2 men stabbed, 1 killed in Fullerton; homicide investigation underway

• July 4, 2024

Two 20-year-old men were found with significant stab wounds on the 2400 block of West Valencia Avenue in Fullerton on Wednesday, July 3; one died of his wounds, the Fullerton Police Department said.

Around 6:13 p.m., officers responded to reports of a fight in progress in the area; upon their arrival officers found the two men lying in the street, a department press release said. Officers immediately began life-saving measures on the two men, officials said. One taken to a regional trauma center was later pronounced dead, while the second man who was taken to a local hospital is expected to survive, officials said.

The incident appears to be gang-related based on initial investigations by Fullerton police detectives, the department’s press release said. A homicide investigation is ongoing and the Orange County Coroner’s office is expected to release the deceased victim’s identity at a later time.

The department asked anyone with information about the stabbing to contact Detective L. Ramirez at 714-738-5334 or information can be shared anonymously by calling Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS or at www.p3tips.com/913.

Public Information Officer Kristy Wells said no further information will be released at this time.

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​ Orange County Register 

Red, white and blue roll into LA County on a sizzling July 4

• July 4, 2024

Red, white and blue rolled back into Long Beach on Thursday, July 4 as a pack of patriotic youngsters welcomed Independence Day in the The Great American Kids’ Bike Parade. just one of scores of parades around the Southland making Independence Day.

Tough guy star/entrepreneur Danny Trejo, actor Steve Gutenberg and Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna were among the participants in events all over Los Angeles County.

A potentially record-setting heat wave continues to build across the region, with temperatures expected to continue climbing through the Fourth of July holiday and peaking on Friday.

After Thursday’s parades, thousands were expected to gather for after dark entertainment — mostly old-fashioned fireworks displays but with an increasing array of drone shows muscling their way in.

“We’ve been doing the bike parade the entire time we’ve had children,” said Will Terry of Belmont Shore, who brought his wife and two children to ride at 1 Granada Avenue on the beach bike path in Long Beach. “It’s a great event, great to see everyone — people and animals — and the decorations. It’s a great way to spend the Fourth of July and it’s early enough because you can stay local for this event and then go out and do other things afterwards.”

Participants were asked to bring tuna, pasta noodles, breakfast cereal or peanut butter that will be donated to agencies serving homeless men and women in the area.

“Every year it’s just so much fun to decorate the bike to go on the path with my brother,” said Terry’s daughter Reyna, “and I just really love this day and being out here for the bike parade.”

“We’re eager to start the day off celebrating fitness, creativity and patriotism and for these kids to get a sense of community and pride at this Fourth of July celebration,” said event organizer Justin Rudd.

A crowd of families watched the unveiling of life-size replicas of the nation’s founding documents at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley.

Thursday’s celebration was punctuated with activities including sack races, bingo and water balloon tosses.

The Library hosted the Fourth of July ceremony to reveal new, intricate replicas of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, which are part of a monument spearheaded by the non-profit Foundation Forward.

The monument, called Charters of Freedom, is one of 30 similar replica installations across nine states. Foundation Forward “seeks to promote civics, education and the preservation of American history.”

The Reagan Library held several other Fourth of July festivities on its lawn, with kids in red, white and blue outfits furiously jumping forward to win sack races and sitting in the shade as firework designs were painted on their cheeks.

The Reagan Library’s Independence Day celebration typically brings thousands of attendees to the Simi Valley hills each year as they brave the July heat for patriotic fun.

Last year, a life-size bronze statue of famed astronaut Sally Ride was unveiled at the library’s annual Fourth of July event. The statue honors Ride’s legacy as the first U.S. woman in space.

San Fernando Valley icon Trejo, meanwhile, was among the participants in the Sunland-Tujunga Independence Day Parade. Its theme was “The Magic of Sunland-Tujunga.”

Trejo is best known for his role as gadget inventor Isador “Machete” Cortez in four “Spy Kids” films and a different version of the character in “Machete” and “Machete Kills.” He is the owner of eight restaurants, including Trejo’s Tacos and Trejo’s Cantina.

Guttenberg was the grand marshal of the 76th Pacific Palisades 4th of July Parade on Via de la Paz at Bowdoin Street, preceded by skydivers landing on Sunset Boulevard near Swathmore Avenue. The theme: “Happy Days in the Palisades.”

