Los Alamitos: Eda extends streak with win in Great Lady M. Stakes

• July 5, 2023

Eda, a 4-year-old daughter of Munnings, hasn’t seen the track with any regularity since her 2-year-old campaign, but good luck beating her when she does race.

The Bob Baffert-trained filly, in only her third start since winning the Grade I Starlet in December 2021, prevailed in a three-horse driving finish under jockey Juan Hernandez on Tuesday in the $200,000 Grade II Great Lady M. Stakes at Los Alamitos Race Course.

She’s now won six consecutive races dating back to the Anoakia Stakes at Santa Anita in October 2021 and seven of nine overall, including three graded stakes. The winner’s share of $120,000 Tuesday improved her career earnings to $592,600.

Eda, the 9-5 favorite, and Elm Drive, the 2-1 second choice who defeated Eda in the Grade II Sorrento Stakes at Del Mar two summers ago, raced as a tandem up the backstretch in the 6 1/2-furlong test for older fillies and mares. They were still heads apart midway through the stretch when 19-1 longshot Chismosa closed strongly on the outside while joining the fray.

When the photo sign came down, Eda was the winner by a neck and Chismosa was another neck in front of Elm Drive for second. Elm Drive held third by four lengths over Dance to the Music.

“She broke quick and I let her get comfortable,” said Hernandez, who has won both stakes at the nine-day L.A. County Fair meet that concludes Sunday. He rode Kings River Knight to a victory in the Bertrando Stakes on June 24.

“When she started to feel the pressure she knew it was time to go. When she saw (Chismosa) on the outside she didn’t want to get passed. She was very game and showed a lot of heart,” added Hernandez, who’s been aboard for Eda’s past four races.

Baffert assistant Mike Marlow was impressed by the winner’s grittiness.

“She’s a fighter,” he said. “She showed that today, that’s for sure. (Chismosa) made us work there at the finish. She’s nice. She’s good. That’s six in a row. It’s been over a period of time, but she’s solid. I think she really likes what she’s doing. She’s matured and gotten a little stronger from last year.”

Final time for the 10th edition of the Great Lady M. was 1:15.06.

For Baffert, it was his fifth victory in the Great Lady M. since daytime thoroughbred racing returned to Los Alamitos in 2014 after Hollywood Park closed in December 2013. Eda joined Fantastic Style (2015), Marley’s Freedom (2018-19) and Gamine (2021) as other Baffert trainees to win the graded race.

Edwin Maldonado enjoyed a riding triple Tuesday to pull within four victories of Martin Pedroza, Los Alamitos’ all-time leader in daytime thoroughbred wins. He has 123 victories. most of Pedroza’s 127 wins came during the Orange County Fair meets between 1977 and 1991.

Ramon Vazquez also had three victories Tuesday. He’s bidding to win his fourth consecutive daytime meet at Los Alamitos. Heading into the final two days of the meet, he’s two victories clear (9-7) of runner-up Abel Cedillo.

In the trainer’s race, Peter Miller, Jesus Uranga and Milton Pineda are tied with three victories apiece.

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Dodgers’ Dustin May to undergo season-ending elbow surgery

• July 5, 2023

LOS ANGELES ― Dustin May will undergo surgery to repair the flexor tendon in his right elbow, the Dodgers announced, dashing any hopes of him rejoining the starting rotation in the second half. Dr. Neal ElAttrache will perform the season-ending procedure on July 18.

May, 25, went 4-1 with a 2.63 ERA in nine starts this season. In parts of four seasons with the Dodgers, May is 12-9 with a 3.10 ERA with 174 strikeouts in 191 ⅔ innings.

The Dodgers were already planning on an extended absence from May, who was among the team’s better pitchers before he suffered the injury on May 17. Losing May for the season only increases the likelihood that the Dodgers will bid aggressively to acquire a starting pitcher before the Aug. 1 trade deadline.

The team’s rotation currently consists of three rookies ― Bobby Miller, Emmet Sheehan and Michael Grove ― along with Julio Urías and Tony Gonsolin. Clayton Kershaw is expected to return shortly after the All-Star break from a sore shoulder.

