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Y E S T E R D A Y…

White Sox 2, Dodgers 0: There’s something about the White Sox and their ability to choke the Dodgers offense pale. In two of the three games in this series, the Southsiders gave up one run on eleven hits, suffocating the fading L.A. offense. Rookie Clayton Kershaw remained winless in seven big league starts as he gave up two runs in four innings.The Dodgers managed just five hits against John Danks and four White Sox relievers.

Mystics 77, Sparks 74: Candace Parker failed to dunk (according to Bill Plaschke—see below—that’s a good thing) and despite a double-digit fourth quarter lead, the Sparks couldn’t hold off a furious comeback by Washington. With a seven-point margin and 33 seconds remaining, Los Angeles committed consecutive turnovers, allowing the Mystics breathing room.  Coco Miller then tied it at 74 with a three. Overtime was not a site to behold, as both teams remained scoreless until Washington’s Monique Currie drilled a three to ultimately wrap it up. Lisa Leslie scored 17 points with eleven rebounds in 38 minutes.

T O D A Y…

Angels at Dodgers (7:40 p.m. PST, PRIME): Recent Freeway Series match-ups have looked like a red shirt in a load of white laundry. The whites don’t stand a chance. The Angels have won nine of the last eleven against their I-5 rivals, including two of three in May. Chan Ho Park, whose only support came on a Matt Kemp homer on Saturday against the Indians, faces Angels lefty Joe Saunders. The third-year pitcher has been a pleasant surprise for the Halos, averaging 6.2 innings per start with an 11-3 record and .236 average against. After a slow start, Vladimir Guerrero has hit in 15 straight games (he was not in the lineup Wednesday against the Nationals) and drove in six runs in the last week. The Dodgers offense, however, has been about as predictable as a “sure-thing” in the NBA Draft. Despite lying in the middle of most statistical categories, they have failed to score consistently, including plating two runs or less in their last three losses.

N E W S W O R T H Y…

* Amidst much speculation and last minute trade rumors, the Clippers got their man; Hoosier’s star Eric Gordon with the seventh pick in Thursday’s NBA Draft.
* Speaking of the draft, the Pac-10 showed why West Coast hoops is at its highest level ever. Five of the first eleven picks came from California schools, including USC’s O.J. Mayo (Minnesota) and UCLA’s Russell Westbrook (Seattle) and Kevin Love (Memphis) going three through five respectively. Following the final pick, Mayo and Love were subsequently dealt for each other.
* Second round knockouts: With their lone selection (no. 58) the Lakers nabbed Kentucky guard Joe Crawford. The Clippers also snagged Texas A&M freshman center DeAndre Jordan. Depending on whom you ask, the 7-footer fell 10 to 20 slots to no. 35. UCLA’s Luc Richard Mbah a Moute went two picks later to Milwaukee.
* Good news: Scott Niedermayer announced his return to the Ducks, again. Bad news: A salary cap pinch may cost them Corey Perry.
* The Angels hurlers are the best, just ask ‘em.
* Dodgers first baseman James Loney launched “Loney’s Lounge” on Thursday, a video game outing for 40 kids.
* Heatseeker is the favorite and trying to cool him down at the 69th Hollywood Gold Cup on Saturday may be a bunch of hot air.

C O L U M N S…

* The O.C. Register’s Jeff Miller writes that the Ducks have a chance again, and not that Lloyd Christmas, “Dumb and Dumber” one in a million stuff.
* L.A. Times columnist Bill Plaschke says the Sparks will fly, even without dunking.
* Using a very readable chart, Mark Heisler of the Times evaluates the first round of Thursday’s draft.
* SportsHubLA Column of the Day: Chuck Culpepper writes in the Times that Americans should start accepting lackadaisical performances from their tennis stars at major events. That way we can appreciate the simple things, like first round victories. I realize Culpepper is being a little facetious, but I can’t stand this perspective. Can you imagine if Pete Carroll decided to campaign for USC fans to start lowering their expectations? His pitch may sound like this: “Please stop thinking that our top five program should win every game. Because if you do, those wins versus 2-8 Washington State will taste like apple flavored jolly ranchers, oh so sweet.” What? The reason USC is an elite program is because they expect themselves to be. Whether it’s Ryder Cup Golf or tennis (ahem, Andy Roddick) or winning the BCS title game, accepting mediocrity is nothing short of a loser’s mentality.

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