Max Muncy’s two home runs lift Dodgers to victory

• July 30, 2023

LOS ANGELES ― The Dodgers mustered only two hits against a pitcher who awoke Saturday with an ERA above 7.00. They failed to collect a hit with a runner in scoring position because they never had a runner in scoring position to begin with.

The Dodgers beat the Cincinnati Reds anyway, 3-2. Their two hits added up to 771 feet of home runs for Max Muncy – a two-run shot in the first inning and a go-ahead solo shot in the sixth, the only hits allowed by right-hander Luke Weaver.

Dodgers starter Emmet Sheehan threw five scoreless innings himself, but the game nearly turned in the sixth. The Reds rallied for a pair of runs against reliever Caleb Ferguson, tying the score at 2-all.

Joe Kelly, in his first appearance since the Dodgers acquired him a day earlier from the Chicago White Sox, halted the rally in its tracks when he struck out Will Benson to end the inning.

Then in the bottom of the sixth, Muncy swung away at a 3-and-0 pitch and hit his second two-out home run of the game into the Reds’ bullpen, giving the Dodgers a 3-2 lead. Brusdar Graterol and Evan Phillips divvied up the final three innings without allowing a run, and the victory was secure.

The win allowed the Dodgers (59-44) to maintain their three-game lead on the second-place San Francisco Giants in the National League West.

“Max is a big cog in what we’re trying to do, and it was pretty much Max Muncy and Emmet versus the Reds tonight,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “We couldn’t figure out Weaver, clearly, but we scored enough runs to win a ball game.”

Muncy’s fifth multi-homer game of 2023 gave him 27 home runs for the season, matching Mookie Betts for the team lead and giving him more homers than all but four major league hitters.

David Peralta was a late addition to the lineup replacing Mookie Betts, who has a sore right foot. He began the first inning by reaching on a fielding error by Reds third baseman Spencer Steer, then was forced out at second after a ground ball by Freddie Freeman.

With two outs in the inning, Muncy blasted a 400-foot homer halfway up the bleachers in right-center field to give the Dodgers a quick 2-0 lead.

Sheehan appeared determined to make that lead hold up. The rookie twirled five shutout innings in what might have been his final major league start of 2023. With the Dodgers set to welcome Lance Lynn to their starting rotation Tuesday or Wednesday, and welcome back Clayton Kershaw a short time after that, the 23-year-old rookie figures to continue his development in the minor leagues after Tuesday’s trade deadline.

Saturday’s start was not Sheehan’s best, but only because he threw six no-hit innings against the Giants in his major league debut. Sheehan looked progressively more hittable in each of his next five starts. In his sixth major league start, the Texas Rangers erupted for eight runs against Sheehan last weekend in Arlington.

Sheehan’s fastball was consistently registering 94-95 mph on the radar gun in that game, but he was up to 98 mph for the first inning Saturday. He began the night by striking out rookie sensation Elly De La Cruz on three pitches and allowed only three baserunners (two hits, one walk) while facing the Reds two times through the batting order.

After his disastrous outing in Texas, Sheehan made some adjustments to his delivery. More than that, he said, his mental approach made the difference against Cincinnati.

“Just being on the attack and trusting my stuff in the zone,” he explained. “I think before I was a little on the defensive and that’s not the way I like to pitch.”

Sheehan lowered his ERA to 5.77 but ended his seven-start debut on a high note.

“He’s not a finished product,” Roberts said of Sheehan. “He would be the first to say that. He was thrust into this position because of injuries, and his performance, to his credit. To go from Double-A to here, there’s a lot of things – game management, sequencing, third time through (the batting order), better hitters – all this stuff that we’ve had to throw him into the fire. Overall it’s been a really good thing.”

The Reds had a much easier time with Ferguson than with Sheehan. De La Cruz roped a double to center field to begin the sixth inning. TJ Freidl legged out a weakly hit infield single, sending De La Cruz to third. Ferguson struck out Jake Fraley, but pinch hitter Kevin Newman lofted a fly ball to right field.

Jason Heyward caught the ball with his momentum carrying him toward home plate, but his throw airmailed the cutoff man and the Dodgers’ catcher, Will Smith. That allowed Freidl to tag up and go to second base. When the next batter, Steer, singled to center field, Freidl was able to score easily. The score was tied 2-2.

