‘Retirement won’t clear you’ Gordon tells Albayalde to get ‘good lawyer’ as charges loom
Gordon added that based on the testimonies and evidence gathered by his Senate committee, the outgoing PNP chief may be criminally and administratively liable. The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, according to Gordon, is set to recommend charges against the embattled Albayalde for his alleged involvement in the recycling of seized illegal drugs. “(Albayalde) really needs a good lawyer,” Gordon said in a forum in Quezon City on Saturday. “It can be graft and corruption; at the very least, negligence. Pero pag-uusapan pa ‘yun ng blue ribbon committee.” Sen. Richard Gordon believes Philippine National Police chief General Oscar Albayalde should get a good lawyer as the Senate blue ribbon and justice committees are set to recommend the filing of charges against him over the “ninja cops” controversy. ABS-CBN NEWS MANILA – Philippine National Policechief General Oscar Albayalde needs a good lawyer as there is enoughcircumstantial and testimonial evidence against him, Sen. Richard Gordon said. Albayalde allegedly intervened to stop the dismissal of Police Lieutenant Colonel Rodney Raymundo Baloyo and 12 other policemen from Pampanga who were found guilty of grave misconduct in connection with a drug operation in the province in 2013. “We have the circumstantial connection that if you put together you can really build up a very, very strong case criminally and administratively,” Gordon said. “I don’t care if you’re a retiree. If he is guilty even if he retires, puwede siyang habulin.”
It was Lacadin who bared in a Senate hearing that Albayalde had called him and said that he only got a small portion on the controversial buy bust operation conducted by police officers in Pampanga in November 2013. “Malfeasance ‘yung ginawa niyang paglapit. Malfeasance ‘yung ginawa niya na hindi niya tsini-check if it’s within the law. Nonfeasance ‘yung ‘di niya kinasuhan ‘yung mga tao niya,” Gordon said. Albayalde was the chief of Pampanga police when the 13 police officers allegedly let suspected drug lord Johnson Lee flee in exchange for P50 million while most of the 200 kilos of shabu confiscated during the operation were not declared and presumed to have been sold back to the drug market. The senator also said the testimonies of retired generals Benjamin Magalong and Rudy Lacadin played a big role in determining Albayalde’s supposed liability in the controversy. Albayalde denied allegations that he was involved in any way with the operation and that he intervened in the implementation of a dismissal order on the 13 police officers involved./PN
Indianapolis, In. — Governor Eric Holcomb says economic development numbers for 2017 show a record year of growth for the Hoosier state. With one month still to go, Indiana has received 270 corporate commitments that represent almost 29,000 job opportunities.The new positions have an average salary of $27.38 per hour or $57,000 annually.“Indiana’s pro-business environment continues to be heard around the world as Hoosier businesses grow and companies across the globe choose Indiana,” Governor Holcomb said. “Today, we celebrate a record-breaking year, applauding the nearly 29,000 new Hoosier jobs that have been announced to-date in 2017. In 2018, we will take Indiana to the next level with an unwavering focus on the issues that matter most to Hoosiers and our state’s vitality.”The largest job announcements came from UPS, Infosys, HMD Trucking, Beijing West Industries, Knowledge Services, Forest River, KAR Auction Services and Toyota Motor Manufacturing of Indiana.
