Archive for 22. July 2008
Red Bulls win & lose in tie to Galaxy
22. July 2008 by critter.
The Red Bulls hosted David Beckham and Landon Donovan with the rest of the LA Galaxy this past weekend @ Giants Stadium. The match saw the Red Bulls’ defense shut down the Galaxy leaving very few scoring chances. Posession was pretty even throughout. In an end-to-end play the Bulls saw a scoring opportunity turn into a goal against when Carlos Ruiz managed to bang in some trash by Jon Conway.
Within minutes however the Bulls saw their newest acquisition, Jorge Rojas, already start to pay off. Rojas took the ball from midfield and setup Dave van den Bergh with a behind the back pass which van den Bergh drilled from outside the box to tie it up.
Play went even well through half time, with Beckham and Donovan having little opportunity to really produce. In the 70th minute, newly appointed captain, Juan Pablo Angel, put on a dribbling clinic practically on the goal line and put in the go-ahead tally (again set up by Jorge Rojas).
The following minutes saw a couple of chances for the Bulls to go ahead by 2 scores. But excessive dribbling and unwillingness to put an off-foot on the ball led to a missed opportunity, and Jorge Rojas volleyed a beautifully set up ball from point blank range (with an open net) over the goal. But most importantly, the Bulls continued attacking and played excellent defense against the Galaxy.
Of course things finally fell apart in stoppage time. Injuries during regulation led to over 3 minutes being put on the clock and the Galaxy went all out, pushing their defenders far up into the offensive zone. And with about a minute left, Landon Donovan chipped a ball from the left right across the mouth of the goal with a striker trying to put a head on it. Jon Conway made his lone mistake of the match and set up to make the play as if the ball would be headed. Instead, the striker barely missed the ball and it wound up just slowly rolling into the far corner of the goal and left EVERYONE stunned.
As if they hadn’t learned enough to never underestimate the greatness of Donovan, the Galaxy came right back in the final minute and the ball squirted outside the box on the left side once again to Donovan who drilled a shot that rang of the left post of the goal and bounced far out. Seconds later the ref called final time and the teams marched off in a 2 - 2 tie.
For the Red Bulls to score multiple goals against this team and shut down the Galaxy offense for most of the match was a real sign of life. Jorge Rojas has already contributed to the offensive game they were hoping he would bring. Things are looking up for the Red Bulls. Even though it’s disappointing to let the win slip away in stoppage time, you could tell the Red Bulls were pumped with the outcome.
Games break for the MLS all-star game this Thursday in Toronto, and the Red Bulls are back in action for the 2nd half of the season on Sunday the 27th @ San Jose.
Mets and Phillies face off for lead in East
22. July 2008 by Glendo.
An opportunity sits at Johan Santana’s feet. It will be at Shea Stadium on Tuesday, and thanks to a lengthy pre-break winning streak started the very next game after Santana’s Independence Day no-decision, the Mets have a chance to seize control of the National League East.
Johan will get things started for the Mets tonight in a big series with the Phillies. Santana, often hurt by home runs, surrendered consecutive home runs along with a single, double, and triple in one grotesque inning, the fourth, against the Reds Thursday. He allowed five runs, equaling the most he allowed in any start this season, but for the first time, all five runs were earned. He threw 92 pitches on a warm night. With an off-day Monday, he should be fully rested for the Phillies. He has allowed five runs and no walks and struck out 16 in 15 innings in two starts — a victory and a no-decision — against the Phillies this year.
This series will feature some interesting pitching matchups. The Phillies will throw Joe Blanton in game one, his Philly debut and Brett Myers will make his return on Wednesday for the Phils. The Mets will give the ball to Maine and Perez for games 2 and 3. Maine will look to rebound from Fridays loss to the Reds and Perez will try to keep up his solid pitching of late.
MATCHUP
Philadelphia Phillies (53-46, 1st Place NL East) at New York Mets (53-46, 1st Place NL East)
Tonight: Phillies (Joe Blanton, 5-12, 4.96) at Mets (Johan Santana, 8-7, 3.10) 7:10pm ET
Wed: Phillies (Brett Myers, 3-9, 5.84) at Mets (John Maine, 8-7, 4.22) 7:10pm ET
Thurs: Phillies (Jamie Moyer, 9-6, 3.90) at Mets (Oliver Perez, 6-6, 4.36) 12:10pm ET
Posada out for the season?
22. July 2008 by gchacko.
Tough news for the Yankees - catcher Jorge Posada is headed back to the DL and is considering season-ending shoulder surgery. Jose Molina can certainly handle the job in the short-term, but the Yankees may want to replace Posada’s bat.
Giants Trade Shockey To New Orleans
22. July 2008 by gchacko.
SI.com - Jeremy Shockey was traded to the Saints for two draft picks Monday.
The Giants will receive second- and fifth-round picks in the 2009 draft. The deal must be approved by the league and is contingent on Shockey passing a physical.
Shockey, a four-time Pro Bowl selection who spent six seasons with the Giants, broke his leg against the Washington Redskins on Dec. 16.