Ferguson walked Joey Votto before Roberts called on Kelly to put out the fire. After jogging out to a thunderous ovation from the announced crowd of 51,015, the former Dodger (2019-21) walked Christian Encarnacion-Strand to load the bases.

Kelly got behind Benson 1-and-0 before throwing three consecutive strikes – the last two a pair of fastballs at 100 and 99 mph, respectively – to notch the strikeout.

“The crowd, it was awesome,” Kelly said. “It helped with the four hours of sleep I got last night. I was a little bit groggy, but when it comes time to pitch it’s always an adrenaline rush.”

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Del Mar horse racing consensus picks Sunday, July 30, 2023

• July 30, 2023

The consensus box of Del Mar horse racing picks comes from handicappers Bob Mieszerski, Art Wilson, Terry Turrell and Eddie Wilson. Here are the picks for thoroughbred races on Sunday, July 30, 2023.

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Rams’ defense finding new energy, leaders from youth movement

• July 30, 2023

IRVINE — It started first as a trickle, with linebacker and captain Bobby Wagner agreeing with the Rams to part ways. It picked up steam when the Rams began taking phone calls on cornerback Jalen Ramsey. Then it turned to a flood as Leonard Floyd, Troy Hill, Nick Scott, Taylor Rapp and A’Shawn Robinson departed Los Angeles.

By the time it was done, the veteran Rams defense was all but gone, taking with them 49 years of NFL experience. In their place, as the Rams began training camp this week, were 19 rookies and four second-year players competing for playing time and roster spots.

“It’s different, man. I ain’t gonna lie, it’s really different,” three-time defensive player of the year Aaron Donald said. “You miss them guys definitely when you had so much success with them and you been working with them so long. But now obviously is a new chapter.”

This new chapter has had a certain youthful exuberance to it through the first four days of camp.

Any pass break up of a pass intended for star receiver Cooper Kupp leads to the defense pouring off the sidelines onto the field in celebration. An interception by rookie safety Rashad Torrence led to his unit following him down the field into the opposite end zone. The defense fell to its knees after corner Timarcus Davis dropped an interception.

“We’re just a young energetic group, man,” linebacker Ernest Jones said. “We all care about each other and we’re excited to prove a lot of people wrong and go out there and be dominant like we know we can be.”

“These young guys bring a lot of juice,” Kupp added. “I don’t know a bunch of their references, but they bring some juice.”

If energy is not an issue, then the question becomes, what happens to this defense when it encounters its first level of adversity?

Whether that be in the form of a preseason or regular season game or an injury to an expected contributor, how do these young Rams weather the storm? Who steps up to provide some level of comfort when eyes go wide or coverages get broken?

That will be one the challenges the Rams face this year, finding leaders in a group that is largely trying to find its way in the league. Players in their fourth seasons, like safety Jordan Fuller and outside linebacker Michael Hoecht, or their third, like linebacker Ernest Jones, will have to fill roles vacated by the likes of Wagner and Ramsey.

“I think a lot of those guys do have natural leadership traits and characteristics,” head coach Sean McVay said. “You’re not going to replace a Jalen Ramsey and what a special player that he was for us. Nobody’s going to be Bobby Wagner. But I want them to be the best versions of themself, and if they do that, I am confident that good things can happen.”

Jones has the most responsibility fall onto shoulders just by the nature of his position. As middle linebacker, he receives play calls from defensive coordinator Raheem Morris and relays them to his teammates.

He’s also the only one of the Rams’ seven leading tacklers from a year ago still with the team.

Jones has lofty ambitions for this season, stating that he wants to make himself into “a household name”. But he’s also staying active during his rest periods at practice, calling out encouragement and dapping teammates up during specials team drills.

He says he took aspects of former teammates’ leadership, but is trying not to stray too far away from his own methods.

“These are my brothers, once you’re on this team, I love you and I care about you like I care about myself and always get the job done. That attracts people, I’ve always kind of had that trait or whatnot,” Jones said. “So just having fun around the guys, having fun with them, making sure they’re never too down on themselves.”