THE Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) has moved to clarify its position on their contract offer to former Reggae Boyz head coach Carl Brown, who reportedly declined the JFF’s offer to take over from Winfried Schaefer.The JFF said there was a misunderstanding between the federation and the 66-year-old coach.Brown, who coached the national team from 1990-1994 and again from 2001-2004, declined the offer claiming the JFF had offered him US$100 a day to take over from the German head coach, who was reportedly being paid a salary of US$50 000 a month.Brown described the offer as ‘insulting and disrespectful’.“I am very disappointed with the whole approach of the JFF,” Brown told the Jamaica Gleaner.“Captain (Horace Burrell) called me on the subject and I told him I would get back to him on the matter as I had to have a conversation with the people with whom I work. Following that discussion, I called him back three times and got no answer. Not only that, but I did not receive a return (call).”Brown said he received an email a day later with the ‘insulting offer’.“The letter, which said it was following up on my discussion with Captain Burrell, only offered me US$100 per day for the duration of the agreement. There was nothing about how I would get to Jamaica, nothing about accommodation. Nothing.”However, in response, the JFF suggested it was a misunderstanding.“President of the JFF, Captain Burrell, did make initial contact with Brown, first of all to get an indication of his availability.Brown indicated the need to discuss with his present employers and return a call to the president. Although Brown has indicated he made three attempts to call the president, there is no record of those calls coming through,” the JFF said in a statement.“In the interim, the JFF thought it appropriate to formalise its approach to Brown and did so in an email sent by the General Secretary. Brown responded to the email declining the JFF’s offer, which he found insulting.On hearing this, the president called Brown. In a conversation lasting forty-five minutes, the president apologised for the misunderstanding emerging from the email. He explained that in the absence of the discussion, on first his availability and his overall package, the email listed one area of certainty, the per-diem allowance. The president made every effort to have Brown change his decision.”The JFF said it was always the intention of the president that on hearing of Brown’s availability, the terms of his engagement would have been discussed and finalised with him.It said all head coaches of our National Senior team are offered accommodation during match engagement, ground transportation, a salary as well as a per diem allowance.“All these areas would have been the subject of discussion with Brown,” the JFF said. (Sportsmax.com)
The Wisconsin Men’s soccer team took a massive hit last week when senior Tomislav Zadro went under the knife to repair a meniscus injury, leaving a void in the center of Wisconsin’s midfield.As the Badgers starting center midfielder, Zadro is responsible for being the team’s playmaker and offensive leader on the field. Zadro has put together a fantastic portfolio so far this season racking up two goals and four assists in his five starts. In addition, Zadro’s field presence has allowed the Badgers to control the pace of the game and create opportunities. With Zadro at the helm offensively, the Badgers have been able to average nearly two goals a game, a record for the Badgers in the John Trask era.However, in Zadro’s absence, sophomore Drew Connor has taken on the offensive midfielder role and performed brilliantly. Connor notched his first start at the position Sept. 29 against Penn State, and really settled into the role Wednesday in Wisconsin’s 1-0 win over Marquette.“Tomo being gone puts a lot of pressure on Connor,” Junior Nick Janus said. “But he is taking that pressure and is just gone with it. He is taking that number 10 spot right now. He needs to be the playmaker, and he has. It is pretty impressive how well he has played.”In his two years with the team, Connor has been gaining experience all across the midfield and is finally getting a chance at the helm in control of UW’s offense. Instead of being intimidated by the task at hand, Connor is facing the challenge head on.“Center midfield has always been my natural position,” Connor said. “Coming in last year I played a little bit of [defensive] mid and wide mid. The new position is not foreign to me, but I am a lot more comfortable in that defensive midfield position. I like it, it gives me a good chance to show some of my creative ability and it has helped my development as a player. It has been fun.”Connor’s confidence in the position not only comes from experience in the position but also from his confidence in his teammates and their skills and abilities.“Of course we could use [Zadro],” Connor said. “But there is a sense of unselfishness on the team. We know how to work the ball around and everything is just working out for us. We have a lot of good leaders and creative players on the field so it makes things a bit easier for me when I play that role as playmaker.”Connor came out swinging at the start of the first half against Marquette Wednesday. He dominated the center of the field including making multiple runs that resulted in good chances for the Badgers. Defensively, Connor was able to slow down Marquette’s powerful midfield and prevent the Golden Eagles from controlling the center of the field and the tempo of the game.“Drew has really grown as a player this last year,” head coach John Trask said. “He is not just doing tricks out there; He is playing a man’s game out there. The amount of touches, the amount of energy, and quality he brought to that position [Wednesday], it was impressive to say the least.”Connor’s performance against one of the best midfielders in the country had Trask talking about Connor’s chances of earning All-American Honors for his performances this year.“If [Bryan] Ciesiulka, who is a fantastic player, is an All-American,” Trask continued. “Where does Drew Connor factor into the national picture because our number seven was the dominate performer in the middle of the field [that night].”With two games in the center midfield position, spectators have been able to see what we can expect out of Connor in the next few years. With Zadro graduating at the end of the season, the play maker role will need to be filled in upcoming seasons. Based on his performance the last two games, many will expect Connor to take on the challenge next year.Though Zadro could very well return from surgery before the Badgers take the field Tuesday against Drake, Connor has certainly made his mark on this team and installed himself as the frontrunner for the position next year.
