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Y E S T E R D A Y…

D-Backs 6, Dodgers 4: How hard has putting together nine innings of effective ball become for the Blue? Chad Billingsley struck out a dozen batters over six innings, yet was hit enough to give up five earned runs. Ump Andy Fletcher also made a controversial call on Jeff Kent’s eight inning double play attempt, saying the second baseman pulled his foot off the bag. Kent was none too pleased with the outcome and jawed enough about it to get the early shower.  Oh, and the Dodgers gave back the game they picked up on Arizona Wednesday night in the NL West.

Angels 7, Saux 5: The Halos have often struggled in, against, and around Beantown’s finest, so seeing them win back to back at Fenway is indeed worth reporting. Five runs racked in the seventh and eighth innings (three coming from Gary Matthews Jr. alone) helped bust the game wide open for LAAoA, who then staved off a late Boston mini-surge to cement a favorable outcome.   

T O D A Y…

Rockies at Dodgers (7:40 pm PST, Prime Ticket): Having only managed a split against the Snakes, the Blue could use a sweep against Colorado in their effort to make up some ground in the division. Hiroki Kuroda’s record could a bump to an even 2-2 if he can best Ubaldo Jimenez for Colorado.

Angels at Tigers (4:05 pm PST, FSN): The timing could only stay lucky for so long.  The Halos managed to play Boston during a flu epidemic, but their visit to Daytwah comes as the Tigers are finally turning things around and competing as predicted. Ervin Santana, however, has been lights out this season (nobody predicted that) at 3-0, 2.67.  He’ll tangle with Nate Robertson.

N E W S W O R T H Y…

• It’s not a mockery of the NFL draft, just a mock draft.
• Like musical geniuses Snap, Casey Kotchman has the power.
• That Mark Sanchez T-shirt with the Mexi flag you’re wearing? Not sponsored by USC, who reported it as a violation.
• There’s a big ol’ shiny new Dodger Stadium in the works.

C O L U M N S…

• The Lakers have looked pretty impressive thus far while beating up Denver. But according to the Daily News’ Steve Dilbeck, how far they’ll go against superior talent rests with their D.
• Psyched as you may get watching the NFL draft, it won’t be nearly as emotional an experience as Rialto’s own Ryan Clady living it, according to the Press Enterprise’s Matt Hurst.
• John Wooden may have more in common with Ben Howland, but as Kurt Streeter of the Times reports, his bond remains biggest with gymnastics coach Valorie Kondos.
• With the Dodger rotation failing to set the world on fire, Bill Plaschke of the Times would endorse a roll of the dice on young Clayton Kershaw.
• SportsHubLA.com Column(s) of the Day: As many a scribe (including the Press Enterprise’s Jim Alexander) has noted, Kobe Bryant has enjoyed the most iron clad MVP-worthy season of his career in 2008. But as we’re reminded by the Times’ Mark Heisler, the true turning point of the season was neither the effect of Kobe’s refreshed attitude or the import of Pau Gasol, but the seemingly overnight development of Andrew Bynum, whose production convinced Kobe that he was now playing for a true contender. I must concur with the long-time hoops scribe. Not to take anything away from Gasol, but the joy that permeated throughout Lakerland with his arrival (not to mention the flurry of Western Conference trades that followed as a response) has led to a lot of people forgetting just how good the Lakers were playing with Bynum as a starting C. The Gasol thievery… er, trade… may have convinced Kobe that Mitch Kupchak has wheeler/dealer skills, but the GM’s decision to go with the kid over Kidd ultimately laid the groundwork for Bryant’s contentment, along with the Laker future.

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