Cambodia

How many Cambodian citizens died between 1975 and 1979? We will probably never know. They died because of the warped, ill-considered and soulless philosophy of the eerie Khmer Rouge that emerged in the country because of a power vacuum, dire poverty and the proximity of both Maoist China and the wreckage that was Vietnam with its own "killing fields" - courtesy of the USA.

To the west of this poor little county, sandwiched between Thailand and Vietnam is the massive Angkor Wat temple complex, mainly built during the twelfth century and at first inspired by Hinduism. Satellite temples are located many miles distant from the central buildings. Some of these structures were once forgotten, consumed by tropical jungle.

This is where I have chosen to go in my last full week in South East Asia. The flights are booked and so are the hotels. It will be another adventure which of course I hope to survive even though there are some dangers in Cambodia - aggressive beggars, unexploded land mines, a corrupt and largely ineffective police force, a whole range of rip-off merchants, thieves and touts. But I cling firmly to the belief that wherever you go in the world, the vast majority of people are essentially good.

This afternoon the international school had its Awards Ceremony in the nearby Sofitel ballroom. It was packed. Perhaps six hundred seats were taken. Pupils, parents and staff. The headteacher and his deputy wore absurd academic gowns. I wore the stylish blue linen mix jacket that was tailored for me by "Boss" at Sukhumvit - probably Bangkok's trendiest street. You will be happy to know that I looked very smart and had even remembered to zip up my flyhole!

The buffet nosh afterwards was wonderful. So many man and woman hours must have gone into the creation of top quality tiny savouries and desserts. It all looked amazing and there was plenty to go round. I kept sidling over to try this and that - very casually as if I wasn't interested in buffet food at all. Is it possible to stuff a Yorkshire pudding to bursting point at a finger buffet? That seemed to be the experiment I was conducting.

Only a day and a half to go. In some ways, I don't want my time at that lovely school to end. It has been the perfect antidote to the "shit sandwich" effect that I endured in my last two or three years as a Head of English in Sheffield, Yorkshire. How sad then, that some of my temporary colleagues in Bangkok waste much energy on back-biting, gossip and letting off of steam. They'd be better off smiling - here in the "land of smiles" and just getting on with the job. They are so fortunate.

Mommy, Why is that Man Kissing Another Man?

My cousin, who has a 4-year-old daughter, recently asked me for advice on how to answer the question, "Mommy, why is that man kissing another man?" 

In light of recent achievements in the gay rights movement, such as New York State finally legalizing gay marriage, I feel I must address this topic here. 

That my cousin's daughter lives in a world where two men are now comfortable kissing each other in public is not something I take for granted. I did not grow up in such a world. I did not see two people of the same gender kissing each other until I got to college. Where I grew up, it was okay to use the word "gay" to describe variations of weak or undesirable behavior. Making fun of boys or girls who did not fit their gender's stereotypes was a normal occurrence. At best, a teacher might interfere if she or he overheard something disrespectful, but the emphasis was usually on avoiding conflict rather than raising awareness about intolerance and bigotry. My psyche still registers "relationship" as something that happens between a man and a woman, and I have to actually make an effort to expand my own allegedly open-minded awareness. 

My own parents were not exemplary in their vision and (mis)understanding of homosexuality. When my mother explained it to me, she did it the way most Catholic Brazilian mothers do: Homosexuality was an abnormality that caused a great deal of suffering and it would be a terrible, terrible thing if my brother or I turned out to be gay. My father, too, did not think twice before making offensive remarks about gay people, unknowingly sending us the message that it was okay to see them as lesser than straight people. 

During my time at Graded, my high school, I did not know any openly gay students. In health class, I was taught about birth control and STD prevention, but the subject of sexuality and sexual options  that were not heterosexual were barely touched upon. If I had ever wondered about my sexuality, I would not have had a single person I felt comfortable talking to about it. When, after I had already graduated, a close friend of mine came out while still in high school, I was astounded by her bravery. I never felt Graded, or any high school for that matter, was a safe environment for gay people. 

