Staff and news service reports – Orange County Register

UC Irvine basketball drops season opener at San Jose State

Staff and news service reports — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 07:44:40 +0000

SAN JOSE — The points in the paint were there as usual, but several things the UC Irvine men’s basketball program prides itself on were absent in a 72-64 loss to San Jose State in the season opener for both teams on Tuesday night at SJSU.

Bent Leuchten had 14 points and six rebounds and Devin Tillis added 12 points, but the Anteaters fell behind in a more fast-paced second half and could not catch the Spartans down the stretch.

UCI scored 38 points in the paint but shot just 2 for 12 from 3-point range and 16 for 26 from the free-throw line, allowed 48 points after halftime and finished with more turnovers (15) than assists (11). San Jose State shot 46% from the field, an uncharacteristically high percentage for a UCI opponent.

“We got beat by a better, tougher team tonight,” UCI coach Russell Turner said. “We played some pretty good defense in the first half but could not put it together on both ends. We need to be tougher, hungrier, execute better, and more together.”

Trey Anderson had 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting to pace San Jose, while Tibet Gorener went 3 for 4 from 3-point range and had 17 points and five rebounds. Myron Amey Jr. had 12 points, going 6 for 6 from the free-throw line, and Alvaro Cardenas finished with 11 points and seven assists.

The teams were tied at 24-all at halftime, but the Spartans went on an 8-0 run a few minutes into the second half and never relinquished the lead. They added a 9-0 run in a 90-second span to extend their lead to 13 points with 12:12 left.

Leuchten scored seven straight points for the Anteaters to cut the margin to 50-44, and Dean Keeler got them within 57-53 with 5:47 left, but a Cardenas jumper started a 7-1 San Jose run and the Spartans were able to maintain at least a five-point cushion the rest of the way.

Justin Hohn and Derin Saran added eight points each for UCI. Ten of the 12 players who suited up for the Anteaters played at least 11 minutes.

UP NEXT

New Mexico State at UC Irvine, 7 p.m.

Long Beach State basketball drops season opener at Portland

Staff and news service reports — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 07:35:02 +0000

PORTLAND, Ore. — The Long Beach State men’s basketball team shook off a slow start but could not hold on to a second-half lead in its season opener, falling to Portland, 78-73, on Monday night at Portland.

Long Beach, which trailed 12-2 just over five minutes into the first half, took a 57-54 lead on a four-point play by Jadon Jones with 8:17 left in the game, but the Pilots responded with a 10-0 run and never trailed again.

LBSU made one last push and trimmed the margin to two points on an Aboubacar Traore layup with 3:41 left, but strong Portland free-throw shooting and foul trouble for the Long Beach big men helped the Pilots close out the win.

Jones finished with 23 points and three steals and converted a staggering three four-point plays to pace LBSU. Portland native Marcus Tsohonis finished with 17 points, while Aboubacar Traore added 16 points, a team-high nine rebounds and five assists.

Vukasin Masic had 25 points and seven rebounds to lead Portland. Tyler Harris added 17 points and 12 rebounds, and Tyler Robertson had 13 points.

Long Beach worked its way out of the early hole and took its first lead on a 3-pointer from newcomer Messiah Thompson with 2:46 left in the first half. Both teams continued to search for an edge in the second half, trading the lead until Jones’ four-point play and the Pilots’ key run.

Long Beach shot 36.2% from the field (25 for 69) and 15 for 23 from the free-throw line, while Portland shot 43.4% (23 for 53) and 25 for 31 from the foul line.

UP NEXT

Long Beach State heads to Chicago to face DePaul on Saturday at 7 p.m. PT.