Army Lt. Gen. Steven Gilland rode in the parade. Gilland is superintendent of the United States Military Academy, a position once held byDouglas MacArthur.

Guttenberg was Pacific Palisades’ honorary mayor from 2002-06. He is best remembered for his roles in four “Police Academy” movies, “Three Men and a Baby,” “Cocoon” and “Diner.”

Luna rode in the Santa Clarita Valley Fourth of July Parade.

The parade rolled out at the Newhall Roundabout in front of Hart Park and end at Orchard Village Road at Dalbey Drive. The approximately 2-mile parade’s theme was “The Freedom to Play,” celebrating “our parks, trails and openspaces.”

The Santa Clarita City Council adopted an ordinance in 1996 banning the “propulsion” of Silly String and other substances on the parade route.

In San Pedro, dozens turned out at Angels Gate Park on Thursday for the annual ringing of the Korean Friendship Bell, which the Republic of Korea donated to the town — in honor of Korean War veterans — in 1976 while the U.S. celebrated its bicentennial.

As guest speakers and audience members recited the names of the 13 original American states, a battering ram struck the 17-ton bell, once for each state.

The Korean Bell is also rung 13 times on the first Saturday of the month; Aug. 15, which is the National Liberation Day of Korea; Sept. 17 to celebrate Constitution Week; New Year’s Eve; and Jan. 13 for Korean-American Day.

Thursday was the 47th annual Fourth of July Community Observance at the bell, one of San Pedro’s most enduring landmarks.

In Redondo Beach, meanwhile, holiday revelers woke up early for the 31st annual Fourth of July 5K and Firecracker Dash. The beach city tradition, during which some folks run in patriotic outfits — or even hotdog suits — was sponsored by UCLA Health.

On the nearby Palos Verdes Peninsula, the Fourth of July holiday got off to a family-friendly start with two cities hosting events.

Palos Verdes Estates held its 59th annual Old-Fashioned 4th of July celebration at Malaga Cove School. There was an apple pie contest, a kids’ bicycle parade and a guest speech from Heritage of Freedom honoree Mark Langill, the LA Dodger’s team historian.

Rancho Palos Verdes was scheduled to start its patriotic party at 3 p.m. at the Ken Dyda Civic Center. The civic-hosted event promised to have live music, beer, wine and food booths, as well as games and craft vendors. This year’s Fourth of July finale was set to be a massive drone show: 150 of them lighting up the sky rather than the 100  used last year.

With its designation as a “Very High Risk” fire zone, RPV has no choice but to host a drone show, city officials said in a prior interview.

But over in Redondo Beach, drones, which were used in 2023, were ditched this year in favor of traditional pyrotechnics.

After hiring a drone company last year after being unable to meet last-minute policy changes for fireworks shows over water, the sparks were scheduled to fly over King Harbor once again Thursday evening.

Despite having to pay nearly double for the barge from which the pyrotechnics are launched, the popular Fourth of July fireworks show promised to delight those watching from the coast.

The Acton 4th of July Parade bore the theme “ 100 Years of Community History.” It will begin at 9 a.m. at Banson Street and Crown Valley Road.Claremont’s Fourth of July Parade will begin at 10 a.m. at 10th Street and Indian Hill Boulevard.

The Holmby Westwood Property Owners Association 4th of July Parade rolled out from Warner Avenue School.

La Verne’s Fourth of July Parade will have the theme “50 Years of Hometown Heroes.” It began at 10 a.m. at the corner of 10th and Dstreet.

Retired La Verne Police Department Chief Colleen Flores was the community grand marshal.

The theme of Rosemead’s parade was “Celebrating The Olympic Spirit.”

Sierra Madre’s 4th of July Parade began at the corner of of Sierra Madre Boulevard and Sunnyside Avenue, ending at Rancho Road. The grand marshal was Helen Reece, a 100-year-old who often plays the accordion outside the Baldwin Avenue Gallery on special occasions. The

Valley Village Homeowners Association Fourth of July Parade served up corn dogs, watermelon, cold drinks and cupcakes.

South Pasadena’s Fourth of July Festival of Balloons parade began at Mission Street and Diamond Avenue, ending in Garfield Park. Thetheme was “Hometown Heroes: Celebrating the Spirit of Community.”

San Marino’s approximately 1.5-mile “4th of July Independence Day Parade-Palooza,” was scheduled for later afternoon.