Senior linebacker Uchenna Nwosu celebrates after wrapping up a sack in a game against Arizona State. Photo by Matt Karats | Daily TrojanAs the No. 11 Trojans prepare to wrap up the 2017 regular season against UCLA this weekend, the football team’s 2018 schedule was released on Thursday.USC opens its campaign at the Coliseum against UNLV next Labor Day weekend, hosting the Rebels on Sept. 1 in the second-ever meeting between the two programs. The Trojans then enter a two-game road stretch, first opening Pac-12 play at Stanford. The Trojans beat the Cardinal 42-24 in Los Angeles in Week 2 of this season, and the two sides could rematch in the conference championship on Dec. 1 if Stanford wins out and No. 18 Washington takes down No. 14 Washington State next week.USC then travels to Austin for a matchup against Texas. The Trojans and Longhorns clashed in Week 3 this fall for the first time since the two programs’ classic national championship game in 2006: Redshirt sophomore quarterback Sam Darnold led USC to a comeback victory, and freshman kicker Chase McGrath converted his first career field goals — one to tie the game as time expired and another to win in double overtime.After their tilt in Austin, the Trojans return home on a short week to face off against Washington State — much like this season, when the team took on the Cougars on a Friday coming off a trip to Berkeley. Unlike September’s trip to Pullman, however, USC will be at home next year as the team seeks revenge for its first loss of the season at Washington State this year. The Cougars’ visit to the Coliseum will be their first since 2013, when they pulled off a 10-7 upset thanks to a late field goal.USC then travels to Tucson for a game versus Arizona. The Trojans edged the Wildcats 49-35 at the Coliseum two weeks ago after blowing a 22-point lead. However, Arizona will be bolstered by the expected return of quarterback Khalil Tate, who stood out on a national scale after exploding onto the scene midway through the 2017 season.Unlike this season, USC will enjoy a bye in 2018. The lack of a bye was a thorn in the side of the Trojans from the start of the season. As injuries continued to pile up, coaches and players stressed that the lack of break — paired with a short turnaround on a road game in Pullman, Wash., to play Washington State — was one of the more difficult factors of the season. The team will host Colorado coming off its break on Oct. 13. The Trojans clinched the Pac-12 South title with a 38-24 victory over the Buffaloes last weekend.After taking on Colorado, head coach Clay Helton will set his sights on a trip to Utah (the Trojans squeaked by the Utes 28-27 at home last month), before welcoming Arizona State to the Coliseum, when USC will look for a repeat of this season’s 48-17 blowout victory in Tempe.The Trojans travel to Corvallis, Ore., for the first time since 2013 after facing the Sun Devils. USC breezed by Oregon State 38-10 this year, and it will host Cal after facing the Beavers. Finally, the Trojans wrap up the regular season with back-to-back rivalry games — first at the Rose Bowl versus UCLA, then a tilt at the Coliseum against Notre Dame.If USC returns to the Pac-12 Championship, the title game will take place in Santa Clara on Nov. 30.