Photos: Breeders’ Cup Day 1 at Santa Anita Park

Staff and news service reports — Sat, 04 Nov 2023 01:55:54 +0000

Horse racing fans wearing colorful clothes and hats walk the grounds during the 2023 Breeders’ Cup World Championships on Friday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Jockey Tom Marquand celebrates after riding Big Evs to victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint on Friday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Jockey Tom Marquand (4) riding Big Evs wins the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint on Friday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Jockey Tom Marquand (4) riding Big Evs wins the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint on Friday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Jockey Tom Marquand (4) riding Big Evs wins the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint on Friday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Tom Marquand rides Big Evs, right, to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint horse race Friday, Nov. 3, 2023 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Jockey Tom Marquand (4) riding Big Evs wins the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint on Friday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Tom Marquand rides Big Evs, center, to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint horse race Friday, Nov. 3, 2023 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Jockey Tom Marquand celebrates after riding Big Evs to victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint on Friday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Tom Marquand celebrates atop Big Evs after winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint horse race Friday, Nov. 3, 2023 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Jockey Tom Marquand celebrates after riding Big Evs to victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint on Friday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Michael Appleby, trainer of Big Evs looks on after winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint horse race Friday, Nov. 3, 2023 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Tom Marquand celebrates atop Big Evs after winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint horse race Friday, Nov. 3, 2023 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Jockey Tom Marquand, second from left, poses with owners Rachael Teasdale, left, and Paul Teasdale, second from right, and trainer Michael Appleby, right, after riding Big Evs to victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint on Friday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Horse racing fans make their way to the grandstands during the 2023 Breeders’ Cup World Championships on Friday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
A woman wearing a colorful hat looks on during the 2023 Breeders’ Cup World Championships on Friday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Hornblowers alert the audience to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint race on Friday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Horses come out of the gate during the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf horse race Friday, Nov. 3, 2023 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Jockey Flavien Prat riding Hard to Justify wins the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf race on Friday at Santa Anita Park. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Jockey Flavien Prat, right, riding Hard to Justify wins the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf race on Friday at Santa Anita Park. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Jockey Flavien Prat, sixth from right, riding Hard to Justify wins the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf race on Friday at Santa Anita Park. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Flavien Prat rides Hard To Justify, left, on his way to winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf horse race Friday, Nov. 3, 2023 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Fans cheer on horses during the Golden State Juvenile Fillies prior to the Breeders’ Cup on Friday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Flavien Prat rides Hard To Justify to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf horse race Friday, Nov. 3, 2023 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Jockey Flavien Prat, right, riding Hard to Justify wins the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf race on Friday at Santa Anita Park. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Jockey Flavien Prat riding Hard to Justify wins the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf race on Friday at Santa Anita Park. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Flavien Prat rides Hard To Justify, left, on his way to winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf horse race Friday, Nov. 3, 2023 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Jockey Flavien Prat riding Hard to Justify wins the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf race on Friday at Santa Anita Park. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Flavien Prat celebrates as he rides Hard To Justify, front, after winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf horse race in front of John Velazquez riding She Feels Pretty, Friday, Nov. 3, 2023 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Flavien Prat, left, celebrates with members of the owner group Wise Racing after riding Hard To Justify to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf horse race Friday, Nov. 3, 2023 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Horse racing fans wearing colorful clothes and hats pose for a photo during the 2023 Breeders’ Cup World Championships on Friday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Horse racing fans make their way to the grandstands during the 2023 Breeders’ Cup World Championships on Friday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Jockey Junior Alvarado, riding Just FYI, celebrates after winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies race by a neck on Friday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Jockey Junior Alvarado, right, rides Just FYI to victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies race by a neck ahead of jockey Flavien Prat riding Jody’s Pride on Friday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Jockey Junior Alvarado (12) riding Just FYI won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies race by a neck on Friday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Jockey Junior Alvarado, right, riding Just FYI wins the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies race by a neck ahead of jockey Flavien Prat riding Jody’s Pride on Friday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Jockey Junior Alvarado, right, riding Just FYI wins the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies race by a neck ahead of jockey Flavien Prat riding Jody’s Pride on Friday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Junior Alvarado rides Just FYI, center, to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies horse race Friday, Nov. 3, 2023 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Jockey Junior Alvarado, right, riding Just FYI wins the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies race by a neck ahead of jockey Flavien Prat riding Jody’s Pride on Friday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Junior Alvarado rides Just FYI, center, to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies horse race Friday, Nov. 3, 2023 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Jockey Junior Alvarado, right, riding Just FYI wins the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies race by a neck ahead of jockey Flavien Prat riding Jody’s Pride on Friday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Junior Alvarado touches his hand to his lips as he rides Just FYI after winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies horse race Friday, Nov. 3, 2023 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Jockey Junior Alvarado, riding Just FYI, celebrates after winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies race by a neck on Friday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Jockey Junior Alvarado, riding Just FYI, celebrates after winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies race by a neck on Friday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Jockey Junior Alvarado, riding Just FYI, celebrates after winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies race by a neck on Friday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