When I got to Sarah Lawrence, the parameters of my reality changed completely. First, I learned that homosexuality was not abnormal, disgusting, or sinful. Second, I learned that there were very serious injustices against gay people, ranging from the kind of prejudice I had been raised in, to much bigger issues, where they were legally made to believe they were not entitled to the same rights as heterosexual people. As I befriended, lived with, and loved many gay people while I was there, I saw gay rights as human rights, and I felt their outrage and pain as my own. 

I used to think that when someone used the words, “fag,” “fruit,” “dike,” or other such atrocities, that it wasn’t my place to tell them not to. I certainly didn't think it was my place to get angry at them. I didn’t give much thought to “don’t ask, don’t tell,” or to the fact that two people who loved each other could not get married if they were of the same gender. Sarah Lawrence changed me. New York changed me. I know now that not only is it my place to correct offenders and to stand up to prejudice and injustice; it is my responsibility as a human being to do so. Inaction is a form of allowance and encouragement, and that is no longer acceptable to me. 

So when my cousin asked for my advice, I told her she had a big responsibility in her hands. What she tells her daughter is just as important as what a state’s law tells its citizens. The same place where prejudice is birthed is also where it is prevented. It may be a long time before a Disney movie tells a love story between two people of the same sex, and it may be a long time before a gay person is elected president of the United States, but raising children to see homosexuality as being just as normal as heterosexuality is a battle we can win today.  

What would I tell my child? 

Love is love. It manifests in all forms, between all people. Desire is desire. It does not belong only to people of opposite sexes. Be true to yourself, and always respect others. Intolerance is a weapon of ignorance that weakens the heart and limits the mind. In this life, we must stand for something, and I stand for a world where everyone is free to love whoever they love and safe to be exactly who they are. 

Click here for a list of gay rights organizations around the world.

Tigers notes and quotes from Monday night's win | Detroit Free Press | freep.com

Tigers notes and quotes from Monday night's win | Detroit Free Press | freep.com

At Comerica Park

WHAT HAPPENED: Victor Martinez started the scoring with an RBI double to left-center that reached the wall and scored a huffing and puffing Miguel Cabrera in the second. Martinez added another RBI single in the third to give starter Max Scherzer a 2-0 lead. The Blue Jays got a run back on a double by Eric Thames, a wild pitch by Scherzer and a bounce out by Jose Bautista, then tied it up on a homer by Adam Lind, all in the fourth inning.

Jhonny Peralta’s triple in the bottom of the eighth scored pinch-runner Austin Jackson and proved to be the winning run.

Magglio Ordoñez, who had two hits, had singled with one out in the eighth and Jackson, pinch-running for the rightfielder, stole second and scored on Peralta’s hit, which skipped under the mitt of Jose Bautista and went to the right-centerfield wall.

• BOX SCORE

.300: Brennan Boesch hit a dribbler down the third-base line in the third inning that stayed fair for a single, lifting his average to .300. Boesch got another hit later and finished the game at .301.

DAY OFF: After striking out four times Sunday against Arizona, lead-off man and centerfielder Austin Jackson was given the day off with Andy Dirks taking his place at both positions. Don Kelly started in place of Brandon Inge at third base to keep his bat sharp.

WHAT A RELIEF: Scherzer had a good game, giving up two runs over seven innings, but the bullpen won it. Joaquin Benoit (2-3) pitched a scoreless eighth and picked up the victory, and Jose Valverde came on in the ninth and got his 18th save. Valverde allowed runners to get to the corners with one out, but induced a double-play ball from Juan Rivera to end it.

FURBUSH A STARTER? One day Charlie Furbursh could be in the Tigers rotation.