The Trojans were not able to execute as a team. Two starters — senior outside hitter Khalia Lanier and freshman outside hitter Kalen Owes — had a combined 23 errors and potential kills fell out of bounds throughout the match. It was an uncharacteristically sloppy performance for head coach Brent Crouch’s group. Both matches this weekend went to five sets, the latter being the 10th time USC has gone the distance this season. This sets the record for the most five-set matches in one season in Trojan history. However, in a back-and-forth fifth set, the Trojans came out on top 15-13 to avoid a disastrous loss. It was USC’s ninth straight win against OSU, increasing its all time head-to-head record to a lopsided 57-9. “It’s just tiring and it’s exhausting,” Crouch said. “I don’t think it affects anything with confidence. The biggest thing is just that you play more volleyball, so it adds up.” “You know, we’ve had a lot of injuries this year, so we keep putting on new lineups, so we’re looking for some consistency,” Crouch said. “We haven’t had a lot of it.” The matchup with the Ducks was a different story. The Trojans overcame 10 errors to win the first set, but the rest of the night saw similar sloppy play from USC and little of the same luck. The Trojans were never able to pull away with a lead and ultimately dropped two close sets 27-25 and 18-16 in the second and fifth sets, respectively. The score was tied 47 times during the match. Senior outside hitter Khalia Lanier had 37 kills over USC’s weekend matches against Oregon State and Oregon. She also earned her eighth double-double on the season Sunday against Oregon. (Jo Danielle Esteban / Daily Trojan) The Trojans let the Beavers right back into the match in the third and fourth sets. USC led six different times in the fourth but wasn’t able to close it out. “Every week, I think the team has grown and made progress — we just didn’t execute very well today,” Crouch said. “We had a few players just have some really tough nights, and two or three of them had a really rough night and that’s too many. You can’t have that many people not playing well.” With players returning from injury and others continuing to fall, Crouch has had to significantly change his lineups recently. This has been a theme all year, contributing to the group’s struggles. Lanier picked up her eighth double-double of the season in the loss to the Ducks, and Weske tallied 11 kills without an error in one of her best performances of the season. The Trojans came out dominant against OSU and took the first two sets, picking up three straight runs of at least 5 points in the first. Freshman outside hitter Emilia Weske had 10 kills through the first two frames of the match. The USC women’s volleyball team split its weekend matchups against conference opponents, defeating Oregon State and losing to Oregon at Galen Center this weekend. The Trojans have only two more games left in the regular season — Wednesday at Arizona State and Friday’s senior night clash at home against UCLA. Wednesday’s bout starts at 4 p.m., and Friday’s begins at 7 p.m.
AddThis Sharing ButtonsShare to FacebookFacebookShare to TwitterTwitterShare to MoreAddThisALPENA, Mich. — More than 21 million fish have been stocked in Michigan’s waterways this year. The species include brown trout, coho salmon, steelhead, walleye, and nine others. The total combined weight is equal to 311 tons.The Alpena research station alone distributed 18,231 Atlantic salmon and 49,926 coho salmon. Randy Claramunt, Lake Huron basin coordinator with the DNR, says that fish stocking serves several purposes in Michigan. “The stocking is really aimed at sport fishing, sport fish restoration, or native species recovery,” he said.Claramunt mentioned the field staff collecting data and their managers work closely with state holders and fish production facilities to make stocking this many fish possible. “I look at it as a picture of an overall success story that we’re doing with the resources of Michigan.” AddThis Sharing ButtonsShare to FacebookFacebookShare to TwitterTwitterShare to MoreAddThisContinue ReadingPrevious Alpena couple turns home into exciting holiday attraction for HalloweenNext Hinks Elementary host their first career day
Some years ago, particularly when African teams were taking part in the World Cup, many comments, some of them not too complimentary, were passed about the teams.One such comment which rung true at the time was that African teams are tactically indisciplined, didn’t know how to defend and are not mentally conditioned enough to go far in the tournament.Examples like Cameroon’s capitulation after leading England 2-1 in the 1990 World Cup quarterfinal and more recently, Ghana’s near miss at the 2010 World Cup, where the Black Stars were only a kick away from the semifinals spring to mind.However, it appears that over the years, tactical discipline, organisation and mental conditioning has improved. For starters, most African players are not only playing for top teams in World football, but actually inspiring such clubs to major titles. Last year for instance, Didier Drogba inspired Chelsea to an unlikely UEFA Champions League triumph, whilst Yaya Toure inspired Manchester City to its first Premier