What organizers are billing as the West Coast’s largest free Independence Day celebration was scheduled for GloriaMolina Grand Park and include 800 drones flying above The Music Center instead of a fireworks show.

The 800 drones are an increase of 300 over last year’s inaugural Independence Day drone show at The Music Center.

Fireworks shows were set to include the 20-minute display at Councilman Bob Blumenfield’s July 4th Extravaganza at Warner Center Park

The city of Alhambra’s 4th of July Fireworks Celebration at Almansor Park was scheduled for 4 p.m., long before the nighttime fireworks extravaganza. Another 20-minute fireworks was planned in Marina del Rey.

Fireworks were also scheduled to follo the Major League Soccer game at the Rose Bowl between the Los Angeles Galaxy and Los Angeles Football Club; the Los Angeles Dodgers-Arizona Diamondbacks game at Dodger Stadium; the Harry Connick Jr. concert at the Hollywood Bowl; and the performances by Billy Joel tribute performer Billy Nation and Fleetwood Mac tribute band Mirage at the Starlight Bowl in Burbank.

Fireworks displays were also planned at Artesia Park; Cerritos High; Rowley Park in Gardena; Crescenta Valley High in La Crescenta; La Bonita Park in La Habra; Shepherd of the Hills Church in Porter Ranch; Rosemead Park; South Gate Park; Valencia Town Center in Santa Clarita; Walnut High;  Westlake Village Golf Course; Friendly Hills Country Club and York Field, both in Whittier.

Staff writers Delilah Brumer and Lisa Jacobs and Photographer Howard Freshman contributed to this report 

​ Orange County Register 

Euro 2024 quarterfinal: What you need to know for Portugal vs. France

• July 4, 2024

HAMBURG, Germany — Portugal and France meet in the European Championship quarterfinals on Friday and the match features a head to head between two of soccer’s biggest stars: Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappé.

The winner will play either Spain or host nation Germany in the semifinals. Kickoff is at noon PT in Hamburg.

Here’s what to know about the match:

Match facts

— It’s a match between two of the pre-tournament favorites but neither have been convincing. Portugal hasn’t scored a goal in its last two matches — a 2-0 loss to Georgia and a 0-0 with Slovenia before winning a penalty shootout — while no France player has scored from open play at Euro 2024. The French have had two own-goals and a penalty from Mbappé.

— Ronaldo burst into tears after having a penalty saved in extra time against Slovenia. Appearing in his record sixth European Championship, he has yet to score — if he does, the 39-year-old striker would be the oldest ever scorer at the tournament.

— Mbappé will again be wearing a protective mask after sustaining a broken nose in France’s group opener against Austria. France coach Didier Deschamps said after the last-16 win over Belgium that Mbappé might need to wear the mask for “months.”

— The match will be played exactly 18 years after the nations’ meeting in the 2006 World Cup semifinals, when Zinedine Zidane scored the winner from the penalty spot. Ronaldo played the full match and the player of the match was Lilian Thuram, whose son, Marcus, is likely to feature for France in Hamburg.

Team news

— France midfielder Adrien Rabiot is suspended after collecting two yellow cards. The likelihood is that Antoine Griezmann will drop back into central midfield to cover for Rabiot, with Ousmane Dembele potentially coming into the forward line.

— Portugal coach Roberto Martinez has no players suspended and said all 26 in his squad were healthy for the match.

— Mbappé is one of four France players who will miss the semifinals if they pick up another booking, should the team advance. It is the same with Ronaldo and five other Portugal players.

By the numbers

— France has only conceded one goal at Euro 2024. That was the retaken penalty by Poland striker Robert Lewandowski, whose first effort was saved by Mike Maignan before the France goalkeeper was adjudged to have come off his line too early.

— The 25-year-old Mbappé has 48 goals for France. He has a long way to go to catch Ronaldo, who has a men’s record 130 international goals.

— This is the teams’ third straight meeting at a European Championship. In the tournament in 2021, they drew 2-2 in the group stage — Ronaldo scored two penalties — and Portugal won 1-0 in the final in 2016.

— Ronaldo, who will make a record 212th appearance for Portugal, has had 20 shots without scoring at Euro 2024.

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What they’re saying

— “There is only one Cristiano Ronaldo, there will only ever be one. I am following my own path.” — France captain Kylian Mbappé.

— “It’s not about Kylian and Cristiano. It’s about Portugal and France. But definitely two unbelievable players at different stages of their careers.” — Portugal midfielder Bernardo Silva.