May had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in May 2021. He returned late last season to make six regular season starts, but did not pitch in the postseason.

The Dodgers did not announce a timetable for May to return from this surgery.

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Rose Bowl sets attendance record as MLS game replaces Pasadena’s July 4 fireworks tradition

• July 5, 2023

A record-breaking throng of soccer fans was at the Rose Bowl stadium Tuesday for the MLS cross-town rivalry match between the LA Galaxy and Los Angeles FC — a rivalry wryly dubbed El Trafico — which replaced Pasadena’s traditional July 4 AmericaFest fireworks show for the first time in almost a century.

The Galaxy announced on Tuesday that 82,110 fans attended the game, a Major League Soccer record. The sold-out event was a rematch from the 2022 Western Conference Semifinal, which reigning champs LAFC took 2-1.

The match which was originally scheduled for Feb. 25 as the teams’ 2023 season opener but was postponed due to weather. Entering the game, the teams were facing very different trajectories, with LAFC headed for the playoffs, while the Galaxy neared the bottom of the conference.

The Rose Bowl’s shift away from the AmericaFest fireworks show this Independence Day comes after years of financial decline for the stadium, exacerbated by the pandemic and debt obligations, as well poor attendance at last year’s fireworks show, which resulted in a roughly $500,000 loss, Rose Bowl Operating Company General Manager Jens Weiden said.

The teams’ 20th El Trafico matchup, on the other hand, is expected to bring in hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue.

The move is part of an evolving strategy that will look to lean more heavily on music festivals, golf, and new ticketing agreements to right the ship, as the stadium faces long term obstacles like increased venue competition, uncertainty over the College Football Playoff, and capital challenges.

Last year, the stadium projected facing a $19 million net loss by the end of fiscal year 2027. Updated estimates from Feb. show an improved outlook, with the stadium now forecasted to end the year with a $10 million balance, rather than the $6 million projected last year.

Weiden noted that the Galaxy previously played home games at the Rose Bowl stadium from 1996 to 2002, when they won their first title, making it more of a return to a team tradition.

Despite the decision not to host the AmericaFest this year, there were still explosive moments, both on and off the pitch. Rialto-based company Pyro Spectaculars, who has put on the July 4th showcase for decades, scheduled a fireworks show at the adjacent Brookside Golf Course following the match.

The previous MLS attendance record was also set at a Galaxy game, when they visited Charlotte FC for their inaugural game at Bank of America Stadium last year.

Here’s the previous top five, according to MLS:

74,479: LA Galaxy-Charlotte, March 5, 202273,019: Atlanta-Portland, Dec. 8, 201872,548: LA Galaxy-Atlanta, Aug. 3, 201972,243: Seattle-Atlanta vs. Seattle, July 15, 201872,035: DC-Atlanta, March 11, 2018

Related links

Pasadena leaders hope city can bring back traditional AmericaFest fireworks show
Rose Bowl operators get two-year contract extension as stadium’s outlook brightens
Pasadena to welcome international soccer back to Rose Bowl in September
$26 million will be needed for Pasadena to cover Rose Bowl’s debt, report says
Rose Bowl stadium, jolted by pandemic and competition, needs robust recovery to ease grim fiscal outlook

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Dodgers’ Max Muncy is tinkering to improve his plate profile

• July 5, 2023

LOS ANGELES ― Mitch Keller threw Max Muncy a fastball on the outside corner of the plate. It’s a safe pitch, one Muncy only rarely drives for power. On Monday, however, Muncy swatted Keller’s pitch over the center-field fence for a home run in the Dodgers’ 5-2 win.

For a player who had been stuck on 18 home runs for a month, with only five singles and two doubles between June 3 and July 2, rounding the bases was a triumph.

“No doubt it’s been a grind for me,” Muncy said. “I just try to show up every day, get my work in, and try to get back to where I’ve been.”

Muncy added a single later in the game, finishing 2 for 4 and raising his batting average six points in the process. A .195 batting average on July 4 is not where Muncy envisioned himself when the season began, but it’s in line with the .196 average Muncy posted in 2022.