League title in 45 years. Other African players are making waves and it is no surprise that such players are commanding huge transfer fees and wages.The experience of playing for such top clubs have made the players more tactically aware and disciplined and it is reflecting on the performance of African teams at the ongoing Cup of Nations in South Africa. But this is only one side of the coin.On the other side is the fact that national team coaches have either through years of experience or various coaching courses are also approaching their jobs in a tactical manner, resulting in a much more measured approach to matches. Fewer teams are using the gung ho approach to matches and it is a testament to the work of the coaches in charge. In South Africa, seven nations have indigenous coaches and nine have expatriate coaches. At the semifinal stage, there are two indigenous coaches and two expatriates, with the real possibility of having two indigenous coaches facing off in the final for the first time since perhaps the 1982 African Nations Cup final. The interesting thing is that because coaches have improved over the years in terms of expertise, the distinction between expatriates and indigenous coaches is now a very thin line. More importantly, all the coaches at AFCON 2013 have ensured that their teams are difficult to beat and as a result, after a rather slow start, games may have been tight but very well competed for.Even in the Burkina Faso v Ethiopia game, the 4-0 score line will be viewed on the surface as a hammering, but the Ethiopians showed their competitive edge even in that match. Again, the fact that every team in the competition finished the competition with at least one point shows that gradually African football is developing.On the surface, many might question why not many goals have been scored in South Africa. Indeed questions have been raised regarding the quality of strikers on the continent. The answer is that whilst it is legitimate to question the form of some of the strikers on show, most of the teams are better organized and now most nations defend and attack as a unit. As a result, it becomes difficult to break down teams in a bid to score.Paradoxically, on an individual level, defending has not really been at its best at AFCON 2013 and so it is a credit to most of the coaches that most teams are well organized in a bid to build a wall of relative impenetrability.Again, it is heartwarming to see coaches drop big name players from the starting line up in a bid to improve the team’s fortunes. For example, after Nigeria dropped two points against Burkina Faso in the last minute due to inept defending, team captain Joseph Yobo was dropped from the starting line up by Stephen Keshi and the Super Eagles head coach was vindicated by an impressive showing by central defenders Godfrey Oboabona and Kenneth Omeruo against Cote d’Ivoire in the quarterfinal. Indeed, towards the latter stages, Keshi sent Yobo on to close out the game after Sunday Mba’s wonder goal won the game for Nigeria. If Burkina Faso has reached the semifinal, it is largely due to head coach Paul Put’s decision to relegate team captain Moumouni Dagano to the bench after the first group game. The Stallions looked sharper and more fluid against Ethiopia without Dagano and that is why Alain Traore’s injury could cost them eventually in the long run.Cote d’Ivoire head coach Sabri Lamouchi dropped team captain Didier Drogba from the starting lineup against Tunisia and it was a brave move that paid dividends. The Elephants were rampant against the Carthage Eagles and Drogba proved far more effective off the bench in the 3-0 win. Even though the ex-Chelsea striker scored in the next game against Algeria, perhaps, with the benefit of hindsight, he should have started from the bench in the game against Nigeria, where he was little more than a passenger.South Africa head coach Gordon Igesund made five changes to his starting lineup after a dour 0-0 draw with Cape Verde and that carried Bafana Bafana through to the quarterfinals before elimination on penalties by Mali. That decision included leaving out 2010 World Cup hero Siphiwe Tshabalala from the starting lineup after the Cape Verde match.What about Black Stars head coach Kwasi Appiah? After Ghana was defensively all over the place against DR Congo, he brought in Rabiu Mohammed to play in front of the back four. The Evian midfielder has seized his chance with both hands and as a result, even though Anthony Annan is fit again, he cannot get into the Black Stars starting lineup. This is in addition to changes at the back which has seen Ghana keep three clean sheets since then going into the semifinals.The point I am making here is that coaches are not afraid to make huge calls in a bid to improve the fortunes of their respective teams and now, past reputations count for nothing. The new found steely determination of head coaches in their attempts to reach the top encapsulates the wholesome improvement in coaching of national teams across the continent and it bodes well for the future in the African game. There is definitely room for improvement, but generally performances at the 2013 African Nations Cup show that progress is being made in the right direction.