“Ernest is a real leader,” Cobie Durant said. “He sets the tone.”

Durant will have a lot thrust on him during his third season. With the departure of Ramsey, the cornerback is moving inside to the star cornerback role.

The position requires that he move around to either side of the field, and he will try to take what Ramsey taught him about communicating to help his teammates settle in prior to the snap.

“When I’m communicating in the change of the strength, star right, star left, go ahead and saying that early on and letting everybody else know where I’m lining up at because it kind of runs through me,” Durant said. “I don’t think it’s no pressure. Football is football at the end of the day. I learned a lot from him, I learned a lot from Troy. Attacking it every day.”

Some position groups find themselves without a player on their second NFL contract. The outside linebackers room has a total of eight years of pro experience across seven players.

But Hoecht, the old man of that unit entering his fourth year, says the group has seen that as an opportunity.

“We all have a lot of ownership over it,” Hoecht said. “We’re all really young, this is [OLBs coach Joe Coniglio’s] first year. There’s not a ton of experience there so we get to make the room exactly how we want it, we get to set the culture, do the things we want to do.”

The lack of experience has led to some dour media projections about the Rams’ defense, ones that Ramsey is sure to send teasing texts to Morris about.

But Morris tries to keep his unit insulated from such press, and he is trying to simplify the verbiage of his defense to allow younger players to thrive. But as a challenge, it’s one that Morris is embracing.

“It’s so funny that I’m becoming this old coach that’s got to be this nice soul in the classroom when I’m talking to them that it’s a formidable way to go about your day. I really enjoy those moments,” Morris, 46, said. “But that energy is what you really love. I enjoy it just so much because I get a chance to watch the guys go out there and have fun.”

Michel to retire

Running back Sony Michel met with McVay on Saturday to inform him of his decision to retire following a five-year career.

Michel, 28, was a member of the Rams’ 2021 Super Bowl team and rejoined the team this training camp after spending 2022 with the Chargers.

“I thought he was a hugely instrumental piece for our Super Bowl team a couple years ago. The epitome of a pro and a great competitor,” McVay said. “His body’s feeling like it’s talking to him and I have nothing but respect and appreciation for the competitor that he is.”

McVay said the Rams will look to add one or two players to the running back room, currently headlined by fourth-year back Cam Akers and complemented by Kyren Williams and Zach Evans. The coach said he wasn’t sure if the Rams would opt for a veteran complement for the group.

Briefly

Cornerback Akhello Witherspoon will be limited moving forward in camp as he adjusts to a cast after having surgery to insert two pins into an injured thumb. Tight end Davis Allen injured his hamstring and McVay said the team will be cautious about returning the rookie to practice.

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Del Mar racing: Senor Buscador comes from behind to win San Diego Handicap

• July 30, 2023

DEL MAR — They say pace makes the race and, according to trainer Todd Fincher, that’s certainly the case with Senor Buscador.

The 5-year-old son of Mineshaft got plenty of early speed to run on Saturday and rallied in the stretch for a 1¼-length victory over Slow Down Andy in the $300,000 Grade II San Diego Handicap at Del Mar.

Ridden by Geovanni Franco, the winner went postward at 13-1 and ran the 1-1/16 miles in 1:42.54 in the major prep race for the $1 million Pacific Classic on Sept. 2.”

The horse ran to his ability,” said Fincher, who is based in New Mexico but has 11 horses in his barn for Del Mar’s 31-day summer meet. “This horse has outstanding talent, he just needs a pace to run at. When you run against Grade I’s, Grade II’s and Grade III’s, you need a pace and we got one. He showed up. He always tries. When things don’t go his way it’s really frustrating because he doesn’t fight through ’em sometimes. This time it set up and he showed what he can do.”

Last in the nine-horse field after the first half mile, Senor Buscador had moved into fourth by the head of the stretch and sailed by Slow Down Andy in the final stages to post his sixth victory in 12 starts and pad his career earnings to $667,427 with the winner’s share of $180,000.

Brickyard Ride, with Umberto Rispoli aboard, set fast fractions of 23.03, 46.30 and 1:10.36 to set it up for Senor Buscador and make the horse’s connections happy they decided to run him in the San Diego rather than wait for a turf race. Brickyard Ride hung around to grab third, 1¾ lengths behind the runner-up.