— “This is Ronaldo’s last Euro. We’ve got everything we need to give him this gift and we’re going to do everything we can.” — Portugal left back Nuno Mendes.

​ Orange County Register 

Euro 2024 quarterfinal: What you need to know as Germany hosts Spain

• July 4, 2024

STUTTGART, Germany — Spain plays host nation Germany on Friday in the quarterfinals of the European Championship in an eagerly anticipated matchup between two of the best performing sides at the tournament.

There is also a potential record on the line as Spain and Germany have each won three European Championships, better than any other nation.

Two of the most exciting talents will be on show in Spain teenager Lamine Yamal and 21-year-old Germany forward Jamal Musiala. Kickoff is at 9 a.m. PT  in Stuttgart.

Here’s what to know about the match:

Match facts

— The winner will advance to face France or Portugal in the semifinal in Munich on Tuesday.

— Spain and Germany are the leading scorers at Euro 2024, having netted nine and 10 goals respectively in their four matches. They have also conjured the most attempts on target.

— Spain has never eliminated a host nation, either at a European Championship or the World Cup.

— La Roja is the only team to have won all its matches at Euro 2024, beating Croatia, Italy and Albania in the group stage before thumping Georgia 4-1 in the round of 16. Germany beat Scotland and Hungary but drew against Switzerland before eliminating Denmark.

— Germany hasn’t beaten Spain in a major tournament since a group-stage victory at Euro ’88.

Team news

— Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams and Fabian Ruiz all missed Spain’s training session on Tuesday, while Aymeric Laporte only jogged once around the field. However, all are expected to be fit for Friday’s match.

— Germany defender Jonathan Tah returns from suspension and coach Julian Nagelsmann has reported no injury concerns.

By the numbers

— Spain and Germany have only conceded three goals between them. The only time Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón had to pick the ball out of his net was against Georgia, while Germany conceded against Scotland and Switzerland.

— The teams have met 26 times, with Germany winning nine to Spain’s eight. Spain edges Germany slightly on goals scored with 32 compared to 31.

— Three of the last four encounters have finished in a 1-1 draw with the exception being a 6-0 thrashing of Germany by Spain in a UEFA Nations League match in November 2020.

— Germany has won all six of its European Championship quarterfinals. Spain has lost five of its nine.

— Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer will likely make a national record 39th appearance in a major tournament, having matched Bastian Schweinsteiger’s mark in the previous round.

— Germany has won the last six penalty shootouts it has been involved in, losing only its first in the 1976 final. Spain has won seven of its 13.

What they’re saying

“I am not at all nostalgic and I don’t feel like this will be my last-ever match.” — Germany midfielder Toni Kroos, who will be retiring after the tournament.

“We’re aiming for the trophy and even though it’s been a pleasure playing with Toni Kroos — because he’s been a teammate (at Real Madrid) and a friend — I’d still like to ‘retire’ him on Friday!” — Spain forward Joselu.

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“I don’t know if Spain are all that happy having to face Germany; likewise, there could have been easier opponents for us. If you want to win this tournament, you have to go through Spain.” — Germany midfielder Joshua Kimmich.

“Both are amazing players, they are young talents who will be the best in the world in the future. The wrong thing that everybody does is compare players, I think we only have to enjoy them.” — Spain midfielder Mikel Merino on Yamal and Musiala.

“My focus is not so much on Yamal but on Jamal,” — Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann.

​ Orange County Register 

Angels’ Luis Rengifo awaits MRI exam on wrist injury

• July 4, 2024

OAKLAND — Luis Rengifo passed the first test, and now he’s waiting on the second.

Rengifo, who hurt his right wrist on a swing in the ninth inning Wednesday, underwent X-rays that showed no broken bones. He will undergo an MRI exam Friday in Chicago. He was not placed on the injured list.

“It’s still a little sore,” Rengifo said Thursday.

Apparently, the holiday Thursday complicated the Angels’ efforts to get Rengifo an MRI in Oakland. Since he wasn’t going to play Thursday anyway, the Angels opted to wait until Friday for the exam.

Rengifo said he felt the injury on one swing.

“He told me he feels much better today than he did yesterday,” manager Ron Washington said. “You know something was wrong when he just turned around and walked off the field, because you’ve got to pull Rengifo off the field.”

