Kuroda pitched 6-and-a-third effective innings, allowing only one run. Travis Ishikawa and Bengie Molina both had solo-homers to account for the Giants' only two runs.

Orlando Hudson had to leave the game after feeling pain in his groin area. He is listed as day-to-day.

Injury Bug: Gasol and Billingsley Go Down

Chad Billingsley was scratched from his scheduled Wednesday start against the Giants, according to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com. Among the information not yet revealed: the extent of the injury, whether or not the starter will be placed on the disabled list, and who will replace him at least for the missed start.

Pau Gasol broke a finger while training with the Spanish National Team and immediately underwent surgery. He will be sidelined for three weeks

Dodgers Drop Series to Braves

The Los Angeles Dodgers fell to the Altanta Braves 8-2, dropping the four-game series 3-1. Javier Vazquez held the Dodgers to just one run over eight innings of work, and the offense floundered again, going 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position. Martin Prado had two hits and three RBI's, and Matt Diaz homered, scored twice and drove in two runs. Yunel Escobar and Kelly Johnson both scored two runs. Manny Ramirez had three hits and a run scored for LA, and Andre Ethier scored the only other run. Casey Blake had the lone RBI.

Eric Stults had the start for the game, and went five innings while allowing three runs. To make room for Stults on the roster, Tony Abreu was demoted to Triple-A.