Internally, the Dodgers believe there is more to Muncy’s hitting profile than a patient slugger who cannot hit for average. They’re still waiting for his statistics to bear that out.

“There’s times when he chases slug,” manager Dave Roberts said of Muncy. “I know there’s a better hitter in there. I just don’t see a world in which he’s a .190 hitter.”

Keller also caught Muncy looking at a fastball over the plate for a called third strike Monday, and passivity has been a more familiar foe than aggressiveness. According to Statcast, Muncy’s take rate on pitches over the heart of the plate is 39 percent, dwarfing the league average of 28 percent.

Health has been a mitigating factor each of the last two seasons, too. Muncy tore the UCL in his left elbow in the final regular-season game of 2021, an injury that sapped much of his power in 2022. He had been relatively healthy this season, and hitting for power, until a hamstring strain sent him to the 10-day injured list in June.

Since returning, Muncy has been toying with a series of mechanical adjustments. He removed the slight step-back with his left foot as he loaded up to hit. He brought it back. He changed the position of his hands ― all attempts to re-discover the form that allowed Muncy to hit .249 in 2021 and .251 in 2019, both All-Star seasons for the 32-year-old slugger.

The adjustments will continue, Muncy said.

“This last week, the results haven’t necessarily been there in the game,” he said after Monday’s game. “My work has been good and that’s what we’re focused on. It’s all about the process.”

TEACHABLE MOMENT

Roberts spent part of his pregame routine working with rookie James Outman in center field. Outman has “a lot of room for improvement,” Roberts said, particularly on how he approaches balls hit in front of him.

“I just wanted him to think differently in center field, as far as getting different reads and I wanted to hear his thoughts on how he goes about playing center field,” Roberts said. “I’ve seen enough of a sample, and it was good for me to get James and Clayton (McCullough) to talk through some things.”

Outs Above Average rates Outman as a plus-3 center fielder overall, and a net neutral on balls hit in front of him. Defensive Runs Saved has Outman as a minus-4 this season, with his throwing arm the only positive attribute in his profile.

ALSO

Noah Syndergaard threw a bullpen and will face live hitters in a three-inning simulated game Thursday, Roberts said. A minor league rehabilitation assignment could follow. … Clayton Kershaw (shoulder) will throw a bullpen on Friday or Saturday, “and we’ll see how that goes” before determining his next steps, Roberts said. … Chris Taylor (knee) remains in Arizona for his rehab, with a projected return “soon after the break,” Roberts said. … Pittsburgh Pirates closer David Bednar replaced Kershaw on the NL All-Star team roster. … The Dodgers acquired veteran utility player Pat Valaika from the Seattle Mariners for cash and assigned him to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Valaika, a Valencia native, was hitting .240 with four home runs in 38 games with Triple-A Tacoma.

UP NEXT

Dodgers (RHP Bobby Miller, 4-1, 4.23 ERA) vs. Pittsburgh (RHP Osvaldo Bido, 0-1, 4.74 ERA), Wednesday, 7:10 p.m., SportsNet LA, MLB Network (out of market only), 570 AM

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Shohei Ohtani allows 5 runs while dealing with blister in Angels’ loss to Padres

• July 5, 2023

SAN DIEGO — The Angels turned to Shohei Ohtani to deliver them a victory on a day that they faced the reality of being without Mike Trout for at least a month.

Not only did Ohtani struggle while dealing with a blister in the Angels’ 8-5 loss to the Padres, but they suffered another injury.

Third baseman Anthony Rendon is likely headed for his third stint on the injured list in the past two months, after he fouled a ball off his left shin. He was diagnosed with a contusion after undergoing X-rays.

Rendon walked out of the clubhouse with crutches, as he barely put any weight on his left foot.

“It’s almost comical,” Rendon said. “It’s just frustrating. I don’t know what to do. I’m lost.”

As for Ohtani, he came out of the game in the sixth inning after allowing five runs. The Angels then announced that he had a blister on his right middle finger. Ohtani was pitching with an extra day of rest because he had a cracked nail that affected him toward the end of his previous start.