“I thought there was a strong possibility from what I saw and what I’ve seen in Furbush -- I thought he was a reliever, but I think he’s a starter,” manager Jim Leyland said. “To get him some innings like I have to this point, two or three at a time sometimes, I think it’ll be beneficial to him instead of making him a lefty specialist. I should have two of the three lefties available everyday. I would not put Furbush in relief situations only in the future. I think he’s a potential starter.”

GET THAT OUT OF YOUR MIND: Leyland reiterated that Justin Verlander wouldn’t start or be pitching in the All-Star game because his last start is Sunday, two days before the event in Arizona. He can dress and take part in all the festivities, but he won’t be on the mound.

ONE MAN’S OPINION: Leyland said he wasn’t trying to offend anyone or start a controversy, but when asked about how the All-Star game participants should be selected, he said: “The managers and coaches around the league should do it.

“I’m sure a lot of people will take offense to that, and I’m not looking to open up a can of worms, but I’m just saying I have my reasons for saying that. Sometimes with the fans it becomes a popularity contest, and if you have the players vote, certain players might not like certain players and they might not vote for them. The fans vote and I’m fine with that. I like the fact that all 25 uniforms are represented.”

EARLY SHOWER:Leyland was ejected in the seventh after a long argument that included a mocking impersonation of first base umpire Ed Rapuano changing his call on a close play.

THREE STARS: 1. Peralta; 2. Scherzer; 3. Ordoñez.

Detroit Free Press news services contributed to this report.

Join Free Press special writer Anthony Fenech for a live blog of the Tigers-Mets game Thursday afternoon at freep.com/sports.

Acrobatic first pitch part of Cirque du PETCO | MLB.com: News

By Mark Thompson / MLB.com

SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego Padres welcomed 10 artists from the resident production of KA by Cirque du Soleil at MGM Grand in Las Vegas to PETCO Park on Monday for the Padres' contest with the Royals.

It's the first performance by the KA artists, who participated in pregame elements like a brief performance before the game, the ceremonial first pitch, the national anthem and tossing T-shirts to fans during the seventh-inning stretch.

KA is a gravity-defying production that features a blend of high-flying feats, puppetry, projections and martial arts.

Gabryel Nogueira da Silva handled ceremonial first pitch honors by doing an acrobatic 360-degree backflip on the mound and subsequently throwing a strike.

Padres fans who purchased game tickets with the promotional code CIRQUE had the opportunity to meet the artists in specially designated sections of the ballpark.

Mark Thompson is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Los Angeles Sparks' Candace Parker out 6 weeks with torn meniscus - ESPN Los Angeles

Los Angeles Sparks' Candace Parker out 6 weeks with torn meniscus - ESPN Los Angeles

Los Angeles Sparks forward Candace Parker will miss approximately six weeks due to a torn lateral meniscus in her right knee, the team announced Monday evening.

An MRI earlier Monday revealed the injury.

"I appreciate all of the kind thoughts and prayers that have come my way in the last 24 hours. They have truly helped," Parker said. "I look forward to picking up where I left off and contending for a WNBA championship."

Parker, who was limited to 10 games last year due to a shoulder injury, suffered the injury after grabbing a defensive rebound with 5:56 to go in the third quarter and making contact with New York's Quanitra Hollingsworth.

After staying down while holding her knee for a few minutes, she limped off the court and went to the locker room and did not return. The Sparks announced later Sunday that Parker would have the MRI in Los Angeles on Monday.

"We look forward to Candace making a full recovery," Sparks vice president and general manager Penny Toler said.

The Sparks have lost consecutive contests to start a seven-game road swing that continues at Connecticut on Tuesday night.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Soccer news and notes, June 27

After meeting in the first round at the last three Women's World Cups, the United States should know everything it needs to about North Korea.

Not even close.

There's an air of mystery surrounding the Americans' opponent in their World Cup opener today in Germany.

North Korea plays few games, five in the last six months, giving opponents little opportunity to scout. None of the players plays overseas professionally. Only two have World Cup experience.