If the Angels lose Rengifo for any length of time, it would be damaging on multiple levels.

First, he’s been one of their most productive players, hitting .315 with an .800 OPS and playing solid defense at third base.

Beyond that, he is also one of the Angels’ most attractive trade chips, because of his performance and the fact that he’s under control for one year beyond this season.

If Rengifo’s injury is minor, he still could be traded by the July 30 deadline, but the return would be less.

PROGRESS FOR TROUT

Mike Trout has begun running on a normal treadmill, putting his full weight on his legs, and hitting off a tee on the field.

“I saw the video,” Washington said of the hitting. “He looked good. He looked natural. We just have to wait and see how the recovery is each time he puts some stress on that knee.”

Trout is just shy of nine weeks past surgery to repair a torn meniscus. He is already beyond the normal timeframe for a return from that injury.

GOODBYE

The final season at the Oakland Coliseum has special meaning for Willie Calhoun. The Angels’ DH grew up in nearby Benicia and attended A’s and San Francisco Giants games when he was a kid.

“I was a Giants fan, but the A’s were a lot cheaper to come to,” Calhoun said.

Calhoun said the Coliseum may not be the greatest major-league park, but it still means something to him.

“As a player, I don’t want to go there, but as kid going to games there every week, there are so many memories,” Calhoun said.

The Angels have one more trip here later this month, and Calhoun said he’d like to take a souvenir from the ballpark after that series.

Next year, the A’s are expected to play the first of three seasons in the Triple-A park in Sacramento, while they wait for their new home in Las Vegas to open in 2028.

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NOTES

The Angels on Thursday began a stretch of four consecutive day games, which was the first time since 2010. That streak also included a visit to Wrigley Field. …

The Angels have not played at Wrigley Field since 2019.

UP NEXT

Angels (RHP Griffin Canning, 3-8, 4.71) at Cubs (LHP Justin Steele, 0-3, 3.20) at Wrigley Field, 11:20 a.m. PT Friday, Bally Sports West, 830 AM.

​ Orange County Register 

Horse racing notes: Sweet Azteca is front-running favorite at Los Alamitos

• July 4, 2024

LOS ALAMITOS LEADERS

(Thoroughbred meet, through Sunday)

Jockeys / Wins

Kyle Frey / 5

Edwin Maldonado / 4

Edgar Payeras / 3

Umberto Rispoli / 2

Antonio Fresu / 2

Cesar Ortega / 2

Tiago Pereira / 2

Armando Ayuso / 2

Jeremy Laprida / 2

Diego Herrera / 2

Trainers / Wins

Sergio Morfin / 4

Doug O’Neill / 3

Bob Baffert / 3

Jorge Periban / 3

Steve Knapp / 3

Peter Eurton / 2

Peter Miller / 2

WEEKEND STAKES

LOS ALAMITOS

Saturday

• $200,000, Grade II Great Lady M Stakes, fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up, 6½ furlongs

Sunday

• $150,000, Grade 1 Vessels Maturity, quarter horses, 4-year-olds and up, 400 yards

• $30,000 Independence Day Handicap, quarter horses, 3-year-olds and up, 300 yards

DOWN THE STRETCH

• Los Alamitos’ thoroughbred season concludes with a Thursday-to-Sunday racing week featuring the strongest stakes of the meet. The Great Lady M on Saturday will see front-running Sweet Azteca (Juan Hernandez riding) try to build on her Grade I Beholder Mile upset as she faces Michael McCarthy stablemate Three Witches (Abel Cedillo), Chismosa (Tiago Pereira), Daddysruby (Reylu Gutierrez) and six others. Two recent winners of this sprint, Gamine and Finest City, were or became Breeders’ Cup winners.

• Tributes are pouring in for David Hofmans, the Belmont Stakes- and Breeders’ Cup-winning trainer who died at 81 on Wednesday in Arcadia in an apparent suicide. “Speechless!!! One of the best human beings I have met in my life. Always kind and classy,” Umberto Rispoli, who rode Hofmans’ last winner May 11 at Santa Anita, wrote on X (formerly Twitter) after Hofmans’ death. “Shocked to hear news of the passing of (a) consummate horseman and even better person,” racing broadcaster and horseman Nick Hines wrote on X. “(He has) a resume in my mind that is HOF (Hall of Fame) worthy.” Services are pending.