“It’s basically the same thing as last time,” Ohtani said through his interpreter. “It wasn’t fully healed and it got worse as the game went on.”

Ohtani said “we’ll see going forward” about hitting in the next three games. The next time he would need to pitch is his first start after the All-Star break.

“I have 9 or 10 days till the next start so hopefully I can heal,” said Ohtani, who added that he is “planning on not pitching” in the All-Star Game next Tuesday.

Ohtani’s velocity was down throughout the afternoon, and his final pitch was a 92 mph fastball that Jake Cronenworth hit over the fence in right-center. Ohtani averaged 95.4 mph with his fastball, which was down from his season average of 97.1.

“It was hard for me to put full pressure on the finger because of the nail,” Ohtani said. “In some spots I tried to let it eat and give full effort, but towards the end of the game I started to slow down.”

The Angels turned double plays to help Ohtani escape jams in the second and third, and catcher Chad Wallach threw out a runner stealing in the fifth. Ohtani gave up a two-run double to Cronenworth in the fourth and then a two-run homer to Xander Bogaerts in the sixth.

The Angels have now lost 10 of their last 14 games, falling to four games out in the wild card race and seven games out in the American League West.

Trout is going to be out until sometime in August, at best, after fracturing the hamate in his left hand on Monday night. He and Rendon join shortstop Zach Neto, second baseman Brandon Drury, catcher Logan O’Hoppe and infielder Gio Urshela among the Angels’ currently injured everyday players. Urshela is out for the season.

Although general manager Perry Minasian has indicated that the Angels won’t trade Ohtani before the Aug. 1 deadline because they want to push for the playoffs this year and try to re-sign him in the winter, the former is looking more difficult with each loss.

On Tuesday their short-handed lineup produced only Hunter Renfroe’s solo homer through the first eight innings, before they rallied to put a scare into the Padres in the ninth.

The Angels scored four runs, including one on a Jo Adell triple, and had the bases loaded, with the potential tying run at first. Padres closer Josh Hader got Taylor Ward on a groundout to end it.

“Definitely in a tough spot with all the injuries, but all the guys are playing are trying their best,” Ohtani said. “All we can do right now is try to win one ballgame at a time.”

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Officials warn of poor air quality from July 4 fireworks all across Southern California

• July 5, 2023

Fourth of July celebrations around Southern California could cause airborne health problems, the region’s air quality watchdog reports.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued an advisory warning that particle pollution from July 4 fireworks may cause hazardous air quality Tuesday night into Wednesday across Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

The advisory continues Wednesday, July 5, when AQMD air quality forecasts are marked red — meaning “unhealthy” — criteria. The areas affected were mainly around east San Gabriel Valley, Pomona, Ontario, parts of Riverside and Rancho Cucamonga.

Surrounding areas including central Los Angeles, the San Fernando Valley, Redlands and San Bernardino have Wednesday forecasts that officials consider “unhealthy for sensitive groups.” Further inland and coastal areas, including Long Beach and much of Orange County, are marked as having a more “moderate” air quality.

Public fireworks displays and personal “backyard” show contribute to air pollution, and can create localized particulate matter concentrations, or harmful particle pollution, AQMD officials said.

Breathing the fine particulates from fireworks can lead to cardiovascular and respiratory health effects; such as heart attacks, asthma aggravation, decreased lung function, coughing, or difficulty breathing, and could lead to premature death in people with heart or lung disease.

Using consumer-grade “backyard” fireworks can also spark wildfires, which officials say can lead to hazardous air pollution.

Visit www.aqmd.gov/AQImap to see the current air quality in your neighborhood.

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Riqui Puig leads Galaxy to win over LAFC in front of MLS record crowd at Rose Bowl

• July 5, 2023

PASADENA — There was no clowning around at the Rose Bowl on Tuesday.

Setting a Major League Soccer attendance record, the 20th El Trafico derby was as fierce as the city has come to expect when the L.A. Galaxy and Los Angeles Football Club ram into one another.