PreviousLos Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw throws to the plate against the Los Angeles Angels, Sunday, July 15, 2018, at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker)Los Angeles Dodgers’ Andrew Toles scores on a sacrifice fly by Enrique Hernandez in the second inning as Los Angeles Angels catcher Martin Maldonado fields the throw, Sunday, July 15, 2018, at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker)Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Kenta Maeda reacts after striking out Los Angeles Angels’ Ian Kinsler with the bases loaded in the seventh inning, Sunday, July 15, 2018, at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker) SoundThe gallery will resume insecondsLos Angeles Dodgers Enrique Hernandez (14) is greeted at the dugout after hitting a home run for the go-ahead run in the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Angels, Sunday, July 15, 2018, at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker) Dodgers outfielders Joc Pederson, Enrique Hernandez and Andrew Toles, from left, celebrate after beating the Los Angeles Angels 5-3, Sunday, July 15, 2018, at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker)Los Angeles Dodgers Chris Taylor runs home for a score on a single by pitcher Clayton Kershaw in the second inning against the Los Angeles Angels, Sunday, July 15, 2018, at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker)Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Enrique Hernandez makes a sliding catch in the ninth inning on a flyball by the Los Angeles Angels’ David Fletcher, Sunday, July 15, 2018, at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker)Los Angeles Dodgers’ Enrique Hernandez, center, Joc Pederson, left, and Andrew Toles, right, celebrate after they defeated the Los Angeles Angels in a baseball game Sunday, July 15, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok)Los Angeles Dodgers’ Andrew Toles, right, hits a RBI single in front of Los Angeles Angels catcher Martin Maldonado, left, to score Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger during the eighth inning of a baseball game Sunday, July 15, 2018, in Los Angeles. The Dodgers won 5-3. (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok)Los Angeles Dodgers’ Enrique Hernandez hits a sacrifice fly to score Andrew Toles during the second inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Sunday, July 15, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok)Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Deck McGuire tosses the ball to get Los Angeles Dodgers Max Muncy out at first base during the second inning of a baseball game Sunday, July 15, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok)Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw yells after walking Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout during the seventh inning of a baseball game Sunday, July 15, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok)Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout bats against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the seventh inning of a baseball game Sunday, July 15, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok)Los Angeles Dodgers Clayton Kershaw, runs after hitting an RBI single driving in Dodgers Chris Taylor to score against the Los Angeles Angels during the second inning of a baseball game Sunday, July 15, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok)Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw leads off second base against the Los Angeles Angels during the second inning of a baseball game Sunday, July 15, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok)Los Angeles Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw, right, hits an RBI-single to drive in Chris Taylor as Los Angeles Angels catcher Martin Maldonado, left, looks on during the second inning of a baseball game Sunday, July 15, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok)Los Angeles Dodgers Andrew Toles scores in front of Los Angeles Angels catcher Martin Maldonado on a sacrifice fly ball hit by Dodgers Enrique Hernandez during the second inning of a baseball game Sunday, July 15, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok)Los Angeles Angels Jefry Marte breaks his bat over his leg after striking out on a full count pitch from Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw, not pictured to end the top of the first inning of a baseball game leaving the bases loaded Sunday, July 15, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok)Los Angeles