• Southern California’s two representatives in this spring’s Kentucky Derby return to racing Saturday. Santa Anita Derby winner Stronghold (Antonio Fresu riding), seventh in the Kentucky Derby for trainer Phil D’Amato, is favored in the $300,000, Grade III Indiana Derby. Endlessly (Rispoli), ninth in the Derby for McCarthy, heads Saturday’s $750,000, Grade I Belmont Derby on the Aqueduct turf.

• Watching overseas prospects for the Nov. 1-2 Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar: An Irish-owned colt named Los Angeles won the Irish Derby on Sunday for jockey Ryan Moore and trainer Aidan O’Brien, who won the same race in 2023 with Auguste Rodin on that horse’s way to winning the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita. Epsom Derby winner City of Troy, another Moore-O’Brien production, is odds-on for the Coral-Eclipse Stakes on Saturday at Sandown Park outside London.

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• Los Alamitos stewards suspended jockey Barrington Harvey 10 days for careless riding in the fifth race June 23. Harvey and Mischievous Dylan were disqualified from second place for causing Paislees Promise to clip heels and unseat jockey J.R. Valenzuela, who was hospitalized overnight for observation but back in action the following weekend.

• A handicapping contest Saturday at Los Alamitos offers cash prizes and two entries in the 2025 National Thoroughbred Racing Association Handicapping Championship in Las Vegas. Entry costs $500. Find more information at losalamitos.com.

— Kevin Modesti 

​ Orange County Register 

Dodgers routed by Christian Walker, Diamondbacks

• July 4, 2024

LOS ANGELES — On a day when Shohei Ohtani was named a starter on the National League All-Star team, the Dodgers had to wonder why the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Christian Walker was not included in the group.

From the Dodgers’ perspective, Walker is about as good as major league players get and his two home runs, along with four hits on Wednesday night, were prime examples as the Diamondbacks rallied for a 12-4 victory.

Walker now has seven home runs in eight games against the Dodgers this season and five in five games at Dodger Stadium as Arizona overcame a three-run deficit in the first inning.

“Yeah, the numbers, it’s like better than Shohei at Dodger Stadium,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Walker, who now has 17 home runs in 41 career games at Chavez Ravine. “I think it’s a division rival and I do think we bring out the best in him. He plays really well at home against us, but at this ballpark it’s otherworldly. He doesn’t give anything away. I’ve said, he’s one of the guys who I really enjoy watching play.”

Expected to have the advantage on Wednesday, Dodgers rookie Gavin Stone could not leverage his recent run of success in a matchup with Diamondbacks right-hander Cristian Mena, who was making his major league debut.

Both starters gave up four runs in three innings, with Stone’s outing coming after he went 4-0 with a 1.97 ERA in five June starts and had a 1.62 ERA over his last six outings.

“My arm felt good but just the command wasn’t there completely,” said Stone, who threw a complete-game five-hit shutout against the Chicago White Sox last week. “You just have to forget about it.”

Mena was in trouble from the outset as each of the Dodgers’ first five hitters reached base. Shohei Ohtani singled, Will Smith walked and Freddie Freeman hit a three-run home run, his 13th. Teoscar Hernandez followed with a home run of his own, his 19th.

It was the sixth time this season the Dodgers hit back-to-back home runs and Freeman has been involved each time it happened.

“First inning, first big league start, I’m sure he had a lot of nerves out there, a lot of excitement,” Freeman said of Mena. “He was just falling behind hitters in the first inning and we were able to jump on him. He settled down a little bit and got through a couple more innings, but their bullpen, we just didn’t have anything for it the rest of the game.”

But Stone’s 4-1 lead was short-lived. The Diamondbacks received a two-out RBI double from Eugenio Suarez in the third inning and Gabriel Moreno followed with a home run, his fourth, to tie the score at 4-4.

In the Dodgers’ half of the third, a Mena balk had Dodgers runners on first and third with one out. And with the Arizona 21-year-old on the ropes again, Miguel Rojas lined out to right field and Freeman was thrown out at home by Jake McCarthy while trying to tag up and score on the play.

“They went to the ’pen and got multiple (innings) from different guys,” Roberts said. “We just didn’t have an answer. They kept adding on, to their credit. We just didn’t threaten. … I just think that they didn’t walk guys and we just really couldn’t mount anything tonight.”

Walker seized on the momentum with a two-out home run to left field in the fourth inning on a full-count pitch from left-hander Ryan Yarbrough (3-2).