North Korea is also the youngest team in the tournament, with 14 players 20 or younger. Only five players have 10 or more appearances with the senior national team.

"It's really difficult when you don't see much of a team and you're not familiar with how they play," defender Ali Krieger said Monday after the U.S. training session at Rudolf-Harbig Stadium in Dresden. "We might get some nerves because you don't know what to expect."

The United States is concentrating on two recent North Korean games - against Germany and China - and figuring that's the lineup they'll face this time.

"They are technical, they're comfortable with the ball, they're reading the game very well, and I think they're one of the best teams in the world between the boxes," U.S. coach Pia Sundhage said.

The Americans have played North Korea three times, all at the World Cup. The United States won the first two games 3-0. But at the 2007 World Cup, the Americans went down 2-1 before Heather O'Reilly scored to salvage a draw. The North Koreans won the Under-20 title in 2006, and were second to the Americans - in 2008.

Cal alum Alex Morgan was part of the '08 U-20 team, scoring the game-winner in the final.

"I don't remember too much. I just remember winning," Morgan said. "What I remember most is ... they love to play one-touch. They have some speed up top. ... They are physical, but aren't afraid to dive a little bit."

More World Cup: A 30-yard blast from Monica Ocampo gave Mexico a 1-1 draw with England in Wolfsburg, Germany, and a curling free kick from Aya Miyama sent Japan past New Zealand 2-1 in Bochum, Germany.

Relegation riots: The mayhem that swept River Plate's stadium following the famed Buenos Aires club's relegation left 89 people injured and 55 people detained by police. There are suggestions the seating capacity of 40,000 was exceeded by 12,000 at the stadium that will hold the Copa America final July 24. On Monday, River Plate coach Juan Jose Lopez resigned.

MLS: D.C. United acquired playmaker Dwayne De Rosario from the New York Red Bulls in exchange for midfielder Dax McCarty. De Rosario is a two-time MLS Cup MVP winner with 80 goals and 56 assists in 11 MLS seasons - five in San Jose. ... The Earthquakes traded starting defender Brandon McDonald to D.C. United in exchange for allocation money. ... Galaxy goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts will undergo surgery today on a fractured left forearm that he sustained in Saturday's 0-0 draw in San Jose.

This article appeared on page B - 6 of the San Francisco Chronicle

Indians-Diamondbacks Preview - June 28, 2011 - MLB - CBSSports.com

TIME: 09:40 P.M. EST
VENUE: Chase Field

Probable Starters
Josh Tomlin, RHP	2011 stats 95.2 Innings Pitched 108.0 9-4 Wins-Losses 9-5 3.95 Earned Run Average 3.58 12 Walks 25 54 Strikeouts 87 91 Pitches Per Start 106 Career vs. opponent - Innings Pitched - --- Wins-Losses --- - Earned Run Average -	Daniel Hudson, RHP

Arizona's Daniel Hudson and Cleveland's Josh Tomlin are big reasons their respective teams are contending for division titles.

One of the right-handers could become the majors' latest 10-game winner when the Indians and Diamondbacks continue their series Tuesday night at Chase Field.

Since posting a 5.92 ERA while losing his first four starts of 2011, Hudson (9-5, 3.58 ERA) is 9-1 with a 2.90 ERA in his last 12 outings. He's 6-0 over his last eight, and has allowed five runs in 22 innings to win his last three starts.

Hudson gave up three runs in seven innings of a 5-3 victory at Kansas City on Thursday.

"I'm sure he'll (Hudson) tell you he wasn't real happy," Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said.

Gibson knows the 24-year-old pretty well.

"I probably had my worst command of the year," said Hudson, who nonetheless only walked one batter. "Just pushed through it, tried to battle through it.

"(It's) just more of a fact of getting into a rhythm and trying to throw the ball over the plate more."

Hudson hopes to find a rhythm in his first appearance against Tomlin (9-4, 3.95) and the Indians, who won Monday's series opener 5-4.