“We’ve had so many races in mind for the horse,” Fincher said after his first stakes victory at Del Mar. “We were just trying to pick a race that had the speed to set up a decent pace for him. When we nominated it looked like a lot of speed. If not, we were going to go in the Eddie Read, try him on the grass, but this race looked like we were going to have plenty of pace so we went for this.”

Defunded, the 4-5 favorite with Juan Hernandez aboard, finished a disappointing fourth, a half-length behind Brickyard Ride.

Senor Buscador, who finished eighth in last year’s San Diego while finishing 9¾ lengths behind the winner, Royal Ship, won for the first time in three tries over Del Mar’s main surface. It was the first time Franco rode the horse.

“When I asked him at the three-eighths (pole), he just went,” Franco said. “He really dug in. We got it done.”

Asked if Senor Buscador will try the Pacific Classic if he comes out of the race in good shape, Fincher didn’t hesitate.

“That’s a possibility for sure,” he said. “Anything for this horse. We’ll put him wherever we think he can win.”

BING CROSBY STAKES

The Chosen Vron showed he’s not just a Cal-bred specialist, rallying from sixth in the 12-horse lineup to win the $400,000 Grade I sprint by a head over Anarchist. Dr. Schivel, the 9-5 favorite, was another head back in third.

It was the eighth straight victory for the 5-year-old gelded son of Vronsky, who earned an all-expenses paid berth into the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Santa Anita on Nov. 4 with the victory. The previous wins were all against fellow Cal-breds. His second stakes victory against open company (he won the Grade III Affirmed Stakes at Santa Anita in June 2021) was his 13th win in 17 starts and pushed his career earnings over the $1 million mark ($1,032,678).

Spirit of Makena, sent postward as the 4-1 second choice in the wagering, broke slowly and had trouble on the turn for home. Joe Bravo did not persevere with the 5-year-old in the stretch and he finished last.Final time for the 6 furlongs was 1:09.24.

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Dodgers’ Joe Kelly hoping to unlock better results after exit from Chicago

• July 30, 2023

LOS ANGELES ― Joe Kelly would have traded himself and Lance Lynn, too.

On the day the 35-year-old right-hander joined his new – and old – team, Kelly was more than understanding of the circumstances that led the Chicago White Sox to trade him back to the Dodgers on Friday for outfielder Trayce Thompson and minor league pitchers Nick Nastrini and Jordan Leasure.

The Dodgers activated Kelly for Saturday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds and designated pitcher Phil Bickford for assignment in a corresponding move. Lynn is expected to arrive Sunday, then start Tuesday or Wednesday against the Oakland A’s.

By then, the Dodgers will have completed their post-trade deadline roster transformation. Meanwhile, the White Sox will have finished their teardown, having committed to rebuilding after falling more than 10 games out of first place in a weak American League Central.

For Kelly, getting traded was a case of “no hard feelings” – or, rather, no feelings at all.

“I don’t have as much attachment as most people,” he said. “I lack empathy. I’ve heard that multiple times. I don’t get sad at things that make other people sad. I don’t shed tears when other people should shed tears. If I was running a team, the White Sox, I think they’re doing exactly what they need to do. You’ve got free agents, or guys with options – stuff you can get back, build for a new season, add to your team in the future, I think it’s smart to do.”

Kelly emerged as a fan favorite in three seasons with the Dodgers (2019-21), which culminated with a World Series ring in 2020.

Kelly signed with the White Sox as a free agent following the 2021 season. He posted a 5.59 ERA and 1.47 WHIP in 74 appearances over the past two seasons. But he has 41 strikeouts in 29 innings this season and has held batters to a .228 average.

“I think all my numbers on the periphery are the best of my career,” he said. “Best velocity. It’s one of those things you really can’t control. You can control ERA, but sometimes it’s out of your hands.”

Asked about his uptick in velocity – Kelly’s fastball is averaging 99.0 mph this season, matching his 2017 peak – he theorized that “I’ve put my body in better positions mechanically.” He also acknowledged that collaborating with the Dodgers’ pitching coaches could help unlock results he was unable to achieve in Chicago.