Dodgers Chris Taylor, left, scores past Los Angeles Angels catcher Martin Maldonado, right, on a single hit by Clayton Kershaw during the second inning of a baseball game Sunday, July 15, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok)Los Angeles Angels Jefry Marte, right, breaks his bat over his leg after striking out on a full-count pitch from Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw in front of Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal, left, to end the top of the first inning of a baseball game leaving the bases loaded Sunday, July 15, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok)Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani reacts after striking out on a pitch from Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Kenley Jansen during the ninth inning of a baseball game Sunday, July 15, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok)Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani, right, walks back to the dugout after striking out on a pitch from Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Kenley Jansen in front of Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal, left, during the ninth inning of a baseball game Sunday, July 15, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok)Los Angeles Dodgers’ Enrique Hernandez, right, and Matt Kemp, left, celebrate after they defeated the Los Angeles Angels in a baseball game Sunday, July 15, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok)Los Angeles Dodgers’ Yasmani Grandal, right, hits a single in front of Los Angeles Angels catcher Martin Maldonado, left, during the eighth inning of a baseball game Sunday, July 15, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok)Los Angeles Dodgers Enrique Hernandez rounds the bases after hitting a home run for the go-ahead run in the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Angels, Sunday, July 15, 2018, at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker)Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw throws to the plate against the Los Angeles Angels, Sunday, July 15, 2018, at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker)Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw throws to the plate against the Los Angeles Angels, Sunday, July 15, 2018, at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker)Los Angeles Dodgers’ Andrew Toles scores on a sacrifice fly by Enrique Hernandez in the second inning as Los Angeles Angels catcher Martin Maldonado fields the throw, Sunday, July 15, 2018, at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker)NextShow Caption1 of 26Los Angeles Dodgers’ Andrew Toles scores on a sacrifice fly by Enrique Hernandez in the second inning as Los Angeles Angels catcher Martin Maldonado fields the throw, Sunday, July 15, 2018, at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker)ExpandLOS ANGELES – It wasn’t easy.The Dodgers needed Kiké Hernandez’s solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to break a tie with the Angels and push them towards a 5-3 victory Sunday afternoon in the final meeting of this year’s Freeway Series.The Southern California neighbors split the six games. Each team won two of three on its home field and four of the six games were decided by just one run.Coupled with a loss by the Arizona Diamondbacks, the win also moved the Dodgers back into first place in the National League West. And that really wasn’t easy. Dodgers’ hot-hitting Corey Seager leaves game with back injury Dodgers bench slumping Cody Bellinger for a day They will take this half-game lead into the All-Star break, having bounced back from 10 games under .500 (16-26) in mid-May to 10 games over (53-43) at the break. It is the second-best winning percentage at the break for a team that dipped 10 games under .500 in the first half since 1933 (just behind the 1955 Boston Red Sox).It is the fourth time in the past five seasons that the Dodgers were in first place at the All-Star break.The Angels, meanwhile, reach the break 49-48, their faint wild-card hopes fading by the day.