The hot Fourth of July crowd topped out at 82,110 as the hosting Galaxy, thanks in large measure to young Spanish midfielder Riqui Puig, edged LAFC 2-1.

Puig’s game winner in the 73rd minute gave the second-year Galaxy star, an All-Star in 2023, more room to brag after he was criticized for celebrating too hard in a U.S. Open Cup win in May over what was essentially an LAFC team mostly composed of prospects.

Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini called Puig a clown that night — he apologized privately and publicly — because he wanted to defend the kids who put on an LAFC jersey that night.

But on Tuesday Puig’s goal plus an assist on the Galaxy’s first score could not be dismissed against a first-choice LAFC team.

He was clearly the best player on the field.

Unfolding on Independence Day because the scheduled season opener was postponed due to inclement weather last February, the Galaxy had not played a competitive match at the Rose Bowl since an MLS Cup semi final contest against the Colorado Rapids in front of 24,742 fans on Oct. 5, 2002 — the first of their five league championship seasons.

Two decades later the rivalry, which would have been unfathomable while the Galaxy helped forge American professional soccer during its formative years playing in Pasadena, topped the previous attendance record set on March 5, 2022, when the Galaxy squared off against Charlotte FC in front of 74,479 fans at Bank of America Stadium.

Close to an even split inside the Stadium, the crowd was primarily decked out in Galaxy white or LAFC black, making the partition easy to see.

Supporters on both sides stood and chanted from behind the opposing goals, and had good reason to raise their voices.

Tyler Boyd put the Galaxy ahead in the eighth minute, with his third finish against LAFC in 2023, another line drive that hit the back of the net.

LAFC got back into the match in the second half, when Ilie Sanchez headed in a goal off a corner kick to the near post.

The goalkeepers did their part keeping the match level until Boyd’s finish in the 26th minute.

John McCarthy, celebrating his 31st birthday, denied Puig eight minutes in with a stretching, lunging save after the Spaniard found himself clear inside the six-yard box for the first of his four saves.

Less than 10 minutes later it was Jonathan Bond’s turn to keep the match scoreless.

The English keeper saved a goal — and perhaps himself — when a rocket of a volley off the right foot of Denis Bouanga fizzed toward his head.

Instinctively, Bond raised his hands to redirect the ball over the net for one of his four saves. Jonathan Klinsmann replaced Bond in the second half, and recorded another three saves.

With the victory, the Galaxy improved its all-time series mark against LAFC to 9-6-5, once again dominating on their home field (8-1-2).

In 108 all-time regular-season and playoff games played at Rose Bowl Stadium, the Galaxy hold a combined record of 87-32-9 record.

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Nneka Ogwumike’s career highs may be attribute to carrying a lighter load with Sparks

• July 5, 2023

TORRANCE — In her 12th season in the WNBA, Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike did not expect to be putting up career highs in points, rebounds, and assists.

The 8-time All-Star, who celebrated her 33rd birthday on Sunday, July 2, knew what she could bring to the Sparks. However, she did not anticipate that would be nearly averaging a double-double with career-high 19.9 points and 9.2 rebounds, and 3.1 assists in her first 16 games this season. Ogwumike, who prides herself on efficiency, is shooting 52% from the field and 89.8 from the free throw line.

“To be honest, I feel like I’m doing more than I thought I was going to do,” Ogwumike said before flashing a big smile and letting out a hearty laugh after Sparks practice at the team’s training facility at El Camino College in Torrance Tuesday. “I’m blessed to be healthy and to be out here at 33 and still being productive. I pride my game on efficiency and being productive so I’m very grateful to be out here doing that and I want to be able to empty the tank every time in that way to help my team.”

Sparks 8x All-Star Nneka Ogwumike on exceeding her own expectations this season. This is Year 12 for @nnekaogwumike. pic.twitter.com/xSoXDPe0Ui

— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) July 4, 2023

It’s safe to say Ogwumike, who was recently selected as an All-Star starter for the second consecutive year, is exceeding her own expectations but she can’t exactly pinpoint why. But the Sparks team captain can say she is doing better a job this season of managing how much of herself she gives to the team and organization, which has allowed her to concentrate on being the best basketball player she can be.