Lynn has struggled this season, too. His 6.47 ERA is the highest among pitchers with enough innings to qualify for the ERA title. He also led the AL in hits allowed (130) and MLB in home runs (28) and earned runs (86) allowed at the time of the trade.

“There’s a lot of smart people here where, maybe they’ll show him something that he didn’t even realize or know he was doing wrong,” Kelly said. “Maybe mechanically or the way he was holding his fingers. … It’s going to be fun to watch him get re-energized a little bit.”

Bickford, 28, was originally claimed off waivers from the Milwaukee Brewers in May 2021. He went on to post an excellent 2.50 ERA and 1.033 WHIP in 56 appearances out of the Dodgers’ bullpen. In two seasons since then, Bickford has a 4.89 ERA while rarely appearing in high-leverage situations.

OREL HISTORY

Orel Hershiser was inducted into the “Legends of Dodger Baseball” in a pregame ceremony Saturday. A three-time All-Star, Hershiser is best known for authoring a streak of 59 consecutive scoreless innings, pitching the Dodgers to upset victories in the National League Championship Series and World Series, and winning the NL Cy Young Award in 1988.

Hershiser is now in his 10th season as the Dodgers’ primary color commentator on SportsNet LA, nearly matching his 13 seasons with the Dodgers as a player. While Hershiser has spoken often about his heroics in 1988, the story of how he embarked on a broadcasting career that ultimately led back to Los Angeles has never been told.

Hershiser began contemplating his post-playing career options long before he retired. He would sometimes observe spring training games from the television truck in the parking lot at Vero Beach. He practiced game broadcasts on top of the Holman Stadium press box with teammate Jerry Reuss, who also turned to broadcasting in retirement.

After four years as a pitching coach and front office assistant for the Texas Rangers, Hershiser had an opportunity to continue under first-year General Manager Jon Daniels in 2006. At the urging of his wife, Dana, Hershiser called ESPN’s Chris Berman, with whom Hershiser had already broadcast some Little League World Series games for ESPN.

“(Berman) called Norby Williamson, who was in charge of baseball programming for ESPN. And within a day I was packing up that office and going to ESPN,” Hershiser said.

After eight years as a color analyst with ESPN, Hershiser joined SportsNet LA in 2014.

ALSO

Clayton Kershaw threw a three-inning simulated game against teammates as he attempts to return from a shoulder injury. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that as long as Kershaw remains asymptomatic, he is a candidate to rejoin the rotation without a minor league rehabilitation start. …

Mookie Betts was scratched from the lineup with soreness in his right ankle. Roberts said Betts suffered the injury Friday when he twisted out of the way of an inside pitch. …

Roberts said Lynn, Julio Urías and Tony Gonsolin are scheduled to start in the three-game series against the Oakland A’s in some order.

UP NEXT

Cincinnati Reds (RHP Graham Ashcraft, 5-7, 5.64 ERA) at Dodgers (RHP Michael Grove 2-2, 6.19 ERA), Sunday, 1 p.m., SportsNet LA, 570 AM

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USWNT faces Portugal with Women’s World Cup future still up in the air

• July 30, 2023

By ANNE M. PETERSON AP Sports Writer

AUCKLAND, New Zealand — The United States heads into its final group match at the Women’s World Cup with questions swirling about the team’s tactics.

U.S. coach Vlatko Andonovski started the same lineup against the Netherlands on Thursday that he rolled out for the opening match against Vietnam. While it was enough for the United States to beat the Vietnamese 3-0, it was less successful against the stronger Dutch, and the Americans settled for a 1-1 draw.

That lineup had never played together before the World Cup.

The tie meant that the United States will likely need a more decisive outcome on Tuesday against Portugal to finish atop Group E and secure a favorable path in the knockout round. Going into the game, advancing out of the group wasn’t a given for the two-time defending World Cup champions.

In addition to the same starters, Andonovski made just one substitution in the game against the Dutch, bringing on midfielder Rose Lavelle to start the second half. But no fresh legs were subbed in even after players showed fatigue. Forwards Lynn Williams and Megan Rapinoe remained on the sidelines.

He was asked about the strategy afterward.

