The State of the Los Angeles Baseball Rivalry

Los Angeles Baseball, Los Angeles Angels, The State of the Los Angeles Baseball Rivalry / By Rick "Ice" Berg

4/29/23 RB:

And we’re back at Miller Park, where the Milwaukee Brewers hosted the Los Angeles Angels in a thrilling matchup. It was a tight game throughout, but it was the Brewers who came out on top, halting the Angels’ three-game winning streak. The final score: Milwaukee 2, Los Angeles 1.

Early on, Willy Adames set the tone for the Brewers with a solo home run in the first inning. Gio Urshela continued the offensive production with a clutch two-out RBI single in the fourth, going a perfect 3-for-3 on the night. The Angels’ left-hander Tyler Anderson showed resilience, bouncing back from previous struggles, allowing only five hits and three walks in 6 2/3 innings of work.

In a pivotal eighth inning, the Brewers made their move. William Contreras and Mike Brosseau led off with singles against left-hander Aaron Loup. With two outs, Rowdy Tellez stepped up to the plate and delivered a tiebreaking single, finding the gap between second and first base to drive in the decisive run. It was a clutch performance from Tellez, who has been on fire lately with a .319 batting average, six home runs, and 15 RBI in his last 14 games.

The Angels had their chances to respond in the top half of the inning, with runners on the corners, but they couldn’t capitalize. Taylor Ward reached on a throwing error, and Shohei Ohtani followed with a single, but Peter Strzelecki came in for the Brewers and retired Anthony Rendon and Hunter Renfroe to escape the jam.

Devin Williams shut the door in the ninth, securing his fourth save in as many opportunities this season. Williams has been lights-out, tossing nine scoreless innings across nine appearances.

Both teams showcased strong pitching performances, and the Brewers’ staff excelled by not issuing a single walk. Wade Miley took the mound for Milwaukee, allowing seven hits in six solid innings. The duo of Ohtani and Mike Trout struggled at the plate, going a combined 2-for-8, but the Angels will surely look to bounce back in the upcoming games.

That’s all from here at Miller Park, where the Brewers claim a hard-fought victory over the Angels. We’ll be back tomorrow as Reid Detmers takes the mound for the Angels, facing off against the Brewers’ Corbin Burnes. Until then, this is “Ice” Berg signing off.

Los Angeles Baseball, Los Angeles Dodgers, The State of the Los Angeles Baseball Rivalry / By Edward "Lucky" Vincent

4/29/23 LV:

Ladies and gentlemen, what a night it was at Dodger Stadium as the Los Angeles Dodgers triumphed over the St. Louis Cardinals with a score of 7-3. It was a special night for new fathers Mookie Betts and Max Muncy, who showcased their prowess on the field.

Right off the bat, Betts launched a leadoff home run, setting the tone for the Dodgers’ victory. Muncy, back in the lineup after his paternity leave, came through with a crucial go-ahead double in the third inning. These two stars played a pivotal role in securing the win for Los Angeles.

On the pitching front, Dodgers starter Dustin May bounced back admirably after a shaky first inning. He went on to allow just two runs on three hits over five innings, demonstrating his resilience. Jason Heyward made a significant impact, driving in two runs for the Dodgers, while rookie Miguel Vargas added a boost with a two-run homer.

The Cardinals got off to a quick start, scoring two runs in the first inning thanks to a walk and a double. However, Flaherty, the Cardinals’ right-hander, struggled against the Dodgers’ potent lineup, giving up five runs in 4 2/3 innings.

Heyward’s exceptional sliding catch in right field saved at least one run for the Dodgers. His defensive contribution was as valuable as his offensive performance.

With this victory, the Dodgers put an end to their consecutive losses and kick-started their homestand on a positive note. On the other hand, the Cardinals find themselves with a 2-6 record on their West Coast trip.

It was an eventful night filled with notable plays, including stolen bases by both teams. The Cardinals capitalized on the Dodgers’ recent defensive vulnerability, recording three stolen bases.

As we look ahead, the Cardinals are hoping for their key players, such as Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado, to heat up and contribute to the team’s success. Meanwhile, the Dodgers are reinvigorated with the return of Will Smith and the emergence of Muncy and Betts as proud new fathers.

Stay tuned, folks, as the battle between these two teams continues to unfold in this exciting baseball season.

Los Angeles Baseball, Los Angeles Angels, The State of the Los Angeles Baseball Rivalry / By Rick "Ice" Berg

4/27/23 RB:

Welcome to the Angels vs. Athletics recap! I’m Ice Berg and here’s what happened today.