George Krikorian, owner of Just FYI, holds the trophy as he stands alongside jockey Junior Alvarado and others after winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies horse race Friday, Nov. 3, 2023 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Jockeys and their horses make their way to the track during the 2023 Breeders’ Cup World Championships on Friday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Horse racing fans wearing colorful clothes and hats walk the grounds during the 2023 Breeders’ Cup World Championships on Friday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Jockey Frankie Dettori (8) riding Unquestionable wins the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf race on Friday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Jockey Frankie Dettori, right, rides Unquestionable to victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf race on Friday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Jockey Frankie Dettori rides Unquestionable to victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf race on Friday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Jockey Frankie Dettori, third from right, riding Unquestionable wins the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf race on Friday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Jockey Frankie Dettori (8) rides Unquestionable to victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf race on Friday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Jockey Frankie Dettori rides Endlessly to victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf race on Friday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Jockey Frankie Dettori rides Unquestionable to victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf race on Friday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Horse racing fans wearing colorful clothes and hats are part of the scene during the 2023 Breeders’ Cup World Championships on Friday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
A horse racing fan takes photos as horses enter the track for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf race on Friday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
A outrider waits for the jockeys during the 2023 Breeders’ Cup World Championships on Friday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Carla Estrada and Scarlett Estrada watch as horses make their way to the track before a race at the Breeders’ Cup on Friday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Horses leaves the starting gate in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Friday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. Fierceness won by 6¾ lengths. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Horses gallop down the track in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Friday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. Fierceness won by 6¾ lengths. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
John Velazquez rides Fierceness, center, on his way to winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile horse race Friday, Nov. 3, 2023 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Jockey John Velazquez, right, rides Fierceness to victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Friday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. Fierceness won by 6¾ lengths in the excellent time of 1:41.90 for the mile and a sixteenth. It’s the fastest Breeders’ Cup Juvenile since 2008. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
John Velazquez rides Fierceness, center, on his way to winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile horse race Friday, Nov. 3, 2023 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Jockey John Velazquez rides Fierceness to victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Friday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. Fierceness won by 6¾ lengths in the excellent time of 1:41.90 for the mile and a sixteenth. It’s the fastest Breeders’ Cup Juvenile since 2008. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Horses gallop down the track in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Friday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. Fierceness won by 6¾ lengths. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
John Velazquez rides Fierceness to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile horse race Friday, Nov. 3, 2023 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Jockey John Velazquez rides Fierceness to victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Friday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. Fierceness won by 6¾ lengths in the excellent time of 1:41.90 for the mile and a sixteenth. It’s the fastest Breeders’ Cup Juvenile since 2008. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
John Velazquez celebrates as he rides Fierceness after winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile horse race Friday, Nov. 3, 2023 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
John Velazquez celebrates as he rides Fierceness after winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile horse race Friday, Nov. 3, 2023 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Jockey John Velazquez riding Fierceness looks on after winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile race on Friday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Jockey John Velazquez, in orange and blue, jokes with owner Mike Repole of Repole Stables after riding Fierceness to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile horse race Friday, Nov. 3, 2023 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Jockey John Velazquez, in orange and blue, poses alongside owner Mike Repole of Repole Stables after riding Fierceness to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile horse race Friday, Nov. 3, 2023 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
John Velazquez sits atop Fierceness as he poses with members of the owner group Repole Stable after winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile horse race Friday, Nov. 3, 2023 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
A woman wears a hat at the Breeders’ Cup horse races Friday, Nov. 3, 2023, at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Jockey Hector I. Berrios rides Dreamfyre to an early lead during the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf race on Friday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Horses leave the gates during the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf horse race Friday, Nov. 3, 2023, at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Ryan Moore rides Unquestionable to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf horse race Friday, Nov. 3, 2023 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Ryan Moore rides Unquestionable to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf horse race Friday, Nov. 3, 2023 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Ryan Moore celebrates atop Unquestionable after winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf horse race Friday, Nov. 3, 2023, at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
A woman looks on during the Breeders’ Cup horse races Friday, Nov. 3, 2023 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Horses bolt from the starting gate in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf race on Friday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
People arrive for the Breeders’ Cup horse races Friday, Nov. 3, 2023 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
A general view of the scene at the 2023 Breeders’ Cup World Championships on Friday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
A general view of the final turn during the Golden Mile race prior to the Breeders’ Cup on Friday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
An equine ambulance sits on the track after an injury to the horse Bus Buzz in the 10th horse race on the first day of the Breeders’ Cup, Friday, Nov. 3, 2023, at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. (AP Photo/Beth Harris)
A woman wears a hat as she watches the Breeders’ Cup horse races Friday, Nov. 3, 2023 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