“I just didn’t want to disrupt the rhythm at that point because sometimes a substitute comes in and it might take a minute or two to get into a rhythm,” he said. “We just didn’t want to jeopardize anything because I thought all three of our forwards were very good, dangerous, created opportunities and were a handful.”

It was the first time that the United States had made just one or fewer substitutions in a World Cup game since 2007.

Known in 2019 for jumping on World Cup opponents early, the Americans did not score against the Dutch until the second half when they were already down 1-0.

Lavelle is one of the team’s top midfielders and made an immediate impact in the game — boosting the energy and feeding the attack — and the United States looked like that 2019 championship team again. She served up a corner kick to Lindsey Horan, angry about getting knocked down by a Dutch player moments before, for the game-tying goal in the 62nd minute.

Lavelle had a knee injury going into the World Cup and hadn’t played since April. She’s been on a minutes restriction and Andonovski has been starting Savannah DeMelo, one of the teams’ 14 players making their first-ever appearance in the World Cup.

DeMelo hadn’t played in a match with the national team until the send-off game against Wales in San Jose, the day the team departed for the World Cup.

“I think we weren’t in sync,” midfielder Andi Sullivan said. “That happens, and we were able to adjust and respond. Hopefully, we can do that earlier in the future. And I think that’s also a great strength of this team — we have lots of different ways we can do that together.”

Andonovski said the team can build off that second half against the Dutch in Wellington.

“Even though it didn’t finish the way we wanted to finish I thought it was a very good match for our team and especially for a group of young players. They grew throughout the game, individually, but also as a team we grew throughout the game as well,” Andonovski said. “I’ve said this before, this team is not just young. This team is also a fresh team that hasn’t spent a lot of minutes together. What you saw in the second half is what you’re going to see going forward as a best baseline. I think that we’re just going to get better from game to game and we’re gonna be a lot more efficient as well.”

Portugal fell 1-0 in its opening match against the Dutch, then defeated Vietnam 2-0 on Thursday in Hamilton. The victory knocked Vietnam out of the next round.

The United States sits atop Group E, even on points — four — with the Netherlands but edging the Dutch on goal differential. Portugal, third in the group with three points, could leap in front of the U.S. with a win at Auckland’s Eden Park.

The Dutch play Vietnam in an earlier game Tuesday in Dunedin.

Telma Encarnacao and Kika Nazareth each scored in the match against Vietnam, which made history as Portugal’s first win in its first World Cup appearance.

“We are aware of what awaits us, but we are focused on ourselves, which is very important,” Nazareth told reporters at training on Saturday. “We will enter the field respecting the opponent, with humility, but always with character and personality. The work will be there, the talent is there. And I think you also always need a little bit of luck. It’s believing.”

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Costa Mesa police investigating after swastikas found spray-painted on car

• July 30, 2023

Costa Mesa police are investigating after a car at an apartment complex was spray-painted with swastikas this week, authorities said.

The vandalism, which also included slashed tires and a broken back window, occurred in the 1700 block of Santa Ana Avenue sometime between 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 25 and 7 a.m. Wednesday, July 26, Costa Mesa police said in a Saturday statement.

A photo of the car has been circulating on social media, with a Tweet about it under the profile, StopAntisemitism.

No this isn’t 1939 Germany but Costa Mesa, CA 2023.

Residents of the Ava apartment complex woke up this morning to find a car spray painted with swastikas.

Antisemitism and hate based incidents are sky rocketing in California and throughout the United States as a whole. Those… pic.twitter.com/hFBVYyDawe

— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) July 28, 2023

Roxi Fyad, a spokeswoman for the Costa Mesa Police Department, said police do not have a suspect description in the case. Officers took a report and investigators processed the scene.

“We condemn this act of vandalism and the use of this abhorrent and hurtful symbol,” the police department said in its statement.

An audit of Antisemitic incidents in 2022 by the Anti-Defamation League showed there were 518 incidents in California, a 41% increase from 2021. Only New York had more, with 580 incidents last year.

Of the California incidents, 178 involved vandalism, according to the audit.

Nationwide, acts of Antisemitic vandalism were up 51% over 2022, with those involving swastikas specifically up 37%, according to the ADL.