“I don’t think we were a 16-26 ballclub,” Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw said. “It was good for us to right the ship that quickly. Thankfully, Arizona was in a tough spot at that time, too, so we didn’t lose much ground. Now, we’re in first, a good spot to be in going into the last 2-1/2 months, for sure.”Sign up for our Inside the Dodgers newsletter. Be the best Dodger fan you can be by getting daily intel on your favorite team. Subscribe here.This hasn’t been an easy year for Kershaw either. Whicker: Dustin May yet another example of the Dodgers’ eye for pitching On the DL twice in the first half (once for biceps tendinitis, a second time with another back injury), Kershaw pitched into the seventh inning Sunday for the first time since April and threw more than 100 pitches for the first time since his DL trips.The Dodgers staked him to an early 3-0 lead, getting a solo home run from Yasmani Grandal and three singles – including an RBI single by Kershaw – in a second inning that featured two replay reviews. Both went in the Dodgers’ favor – one on a play at first, the second on a pickoff attempt there – to keep the inning going.“I don’t know how they miss that play at first base,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said of the pickoff play involving Andrew Toles. “He was out. In real time. And out on the replay. I don’t know what is going on. But that is a play that absolutely should not be missed and it totally changed the course of that second inning for Deck (McGuire).”The 3-0 lead evaporated in the fourth inning when Jefry Marte jumped on a first-pitch fastball from Kershaw and launched it over the wall in center field for a three-run home run.“You don’t want to get beat on an 0-0 fastball like that,” Kershaw said. “I thought I could get it in on him. Missed it a little up. He put enough backspin on it to get it out of the park.”On the surface, Kershaw was just that one pitch away from possibly throwing seven scoreless innings. But more accurately, it was a hard day’s work for Kershaw. He had runners on base in five of his seven innings, allowed six hits, walked four and even hit a batter. He struck Marte out with the bases loaded to end a 29-pitch first inning, stranded Andrelton Simmons at third in the fifth inning and picked off a runner (the opposing pitcher) in the fourth.He did strike out eight, his highest total since April 15, and Marte’s home run was the first Kershaw had allowed in 28 innings since his first trip to the DL in May. But the dominant performances Kershaw used to spin out every fifth day have yet to return.“I think if you look back at each sequence with the walk, there were things right there that could have changed it,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “For me, looking at the soft contact is something very tangible for us to dig into and look at.Related Articles
Dodgers’ Dave Roberts says baseball’s unwritten rules ‘have changed, should change’ Dodgers’ Justin Turner looking rejuvenated on defense “So, he’s had three starts (without pitch restrictions) since he’s been back. The goal is to be peaking in October. I think where he is right now, the sharpness, the effectiveness, we’re tracking.”The starter-starved Angels rolled out four pitchers, trying to piece together another bullpen game with Deck McGuire in the lead position. It worked well enough until Taylor Cole left a fat slider over the plate to Hernandez in the seventh.“It’s just a breaking ball he left over the plate and Kiké didn’t miss,” Scioscia said. “Taylor’s got really good stuff, can change speeds well. It was really just that one mistake that cost him.”The Dodgers added another run in the bottom of the eighth on consecutive two-out singles by Cody Bellinger, Grandal and Andrew Toles before Kenley Jansen closed it in the ninth.“We’re just trying to play good baseball. Win more than we lose,” Roberts said of reaching the break in first place. “If we do that, it’ll work out on the back side.” Newsroom GuidelinesNews TipsContact UsReport an Error
Adam Vinatieri turned 46 a few weeks ago, but he isn’t ready to hang it up just yet. The legendary kicker has agreed to a deal to return to the Colts, the team said Friday. ESPN previously reported it was a one-year contract, teeing Vinatieri up for a 24th NFL season. He made 23 of 27 field goal attempts for Indianapolis in 2018, with a long of 54, and converted 44 of 47 extra-point tries. Related News We have agreed to terms on a contract extension with the 🐐!➡️: https://t.co/QWvAhL7rfy pic.twitter.com/VxGeWVIpzD— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) January 25, 2019Vinatieri has made more field goals (582) and scored more points (2,600) than any player in NFL history, and only Tom Brady has appeared in more playoff games than his 32. Super Bowl 53: Team records, stats since last Patriots-Rams championship Vinatieri kicked at South Dakota State before signing with the Patriots in 1996 as an undrafted free agent. He spent 10 years with New England, winning three Super Bowl titles, before jumping to the Colts in 2006 and helping them win it all that season.