“I think it’s a lot better,” Ogwumike said. “It’s a lot lighter. I think that we have a lot of great pieces that we’ve added that doesn’t put a strain on the aspects of my role that extended outside of me just playing and being a teammate so I feel a lot better about it.”

Meanwhile, Sparks head coach Curt Miller believes Ogwumike’s success is rooted in balance and not having to help with behind-the-scenes management issues.

“I think she’s got as good of balance in her life on the court, off the court that she’s had,” Miller said. “She doesn’t have to shoulder so much, trying to keep the team together… There’s a new coach with a long contract so I think she can go be herself and play. We’re trying really hard to put her in positions to be successful.”

Ogwumike’s stats are a carbon copy from her 2016 MVP season when the Sparks won the franchise’s third WNBA title. However, the Sparks are 7-10 overall and have struggled lately, losing seven of the team’s last ten games. All three wins were against the Dallas Wings.

“I think it’s seasons within seasons,” Ogwumike said. “We started off trying to figure ourselves out and then as you’re trying to do that you end up having bodies go down and so trying to manage our identity in the middle of that and understanding what our intention is, what our purpose is, what our goals are while we’re out there and really finishing strong in the first half of the season.”

The Sparks will host the Atlanta Dream on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena, hoping to break a three-game losing streak and avenge Sunday’s blowout 112-84 loss at Atlanta, in which 2022 WNBA Rookie of Year and All-Star forward Rhyne Howard scored a career-high 43 points on 6 of 12 shooting from 3-point range.

“While we did good things in stretches against Atlanta, we didn’t play hard enough to have success in this league and then it snowballs, Miller said. “From our opening day roster, we were four starters down, and with all our injuries, I don’t care what five we have on the floor. I want a desire and an attitude that it doesn’t matter, we just have to keep playing hard.”

Miller said the Sparks are nearing 50 missed games by players on the team’s active roster, not including Steph Talbot (ACL) and Katie Lou Samuelson (pregnancy), who will both miss the 2023 season.

“We aren’t tanking,” Miller said. “Most people are like you have the playbook for tanking right now and it’s like no, it’s just one of those uncanny years with injuries and illness. We are not tanking. These people have injuries (Layshia Clarendon, Nia Clouden, Chiney Ogwumike) and these people have illness (Lexie Brown) and we’re still trying to be as competitive as we can.”

Meanwhile, Dearica Hamby, Karlie Samuelson, and Zia Cooke are the only three players who have played in all 17 games this season for the Sparks.

“I think for us a lot of it is about playing hard, playing through fatigue, playing with purpose,” shared Ogwumike, who finished with a team-high 25 points in 24 minutes against Atlanta Sunday. “We have a great group of coaches that keep us very much prepared so understanding what it means to take that preparation to execute the game plan and it’s not necessarily always X’s and O’s, a lot of times it’s about how you play, how you feel when you’re out there, how you’re encouraging, how you’re communicating and trying to translate that in the middle of adversity.”

The Sparks will play three games before a much-needed break during the WNBA All-Star Weekend in Las Vegas on July 14-15. Ogwumike wants to go into the halfway point of the 40-game regular season on a positive note, rooted in clarity about her team’s identity.

“What is our passion, what is our identity and how can we collectively bring that night in and night out,” Ogwumike said. “That’s something that is very much top of mind and the subject of conversation lately.”

Meanwhile, the Sparks believe they have unlocked Azurá Stevens by playing her primarily at power forward, instead of small forward. Despite the team’s three-game losing streak during their recent road trip, the subtle change has Stevens, the team’s prized acquisition during free agency, trending in the right direction. The 6-foot-6 sixth-year forward averaged 14 points and seven rebounds while playing 25.5 minutes in the last two games.

“I’m happy for Azurá, that she’s stuck with it and may be through the early season bumps,” Miller said.

ATLANTA AT SPARKS

When: Wednesday 7 p.m. PT

Where: Crypto.com Arena

TV: Spectrum SportsNet, CBS Sports

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