Tomlin has allowed four runs over 13 innings while winning his last two starts after giving up six runs in each of his previous three outings. He yielded three runs off two homers in 6 1-3 innings of a 4-3 victory over Colorado on Wednesday.

Tomlin has pitched at least five innings in 27 consecutive starts, and will tie Boston's Daisuke Matsuzaka for the longest such streak to begin a career if he can last that long Tuesday.

"With Tomlin, I know what I'm going to get. ... I've never had to go out there and get him before the fifth," manager Manny Acta told the Indians' official website. "He makes our job easier."

Orlando Cabrera made life slightly easier for the Indians (41-36) after his tiebreaking solo homer in the ninth inning Monday helped them snap a three-game skid. Cleveland remained one game behind first-place Detroit in the AL Central.

Asdrubal Cabrera added a two-run homer and prized third base prospect Lonnie Chisenhall went 2 for 4 with an RBI in his major league debut.

Chisenhall, who batted .265 with seven homers and 44 RBIs in 65 games for Triple-A Columbus, was brought up to add a spark to a Cleveland offense that totaled four runs and 13 hits while being swept in San Francisco over the weekend.

"He has the ability to be a very good hitter at this level," Acta said. "I mean, a good player overall. You don't get picked in the first round just by having a cool name."

TV Schedule
Away: STO Network	Home: FOX Sports Arizona

Standings
Team	Standings	W	L	Pct.	GB	L 10	Strk
Cleveland	2nd AL Central	41	36	.532	1	5-5	W 1
Arizona	2nd NL West	43	37	.538	2	5-5	L 3

Kelly Johnson had a game-tying triple in the eighth Monday for the Diamondbacks (43-37), who dropped their third in a row to fall two games behind the first-place Giants in the NL West. Johnson represented the potential go-ahead run on third base with no outs after his triple, but did not score. The Diamondbacks are 4 for 24 with runners in scoring position over their last three games.

"We have been struggling with runners in scoring position recently," Gibson said. "It stings, but (the Indians) are a good ball club."

Justin Upton, who had a hit and an RBI for the Diamondbacks, is batting .425 with 17 RBIs in his last 28 games.

Cleveland has won four in a row over Arizona.

Copyright 2011 by STATS LLC and The Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and The Associated Press is strictly prohibited.

Sports | Mariners waste Bedard's effort against Braves | Seattle Times Newspaper

By TIM BOOTH

AP Sports Writer

SEATTLE —

The Seattle Mariners have struggled at the plate so frequently it's been hard to distinguish one night from the next.

The lackluster effort Monday against Atlanta seemed to particularly bother manager Eric Wedge.

"We've had some tough nights this year offensively, but tonight was particularly disappointing," Wedge said. "We gave away some ABs and didn't have people step up when we had some opportunities."

The Mariners wasted another stellar pitching performance, this time from Erik Bedard, in their 3-1 loss to the Braves to open their interleague series. Bedard made a pair of mistakes, giving up a first-inning homer to Brian McCann and a tiebreaking, two-run shot to Freddie Freeman in the seventh.

In between, Bedard was outstanding. McCann solved Bedard with three hits, but the rest of the Braves' lineup was a combined 0 for 18 before Freeman jumped on a first-pitch fastball and clubbed a 412-foot shot over the center-field fence, just out of the reach of Franklin Gutierrez.

"Those big home runs like that, as soon as you let it go it's like, 'oops, it's gone,'" Bedard said.

Bedard (4-6) was a hard-luck loser despite his 12th straight start giving up three earned runs or less. He allowed four hits and struck out five.

Making his second start since coming off the disabled list, Atlanta's Brandon Beachy (3-1) was nearly at his best. He struck out five his first time through the Mariners' lineup and nine total, just two short of his career high. He has 20 strikeouts in 12 innings since coming off the disabled list.