Shohei Ohtani had a night to remember, as he led the Los Angeles Angels to an 8-7 victory over the Oakland Athletics. Ohtani had a tough time on the mound, giving up five runs in the fourth inning, but he battled back and managed to pitch six innings, striking out eight batters with his fastball topping 100 mph twice. Ohtani also contributed with his bat, hitting a triple, double, and single, while driving in one run and scoring two himself. Although he fell just short of becoming the first starting pitcher in modern major league history to hit for the cycle, Ohtani’s performance was still impressive.

Brandon Drury also had a great night, hitting a three-run homer to cap his spectacular series for the Angels. He finished the series 9 for 15 with four homers, a triple, and two doubles, while reaching base 12 times. Brent Rooker and Shea Langeliers hit home runs for the A’s, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Angels.

The Angels won the final three of a four-game set against the A’s, while the A’s have lost 12 of 14 games, one loss shy of matching the 1988 Baltimore Orioles 22 losses in April. Carlos Estévez pitched the ninth for his fifth save, securing the win for the Angels.

Ohtani and the Angels are off to see the Brewers tomorrow. And that’s all for tonight’s Angels vs. Athletics recap. I’m Rick “Ice” Berg and thanks for stopping in!

Los Angeles Baseball, Los Angeles Dodgers, The State of the Los Angeles Baseball Rivalry / By Edward "Lucky" Vincent

4/27/23 LV:

Hi there, Dodgers fans! It’s Lucky Vincent here with a recap of Thursday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the outcome we wanted, as the Pirates took the win, 6-2, to clinch the three-game series.

The Pirates’ Mitch Keller was outstanding, matching his career-high of 10 strikeouts in six innings while giving up just two runs on five hits. He got out of a tough spot in the third inning by striking out James Outman and getting David Peralta to ground out. Keller’s performance helped the Pirates secure their ninth win in the last 10 games, pushing their impressive start to 18-8.

On the other hand, Julio Urías struggled for the Dodgers, letting through six runs on seven hits. The Pirates got off to a strong start in the first inning, with Tucupita Marcano reaching third on a bunt single before scoring on a sacrifice from Rodolfo Castro. Jack Suwinski then hit a two-run single to make it 3-0.

The Dodgers were able to score two runs in the first inning, thanks to Peralta’s two-out single. However, they couldn’t capitalize on the momentum and were held scoreless until back-to-back homers by Connor Joe and Castro in the sixth inning.

Before I go, I must mention the passing of former Pirates shortstop Dick Groat at the age of 92. Groat was a Pittsburgh native and a two-time World Series champion, with the Pirates in 1960 and the St. Louis Cardinals in 1964. He was also a two-sport star, playing in both Major League Baseball and the NBA. He was also a good man as was his wife Barb, and they’ll be sorely missed around here.

Thanks for tuning in, Dodgers fans. Here’s hoping for a better game next time.

Los Angeles Baseball, Los Angeles Angels, The State of the Los Angeles Baseball Rivalry / By Rick "Ice" Berg

4/26/23 RB:

Well folks, the Angels were certainly flying high last night as they took on the Oakland Athletics at the Big A. Brandon Drury was leading the charge, smashing a homer, doubling and driving in three runs, while the Angels’ two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani added to the fireworks with a late two-run homer.

The Angels’ offense was firing on all cylinders as Hunter Renfroe also went deep, and Ohtani contributed three RBIs, helping the team to an 11-3 victory. The Angels have now won four of their last six games, matching records with their crosstown rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Meanwhile, Oakland’s Luis Medina made his major league debut, but it was a rough one as he gave up seven earned runs and eight hits over five innings. Kevin Smith hit his second homer of the series for the A’s, who have now lost 11 of their last 13 games.

But there was some bright spot for the A’s, as Esteury Ruiz had two hits, drove in a run, and stole an impressive four bases, becoming only the third A’s player to swipe that many bags in the past 30 years.

It was a big night for the Angels, and they will look to keep the momentum going in the days ahead.

Los Angeles Baseball, Los Angeles Dodgers, The State of the Los Angeles Baseball Rivalry / By Edward "Lucky" Vincent

4/26/23 LV:

Well how about that, folks! The Pittsburgh Pirates were on fire tonight, defeating our beloved Dodgers 8-1! Pitcher Roansy Contreras was the star of the game, holding the Dodgers to just two hits in six scoreless innings. But even with a great performance from Contreras, it was the Pirates’ offense that really shined, with Ji Hwan Bae and Jason Delay both getting three hits each. Bae also stole three bases, becoming the first Pirates player to do so in back-to-back games since Starling Marte in 2017.

On the Dodgers’ side, Tony Gonsolin made his season debut after spraining his ankle during spring training. He had a solid outing, allowing only two hits and three walks over 3 1/3 scoreless innings. But unfortunately, the Dodgers’ three-game winning streak came to an end with tonight’s loss.

But hey, it’s only one game, folks. The Dodgers will have plenty of opportunities to bounce back, and I have no doubt that they will. Let’s just hope they can bring that championship energy to the rest of the season!