LOS ANGELES -- Garrett Richards claims he gave little thought to his first career shutout until the final out settled into Albert Pujols glove at first base. He figures he will have the whole rest of his life to savour his milestone accomplishment at Dodger Stadium. Richards pitched a five-hitter, Mike Trout and Pujols had RBI doubles in a four-run first inning, and the Los Angeles Angels opened the Freeway Series with a 5-0 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday night. Richards (12-4) was dominant in his first nine-inning complete game, striking out nine and retiring 15 of 16 in the middle innings with a fastball regularly hitting 98 mph. He finished his first victory in four starts by getting pinch-hitter Andre Ethier on a groundout with his 122nd pitch. "Thats faith in me, and thats important to me," Richards said. "Going back out (for the ninth), I was just worried about winning the ballgame." Richards even outpitched Zack Greinke (12-7), who yielded six hits and three earned runs in seven innings despite giving up just two hits after that messy first inning. A day after scoring five runs in the first inning at Tampa Bay, the Angels had another quick start on the road. They led 4-0 after four hits, two unearned runs, two wild pitches by Greinke and two horrible fielding misplays from Carl Crawford and Hanley Ramirez. "(Greinke) just made two mistakes to two really amazing hitters, and they made him pay for those mistakes," Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis said. "After that, he was lights out." Richards took control from there, allowing just one runner to reach third base. "He is driven," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "Garrett wants to be good. He has a lot of confidence in what he can do." Josh Hamilton homered in the sixth for the Angels, who improved the majors second-best record to 67-44 with their seventh win in 10 games. Los Angeles two teams both appear headed for the playoffs in the same season for the first time since 2009, with the Dodgers sitting atop the NL standings and the Angels chasing down the Oakland Athletics. TAGGING UP: Pujols had a little fun with Yasiel Puig, tagging up from first base when the Dodgers centre fielder was slow to return a long fly ball to the infield in the eighth inning. "Thats how you play the game," Pujols said. "He can have fun, too. Im having fun. He can do whatever he wants." Two innings earlier, Puig playfully wagged his finger from centre field when Erick Aybar thought about making the same tag-up move from first base. When he got lazy in the eighth, even the slow-footed Pujols could run on him. Between innings, Pujols appeared to mock Puig for his lackadaisical catch on the fly, but Pujols bristled when asked about it after the game. "He just got a lesson, and hopefully he learns it," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said of Puig. "Albert basically embarrassed him right there." HEARING BOOS: Trout was heartily booed when he stepped to the plate or appeared on the Dodgers video boards, an unusual sound for the popular All-Star outfielder. "Its how baseball should be," Trout said. "Its rivalries, crosstown. Its fun for me with the fans involved. It pumps me up when you hear them." TRAINERS ROOM: Angels: Reliever Mike Morin said he cut his foot while walking on a Florida beach with friends last weekend, sending him to the disabled list for two weeks. Dodgers: Reliever Chris Perez went on the disabled list with bone spurs in his right ankle. ON DECK: Angels: Hector Santiago (3-7, 3.76 ERA) looks to build on his summer surge after his 0-7 start. With Tyler Skaggs on the disabled list, the Angels are counting on him. Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw (13-2, 1.71) claimed the NLs previous two pitcher-of-the-month awards and hasnt lost since May 28, but the vaunted left-hander hasnt faced the Angels since 2011. . Here are some of the best from Week One and some to watch in Week Two: TOP PERFORMERS Anthony Allen, RB, Saskatchewan (176 YDS, 2 TD, 30 touches vs. Hamilton) - Powerfully-built back burst onto the scene in his CFL debut, after a couple of years in the NFL, playing 21 games with the Baltimore Ravens. . Although the deal cannot be made official until the free agent moratorium period is lifted on July 10, Patterson has agreed to a three-year, $18 million extension to remain in Toronto, sources confirm to TSN.
http://www.officialflyersfanstore.com/a ... -jersey/.Y. - Peyton Manning made his fifth MVP award a family affair. . Replay backed him up. Adeiny Hechavarria immediately followed the ruling with a go-ahead sacrifice fly for the Miami Marlins, who held on to beat the Seattle Mariners 3-2 on Sunday completing a three-game sweep. . Make that, almost always subjective. Saturday at Carrow Road, the spirit of fair play trumped the rulebook, costing Norwich City three points.BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Will Sheehey scored 19 of his career-high 30 points in the first half and Stanford Robinson added a career-best 17 to lead Indiana over No. 20 Iowa 93-86 on Thursday night in a game that was postponed last week. The Hoosiers (16-12, 6-9 Big Ten) went on a 9-0 run in the second half, capped by a 3-pointer from Evan Gordon that gave them a 62-60 lead with 13:13 remaining. Roy Devyn Marble had 20 points and Aaron White added 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Hawkeyes (19-9, 8-7), who have lost three straight. The Hoosiers scored six straight points to take a 77-69 lead when Robinson converted a three-point play. Sheehey dunked to give Indiana an 82-73 advantage with 1:35 remaining. The game originally was slated for last week but was postponed after an 8-foot, 50-pound steel plate fell from the ceiling of Assembly Hall about 6 1/2 hours before the scheduled start. The plate was reinforced with four additional bolts, Indiana athletic director Fred Glass said before Thursdays tipoff. Three other steel plates that were found to be loose and those were taken down, inspected, and reinforced to the ceiling with additional bolts as well, Glass said. Melting snow and ice pushed water behind the steel plate, jarring it loose. Glass said the tops of the plates were shaved off, allowing more room between the ceiling and the plate itself. The Hawkeyes had a chance to move up in the league standings with No. 22 Ohio States 65-63 loss at Penn State on Thursday night. But the Hoosieers, who have had struggles of their own, knocked off a Top 25 team for the third time this season.dddddddddddd The Hawkeyes closed the first half on a 9-0 run. Zach McCabe hit a 3-pointer and White dunked twice, including one with 1:16 left to put Iowa ahead 50-49. Gabriel Olaseni scored on a hook shot to make it 52-49 at halftime. The Hawkeyes went on a 6-0 spurt early in the second half to take a 58-51 lead on a basket by Mike Gesell and two more by Melsahn Basabe. Robinson dunked for Indiana and White dunked for the Hawkeyes before Indianas 9-0 run to take the lead. Robinson made a layup, Sheehey hit a 3 and Jeremy Hollowell sank a free throw before Gordons go-ahead 3. Gordon took a charge from Jarrod Uthoff, but Marble grabbed a steal from Yogi Ferrell and scored to tie the game at 62. Basabe gave the Hawkeyes a 66-64 lead on a putback, but it didnt last long as Indiana went on a 7-2 run. Devin Davis converted a three-point play and Gordon made a layup. White hit two free throws before Sheehey made a basket to make it 74-69. Rescheduling the game with the Hoosiers hasnt done any favours for the Hawkeyes, who host Purdue on Sunday before going to Michigan State next Thursday for the first of two games in three days. The Hawkeyes wrap up the regular season at home against Illinois on March 8. The two weeks leading up to the Big Ten tournament arent much better for the Hoosiers. They host Ohio State on Sunday, Nebraska on Wednesday and then go to Michigan on March 8. ' ' '