Beachy allowed three hits and four baserunners, but made one crucial mistake. In the fourth inning, he left a 3-1 fastball over the middle of the plate and Adam Kennedy slapped it into the seats in right for his sixth homer of the season.

Beachy didn't lament Kennedy's solo homer too much but was critical of himself for letting his pitch count climb early and being unable to make it into the seventh.

"I'm wasting too many pitches. I would like to get deeper into games," Beachy said. "I really need to get through seven, get into the eighth inning. That's just something I need to be able to do. I need to be more efficient."

That was the extent of the offense for the Mariners, although they had chances. And none bigger than the missed opportunity in the fifth.

Mike Carp led off with double down the left-field line, snapping an 0-for-11 slide. He moved to third when Gutierrez rolled a grounder to second base.

Maligned third baseman Chone Figgins then weakly fouled out down the third-base line, drawing a cascade of thunderous boos. Beachy ended the inning by striking out Ichiro Suzuki for the second time, fooling Suzuki badly on a pair of swinging strikes.

"These guys are going to have to find a way to get tougher up there, start squaring up some fastballs," Wedge said. "They can't feel sorry for themselves, can't get down on themselves. The only way you're going to get better is fight through it, be more aggressive and be tougher. Otherwise this game will beat the hell out of you."

Seattle briefly threatened in the seventh. Dustin Ackley led off with a single against reliever George Sherrill before Miguel Olivo's drive to deep left-center. But Nate McLouth had time to sprint over and make a sliding grab in front of the warning track. After Carp's infield single, Scott Linebrink entered and got Gutierrez to ground into an inning-ending double play.

Eric O'Flaherty worked the eighth and Craig Kimbrel struck out the side in the ninth for his 21st save in 25 chances.

NOTES: Atlanta's Jason Heyward batted leadoff for the first time in his career and went 1 for 4 with a double in the eighth off reliever Aaron Laffey. ... Braves RHP Tommy Hanson will come off the DL on Tuesday to make his first start since going on the disabled list June 13 with shoulder tendinitis. ... Ackley continued his impressive start, now having hit safely in eight of his 10 games and reached base in all 10 since the prized prospect made his debut on June 17.

---

Follow Tim Booth on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/tjbooth7

Duke Basketball: Kyrie Irving and 10 Other Dukies We Wish Stayed All 4 Years | Bleacher Report

Last Thursday, Kyrie Irving was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the first overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. Irving joined Elton Brand and Art Heyman as the only Duke Blue Devils to be selected with the first overall pick.

Duke University has yielded many quality basketball players who played an entire four years with the university. Players such as: Grant Hill, J.J. Redick, Shane Battier, Bobby Hurley and Christian Laettner all played four years of college basketball before entering the NBA Draft.

However, starting in the late 1990s with Elton Brand, Corey Maggette and William Avery, it became more common to see Duke basketball players enter the Draft early.

After only playing part of one season, Irving now joins the list of players who we wish had played with the Blue Devils for four years.

Who else is on the list?

Let’s find out.

Venus, Serena, Caroline Wozniacki all fall in Wimbledon round of 16 | Detroit Free Press | freep.com

WIMBLEDON, England -- Venus and Serena Williams were eliminated in the fourth round of Wimbledon on Monday, the first time in five years neither sister will play in the quarterfinals at the All England Club.

Defending champion and four-time winner Serena lost, 6-3, 7-6 (6), to Marion Bartoli of France, cutting short the American's return to Grand Slam tennis after nearly a year out with serious health problems.

Older sister and five-time champion Venus was ousted, 6-2, 6-3, by Tsvetana Pironkova -- the same score of the Bulgarian's win in last year's quarterfinals.

"Definitely not our best day," Venus said. "I think we both envisioned seeing this day going a little bit different."

Venus and Serena have won nine of the past 11 titles at Wimbledon and have faced each other in four finals. This is the first year that, when both sisters were in the draw, both lost before the quarterfinals. The last time the sisters lost on the same day at a Grand Slam was in 2008, the third round at the French Open.

