L.A. Times - Baseball News

Dodgers can't let Roy Halladay get away

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Some believe the right-hander, whom Toronto is willing to trade, would make the Dodgers a World Series winner.

Mannywood is nice. Bleacher Beach is cool.

Angels score runs in bunches

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Juan Rivera sits it out, but they overcome another deficit to pound Yankees.

No. 3 hitter Torii Hunter and cleanup batter Vladimir Guerrero were put on the disabled list Friday, and the Angels scored 10 runs that night to beat the New York Yankees.

Loss reveals Dodgers' big issue: Rotation, rotation, rotation

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Jeff Weaver struggles in place of injured fifth starter Eric Milton, who could be out for season. Team's post-break rotation plans are in flux, and in-house options appear limited.

On the tentative schedule laying out the Dodgers' rotation after the All-Star break, Randy Wolf is penciled in for the first game and Chad Billingsley the second.

Angels know how to rally

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Simply obeying their marching orders has them flirting with first place.

Amid swirling fountains, sweaty drinks and the scent of sunblock, Saturday afternoons at Angel Stadium are like a lovely picnic.

Dodgers closer Jonathan Broxton to miss All-Star game

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

A toe injury that has affected Broxton's pitching in the last week will keep him out of the midsummer classic, Manager Joe Torre says.

Jonathan Broxton won't pitch in the All-Star game because of an irritated nerve on the big toe of his right foot.

Bullpen has been much better for Angels

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Relief pitchers struggled a bit Saturday, but mostly they have been a big part of successful run.

The relief corps in front of closer Brian Fuentes , awful for the first 2 1/2 months of the season, has been so good lately that Saturday's struggles, which enabled the New York Yankees to get back into the game, seemed like an aberration.

CC Sabathia sets the story straight

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Pitcher says he never looked for real estate in the Southland, as reported last summer, to build a home in preparation presumably to play for the Dodgers or Angels.

Home sweet home, far from home

Jamie McOwen's hitting streak ends at 45 games

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Outfielder for the High Desert Mavericks of the Class-A California League had the longest streak in the minor leagues since 1954.

Jamie McOwen a 23-year-old outfielder in the Seattle Mariners' farm system at Class-A High Desert had a 45-game hitting streak, the longest in the minor leagues since 1954, ended Friday night. The minor league record is Joe Wilhoit's 69 with the Wichita Wolves in the Class-A Western League in 1919. Joe DiMaggio had a 61-game streak for the 1933 San Francisco Seals. . . . That Erik Bedard trade just keeps looking better for the Baltimore Orioles. Their last two All-Stars (center fielder Adam Jones and left-hander George Sherrill ) were acquired in that deal in February 2008, and they're not even considered the best players from the trade. Chris Tillman, a 21-year-old right-hander who will pitch in today's Futures Game, has a 2.50 earned-run average in triple A. . . . San Diego Padres General Manager Kevin Towers admits he made a mistake not re-signing Mike Cameron after 2007 and called the outfielder one of the "great leaders" in the clubhouse. . . . It happens every summer -- Major League Baseball asks Ichiro Suzuki to participate in the Home Run Derby, and he declines. . . . Oakland Athletics outfielder Matt Holliday's trade value continues to dip. . . . The Cleveland Indians are getting calls about Victor Martinez as well as Cliff Lee. They would listen if anyone wanted to get closer Kerry Wood, who is signed through 2010. . . . The Florida Marlins will miss Alfredo Amezaga , who is expected to be out the rest of the season after knee surgery. He was the top fielder for an otherwise brutal infield. . . . B.J. Upton's steal of home Wednesday was the third of the Tampa Bay Rays star's career, tying him for the most among active players. The others are Alex Rodriguez, Torii Hunter, Gary Sheffield and Omar Vizquel . . . . At 42, Boston Red Sox knuckleballer Tim Wakefield becomes the second-oldest player to make an All-Star team for the first time. Satchel Paige was 46 when he made the 1952 game, four years after his major league debut. . . . Rays first baseman Carlos Pena , who leads the American League with 23 home runs, is about to become the first AL home run leader not in an All-Star game since Mickey Tettleton in 1993.

Smoltz gets first win for Red Sox

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

John Smoltz gets his first win for the Red Sox.

John Smoltz got his first win for Boston and Kevin Youkilis hit two home runs to lift the Red Sox over the Kansas City Royals, 15-9, on Saturday night.

Rob Johnson's homer sends Mariners past Rangers

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

He breaks a 1-1 tie with a two-run shot in the seventh inning.

at Seattle 4, Texas 1: Rob Johnson hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the seventh inning to lift the Mariners. Ichiro Suzuki added a run-scoring single later in the inning.