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Y E S T E R D A Y…

Nationals 5, Angels 4: Close but no cigar for the Halos, who got nipped in the ninth’s bottom when Jesus Flores tagged Scott Shields for a game winning ribbie. Shame, since the Angels were just starting to enjoy tying up the game one inning previous, thanks to a two run double from Casey Kotchmann and Howie Kendrick’s sac fly. Of course, given the opportunities wasted (early hits unconverted into runs, Garrett Anderson getting gunned down), perhaps they flat didn’t deserve a winning box score.

Dodgers 5, White Sox 0: To clarify, not a typo. The Blue actually did score some runs (Hopefully, not their quota for the week). And they were given some magnificent support from recent call up Eric Stults, who tossed himself a complete game blanking. He was nearly given the hook by Joe Torre with a ninth to go, thanks to a 100-pitch count, five short of a career high tally. But Russell Martin convinced his skip that Stults was good to go, Torre acquiesed, and a happy box score was cemented.

T O D A Y…

White Sox at Dodgers (12:10 pm PST, Prime): Rubber match alert! The Dodgers look to take the series against Chicago, while Clayton Kershaw seeks out his first big league “W.” Although he (and his squad) would just be happy if he managed a long outing, which has mostly eluded the youngster in his even young career.

NBA Draft (4:30 Pm PST, ESPN). The Clippers have the 7th pick. The Lakers have the ho hum 58th. The cynical have the reigning Western Conference Champs coming out with the more productive player. We shall see.

N E W S W O R T H Y…

• Speaking of the red, white and blue and their draft fortunes, they’re keeping peepers on Zona PG Jerryd Bayless, although he may not even be around by the time they select. If that’s the case, a big man might be the call.
• Pete Carroll fought the law and the law won (in a metaphorical kinda way).
• They’re not really “Southern Cal,” but close enough. Congrats to the Fresno Bulldogs on a college baseball title.

C O L U M N S…

• Former USC QB Matt Leinart has quite the party boy rep going, but Marcia Smith of the O.C. Register shares his efforts to shake this persona.
• 16-year old Mission Viejo resident Chloe Sutton is already an open water phenom, but the O.C. Register’s Dan Albano talks about her efforts to make a… wait for it… SPLASH in the 400 and 800 meter freestyle.
• SportsHubLA.com Column(s) of the Day: “East coast bias” may be an element residents west of the Mighty Miss have begrudgingly accepted by now, but as the Daily News’ Jill Painter and Scott Wolf remind us, today’s NBA draft is heavily centered around the USA’s left side. Move beyond Derrick Rose and Michael Beasley and the big names are rather “PST.” O.J. Mayo. Kevin Love. Russell Westbrook. Jerryd Bayless. The Lopez twins. The NBA news will eventually shift back to Celtics, the Bulls post-#1 pick and how bad the Knicks are, but for one night, it’s our world. It’s hard to say where these kids will end up, but no matter how things shake out, we can expect the usual array of madness, reminds Mark Heisler of the L.A. Times. Ramona Shelbourne from the Daily News wouldn’t disagree, making a point of the mystery prevailing this year.

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