Dodgers End Angels Win Streak, Samardzija Sees First Career Shutout

After rolling on an eight-game win streak, the Los Angeles Angels (23-28) saw it end as its rival, the Los Angeles Dodgers (21-28), rallied and defeated them 8-7 on Sunday.

Adrian Gonzalez

Overcoming a 6-1 deficit beginning in the fourth inning, the Dodgers Adrian Gonzalez was the team’s MVP with his four hits and four runs. Scott Van Slyke, who was battling a sore neck, had two RBI doubles while Juan Uribe entered in the fifth to pinch hit and ended 3 for 3.

The Angels came back in the seventh to tie it at seven all but Jerry Hairston, who had just exited the disabled list on Sunday, hit a RBI single in the eighth to lead the Dodgers for a win.

Gonzalez said of the victory via MLB, “In talking to the guys, I think we’re all excited about today’s win. It can definitely be a momentum builder. But again, you can’t have momentum unless you come out tomorrow and play hard and win another one. That’s when things start rolling. We can’t just say today is the day it turns around. It takes a number of days.”

But the win didn’t come without challenges. For all their good play, there was also some not-so-great Dodgers moments. This included four strikeouts by Matt Kemp, four innings of pitching by Zack Greinke including the six runs he gave up (four earned), three almost four errors and another injury.

This time it’s Nick Punto with a back bruise.

As for the Angels, lefty C.J. Wilson allowed six runs and nine hits in his 4 2/3 innings of pitching. He struck out four and walked zero players.

For this Freeway series, the two teams will again meet on Tuesday in Dodgers Stadium. Taking the mound for the home team is lefty Hyun-Jin Ryu (5-2, 3.30 ERA) vs. the Angels’ righty Joe Blanton (1-7, 6.19 ERA).

Look for another Dodgers’ win (-128, 8 o/u).

Samardzija pitches two-hitter, sees first shutout

Jeff Samardzjia

Say it ain’t so, but here’s a positive Chicago Cubs (20-30) story. 

Starting righty pitcher, local boy Jeff Samardzija had a career-high two-hitter to grab his first shutout on Monday as he led his team to a 7-0 win over crosstown rival, the Chicago White Sox (24-25). And this came on the visitor’s field.

Other Cubs saw a first with Julio Borbon hitting his inaugural home run–a nice two-run–while Anthony Rizzo smacked a double, a two-run triple and brought in two runs. This was his first game in this classic rivalry.

Alfonso Soriano contributed three hits and the Cubs have won two consecutive games after a six-game losing streak.

For the pitcher, this also represented a second complete day at the mound and a chance to play in familiar venue. Samardzija grew up 30 minutes from U.S. Celluar and attended many White Sox games as a kid.

He said of his first career shutout via ESPN, “I am going out with the mindset to pitch deep in every game. If you want to be one of the guys the team turns to in a big situation, that’s the number one thing, pitch deep into games and give your offense a chance to win the game. We saw what happened tonight.”

For the Cubs, the team hasn’t seen a shutout since Aug. 29, 2011 when Randy Wells did this versus the San Francisco Giants.

As for the other Chicago team, the White Sox, they sit in the middle of their division and are looking for .500 play.

Game Two of the series will continue on the south side Tuesday evening. Sox lefty Chris Sale (5-2, 2.51 ERA) will take the mound after he missed his last start from tendinitis in his pitching shoulder. For the Cubs, righty Edwin Jackson (1-7, 6.11 ERA) will get the start.

Things will not happen in threes for the Cubs as the Sox get the win (-195, 7.5 o/u).