Also knocked out was top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki, 1-6, 7-6 (5), 7-5, to No. 24 Dominika Cibulkova in the Dane's latest attempt to win her first Grand Slam title.

Six-time men's champion Roger Federer survived a scare, dropping his first set of the tournament before coming back to down Mikhail Youzhny, 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-3, 6-3, and reach his 29th successive Grand Slam quarterfinal.

"I forgot completely (the 29th quarterfinal) was on the line to be quite honest, especially once you're in the heat of the moment, of the battle," said Federer, who also won his 100th match on grass. "I thought I played a good match overall."

Top-seeded defending champion Rafael Nadal overcame a foot injury and outlasted Juan Martin del Potro, 7-6 (6), 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4, in a Centre Court match that ended in fading light shortly after 9 p.m.

A grimacing Nadal took a medical time-out after suffering an injured left foot in the game before the first-set tiebreaker. "For a moment at the end of the first set, I thought that I had to retire," Nadal said, adding he would seek further medical checks. "After that, the pain goes a little bit down, and finally I was ready to play."

With 2004 champion Maria Sharapova of Russia among those advancing Monday, this marks the first time since 1913 that all eight women's Wimbledon quarterfinalists are from Europe. And all come from different countries.

With no American women left, No. 10 Mardy Fish made it to his first Wimbledon quarters by serving 23 aces and beating 2010 runner-up Tomas Berdych, 7-6 (5), 6-4, 6-4.

Fourth-seeded Andy Murray swept Richard Gasquet of France, 7-6 (3), 6-3, 6-2 -- then took a deep bow to the Royal Box, where Prince William and bride Kate joined the rest of the crowd in giving the British winner a standing ovation.

Angels blow another lead but still beat Nationals, 4-3 - latimes.com

After rookie closer Jordan Walden fails in his third consecutive save opportunity, Maicer Izturis drives in the winning run in the 10th inning

By Mike DiGiovanna

There are learning curves, and there are learning first-pitch fastballs, and Jordan Walden, the Angels' hard-throwing but work-in-progress of a closer, got a bitter dose of both Monday.

One out away from victory, the 23-year-old right-hander blew his third straight save opportunity when he grooved a first-pitch fastball to Washington second baseman and local star Danny Espinosa, who crushed it for a score-tying home run in the ninth inning.

Walden had little time to stew. An inning later, he rushed onto the Angel Stadium field with his teammates to mob Maicer Izturis, whose one-out, bases-loaded single in the 10th gave the Angels a 4-3 win.

"I'm never happy about blowing a game," Walden said, "but the team won, and that's all that matters."

The Angels parlayed 16 hits, 15 of them singles, and four walks into only four runs, but they got big contributions from the bottom of the order, as Alberto Callaspo, Peter Bourjosand Bobby Wilson combined for eight hits and three runs batted in.

And all three had a hand in the winning rally, which Callaspo sparked with a one-out single against reliever Sean Burnett. Bourjos followed with his fourth hit, a ground-rule double to right field.

Davey Johnson, in his first game as the Nationals' interim manager, walked Wilson, the No. 9 batter, intentionally to load the bases.

Izturis atoned for his two errors at second base by stroking the fourth walk-off hit of his career to center to improve the Angels' to 10-5 in their last 15 games and 127-83 in interleague play since 2000, the best mark in baseball during that span.

"We definitely had to work for this one tonight," ManagerMike Scioscia said. "Unfortunately, Jordan missed with one fastball, and Espinosa didn't miss it."

Angels starter Ervin Santana, who was looking to end a losing streak at four games, threw 93 pitches in eight innings and blanked the Nationals on one hit over his final four innings, but Scioscia did not send the right-hander out for the ninth.

Instead, he went to Walden, who gave up two runs, a hit and two walks in the ninth inning of a 3-2 loss in Dodger Stadium on Sunday.