Anyone with information regarding the Costa Mesa crime is asked to call police at 714-754-5205.

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Home audio: Try these inexpensive speakers for outdoor listening

• July 30, 2023

My wife, Patti, likes to listen to music while she gardens in the backyard. She can listen through her phone’s speakers, but even though modern smartphone speakers have gotten better, they’re still not that great, especially at loud volumes. So, to allow Patti to listen to music or audiobooks while picking blueberries and watering her tomatoes, I decided it was time to get a portable Bluetooth speaker.

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There are many to choose from, including several high-end products costing $200 or more. Some of these might be the right choice for use in the home, but background music while gardening isn’t exactly critical listening, so I opted to try out some inexpensive models. To my surprise, I was able to find several good choices for under $50. I found one decent one for $29. These are the current prices. I got mine for a lot less during Amazon’s Prime Day sale.

All of them can easily connect to a smartphone or any other device capable of driving Bluetooth speakers or headphones. All have rechargeable batteries, and the ones I tried out all have a USB power connector that uses the same “power brick” as smartphones.

There are two types of USB connectors used in today’s speakers. One is an older MicroUSB plug, but the plug I prefer is the newer-style USB C connector. MicroUSB, which is pretty much being phased out, was once the standard for Android phones. But now, USB C has become the standard for most new products, except iPhones and iPads, in the United States. And it’s been reported that Apple will adopt USB C in future US iPhones and iPads. USB C is also emerging as a standard for laptops from many companies, including Apple.

After testing several speakers, I settled on the $42 Sony SRS-XB13. A very close runner-up was the $50 stereo Soundcore 3 by Anker. I was also impressed by the $42 Soundcore Anker Mini 3. The fourth-place contender was the $29 stereo Raymate Bluetooth Speaker.

I also tried out the older $39 Anker Soundcore 2 stereo speaker, which has a MicroUSB connector. If you don’t care about USB C, then definitely consider saving money on the otherwise excellent Soundcore 2.

All the speakers I tested are water resistant, and the Sony is also dust resistant. All are likely to survive a brief dunk in water or an errant spray from Patti’s garden hose. All of these speakers advertise long battery life, ranging from 15 to 24 hours, although there is often a significant difference between advertised battery life and what you get in real life.

The Sony model and the Soundcore Anker Mini 3 are round monaural speakers that resemble a miniature subwoofer but handle the full range of frequencies from high treble to low bass. Frankly, it was hard to pick a winner in terms of sound quality. The Soundcore Mini 3 is a little smaller and slightly lighter, but the Sony comes in more colors and has a longer strap, which made it easy to hang on the handlebar of my bicycle to be entertained on my ride. Earbuds and headphones are illegal on bikes in California if worn on both ears, but I don’t know of any law against a speaker, although I wouldn’t use one on a bike path, out of courtesy to others. It’s also considerate to not disturb others if you’re using a speaker in your yard or a public place.

The Anker 3 and the Raymate have stereo speakers, but because the speakers are fairly close to each other, the sound separation isn’t very prominent, especially if you’re a few feet away. I love stereo, but I didn’t find the stereo on these units to be a compelling reason to buy them unless you plan to be right near the speaker as you listen.

These are just a few of the many options you’ll find if you look on Amazon or other e-tailers websites. I don’t recommend any of them for audiophiles looking for the best possible sound quality, but even though I appreciate high-end sound, I am happy with the quality of these speakers for outdoor use such as at a party or by the pool.

All of these speakers require that you have your smartphone within Bluetooth range, which can vary depending on obstacles, but it will usually cover a backyard. If you’re using your phone on a sunny day, I recommend you keep it away from direct sunlight so it doesn’t overheat. Both iPhones’ SIRI and Android’s “Hey Google” allow you to use your voice to select your music, which can be handy if your hands are busy tending the garden.

If you want an entirely phone-free and hands-free experience, you can opt for an Amazon Echo or Google Nest speaker connected to an electrical outlet or an external battery, as long as you’re able to connect to a WiFi network. Batteries for some Echo and Nest models start at about $16.

Of course, there is a low-tech alternative. Patti sometimes enjoys silence or the sound of birds chirping as she gardens.

Larry Magid is a tech journalist and internet safety activist.

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