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Arizona rolled from there, getting a Geraldo Perdomo bunt for a run in the fifth to take a 6-4 lead, while Walker doubled in the sixth and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. followed with a two-run home run for an 8-4 lead. It was Gurriel’s 12th on the season.

Suarez delivered a second RBI double in the eighth inning.

Walker was at it again in the ninth with a three-run home run off right-hander Michael Peterson, his 20th on the season. Walker, who went 4 for 5 with four RBIs and three runs scored, fell a triple shy of the cycle. He now has 25 career home runs against the Dodgers in 10 seasons, his most against any one team and one more than he has against the Colorado Rockies.

“You’re trying to navigate (Ketel) Marte and Joc (Pederson) and you got that guy always looming,” Roberts said of Walker. “He seems to always come up with guys on base.”

The Dodgers’ only hits after the first were a double by Rojas in the sixth and Freeman’s single in the eighth.

Marte, the Diamondbacks’ second baseman, was named an NL starter in the All-Star Game and went 1 for 4 with two walks and a run scored. Ohtani went 1 for 4 with a run scored after he was named the NL’s starting designated hitter.

​ Orange County Register 

Angels done in by sloppy defense and anemic hitting in loss to A’s

• July 4, 2024

OAKLAND — Zach Neto slapped his hand into his glove and then put both hands over his head, with a look of exasperation.

Another play that the Angels’ shortstop expected to make had eluded him, as a run scored in the sixth inning.

Neto’s defense has been one of the shining spots for the Angels during this frustrating season, but it was an issue in a 5-0 loss to the Oakland A’s on Wednesday night.

“Those are plays I should make,” Neto said. “Plain and simple. They’re plays I should make and I didn’t.”

The Angels also had to take Luis Rengifo out of the game with an injury after he fouled a ball off in the ninth inning. Rengifo, who told the Angels that he had hurt his wrist, was taken for imaging after the game. There was no immediate update on his status.

It was all part of an overall lousy night for the Angels, whose offense came up empty against right-hander Joey Estes. Estes brought a 5.24 ERA into the game, but the Angels had only five hits against him, pushing him to throw just 92 pitches in a complete game.

“I thought he was pretty good tonight,” Angels manager Ron Washington said. “He was throwing his sweeper. Staying off the barrel of our bats, keeping us off balance. When we did center something, somebody was there making a play.”

The Angels, who had scored at least five runs in their previous eight games, weren’t going to win with that kind of offense, but the sloppy defense – which went beyond Neto – made it even worse.

The Angels were burned by their defense plays in the second inning, allowing the A’s to score two runs.

With one out, Zack Gelof hit a bouncer to Neto, who bobbled it. It was ruled an infield hit.

After Lawrence Butler lined a clean single into right, putting runners on the corners, right-hander Davis Daniel got a comebacker that should have been an easy, inning-ending double play. Instead, his throw was wide and got past second baseman Brandon Drury into the outfield, as a run scored.

Although the throw was slightly to the third base side of the bag, Washington said Drury should have been able to handle it.

“We’re in the big leagues,” Washington said. “That was a good throw. The second baseman has got to make an adjustment on that. … As long as that ball doesn’t touch the ground, we’ve got to make an adjustment and make the play.”

An out later, with runners still on the corners, Brett Harris took off from first to draw a throw from catcher Matt Thaiss. Butler came home from third. Neto looked home but determined that he didn’t have time to cut off the runner – a decision that Washington said was correct. Neto instead went after Harris for the final out, allowing the second run to score.

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In the sixth, Neto came up empty on an attempted sliding backhand stop of a grounder. It was clearly not an error, but Neto still reacted as if he expected to make the play, or at least knock the ball down to hold the runner at third. The A’s scored their fifth run on the play.

Neto also couldn’t glove a chopper in front of him in the seventh inning. That was again ruled a hit. The Angels escaped that inning without it costing them a run.

“A couple plays that were tough plays,” Washington said. “He just didn’t come up with them. Sometimes that happens.”

The defensive mistakes cost Daniel three of the five runs he allowed in 5⅓ innings. The other two were on homers, by No. 9 hitter Max Schuemann and Brent Rooker.

On the bright side, Daniel again pounded the strike zone. He threw a first-pitch strike to 15 of 24 of hitters, after doing it to 22 of 26 hitters last week.

​ Orange County Register