Control wasn't the problem Monday night for Walden, who retired the first two batters before the home run pitch to Espinosa, the former Mater Dei High and Long Beach State standout.

With his parents, Vicki and Dan Espinosa, in attendance, Espinosa drove it out in right field for his 15th home run and a 3-3 tie.

"Oh man, it was right there on a tee for him," Walden said. "I was just trying to get ahead, and he was sitting dead red. Santana pitched his butt off. He deserved the win."

Santana lobbied to remain in the game. Did Scioscia think his starter was gassed, or did he want to throw Walden back into the fire?

"I think Ervin was about at his limits," Scioscia said. "It was a great outing. At that point of the game, it was enough for Ervin."

Santana gave up homers to Michael Morse in the second and Ryan Zimmerman in the fourth, and ranks second in the American League with 17 homers given up.

But Santana buckled down after the fourth, and the Angels rallied in the fourth, as singles by Bobby Abreu and Vernon Wells and two-out run-scoring singles by Callaspo and Bourjos made it 2-2.

Callaspo singled with two out in the sixth, Bourjos reached on an infield single, and Wilson, the catcher who was making only his seventh start, lined a run-scoring single to left for a 3-2 lead.

mike.digiovanna@latimes.com

Dodgers-Twins: Dodgers rout Twins, 15-0 - latimes.com

By Dylan Hernandez

Reporting from Minneapolis—

One of baseball's titanic institutions was bankrupt. Journeyman Trent Oeltjen nearly hit for the cycle. Rail-thin Dee Gordon hit for power.

Monday might have been the oddest day of an already-strange season for the Dodgers, as their historic Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing was followed by an unprecedented outburst by their lineup in a 15-0 mauling of the Minnesota Twins atTarget Field.

What the Dodgers did on the field was more than a season first. They did something they had never done in their 54 seasons in Los Angeles: every player in the starting lineup had at least one hit, one run and one run batted in.

"History," Casey Blake said.

"All over the place," Manager Don Mattingly said.

The Dodgers had 25 hits, tying their highest single-game total since their move to Los Angeles in 1958. The mark simultaneously set a new standard of incompetence for the Twins, who broke their all-time franchise record for most hits given up in a nine-inning game.

The 25th hit was the result of some lawyering, but not from the legal counsel Frank McCourt has retained in his effort to remain owner of the Dodgers.

When the game ended, the scoreboard showed the Dodgers had 24 hits. But Mattingly took issue with the ruling that his designated hitter, Andre Ethier, had reached base in the fourth inning on an error by Twins shortstop Tsuyoshi Nishioka.

"That's a hit," Mattingly said.

Mattingly asked team spokesman Jon Chapper to ask official scorer Stew Thornley to review the play. Thornley did and overruled his initial decision.

History was made.

"You wish you can have more days like that," Matt Kemp said.

Kemp was one of three Dodgers to hit a home run in pitcher-friendly Target Field. Oeltjen and Blake also went deep.

Kemp, Oeltjen and Tony Gwynn Jr. each had four hits, with Oeltjen falling a double short of the cycle. Every player in the lineup had at least two hits.

The Dodgers' 15 runs were a season high, as was the 15-run margin of victory.

Mattingly said he didn't have an explanation for what happened, downplaying the psychological effects that the bankruptcy filing might have had on his players. (In a pregame meeting, Mattingly reminded his players to remain focused on baseball.)

"It's just one of those days," Mattingly said. "Everything went our way tonight."

Even on defense.

The Dodgers' shutout was threatened in the sixth inning, whenJoe Mauer doubled to left with Alexi Casilla on first base. Gwynn retrieved the ball and delivered it to shortstop Gordon, who threw out Casilla at the plate for the final out.

Broxton examined

Sidelined closer Jonathan Broxton underwent an MRI exam and was scheduled to be checked out by team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache. Broxton's minor league rehabilitation was halted after two appearances because of soreness in his elbow.

dylan.hernandez@latimes.com

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