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The two-day Breeders’ Cup World Championships got underway with a Future Stars Friday card that featured five races for 2-year-old horses at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia.

Big Evs kicked off the day’s five races for 2-year-olds with a half-length victory over Valiant Force in the $1 million Juvenile Turf Sprint, Fierceness shook off a bad outing last month to win the $2 million Juvenile, Unquestionable won the $1 million Juvenile Turf and Just FYI upset Tamara and extended her unbeaten streak to three with a 7-1 win in the $2 million Juvenile Fillies.

Trainer Chad Brown continued his dominance of the $1 million Juvenile Fillies Turf with his sixth win in the race as 9-1 shot Hard to Justify dug in for a half-length victory over Ireland-bred Porta Fortuna. It was Brown’s 17th Cup win.

Friday’s on-track attendance was 43,377.

Racing resumes Saturday with nine more Breeders’ Cup races, including the $6 million Classic. For the consensus picks for those races, click here.

Mortgage rates climb for 7th week to 7.79% – highest since October 2000

Staff and news service reports — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 18:14:15 +0000

Mortgage rates continued to climb this week amid a stronger-than-expected economy.

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 7.79% in the week ending October 26, up from 7.63% the week before, according to data from Freddie Mac released Thursday. A year ago, the 30-year fixed-rate was 7.08%. The last time rates were higher was October 2000.

“For the seventh week in a row, mortgage rates continued to climb toward eight percent, resulting in the longest consecutive rise since the Spring of 2022,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. “Purchase activity has slowed to a virtual standstill, affordability remains a significant hurdle for many and the only way to address it is lower rates and greater inventory,” he said.

Look at the impact on a California house hunter. Statewide, there’s been a 26% payment hike in 2023 – this week’s $4,852 on the $843,340 September median sales price for a single-family existing home at 7.79% vs. $3,861 on the $774,850 December 2022 median at 6.36%.

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Upward pressure on rates will grow following surprising strength in gross domestic product, a brad measure of business output. Real GDP grew at a 4.9% annualized rate in the third quarter vs. 2.1% pace in teh previous three months.

“Today’s GDP report shows the nation’s economy is again defying the odds by growing at a rate that is much higher than expected,” said Selma Hepp, CoreLogic’s chief economist, “There are pros and cons to the report. The good news is that Federal interest rate policy is slowing inflation while also keeping unemployment numbers low and consumer spending strong. On the flip side, new homebuyers will face higher mortgage payments for the foreseeable future. Furthermore, many of the only homes available to purchase are newly built, as current homeowners are staying put, with new home purchases up 12% year over year. Yet, surging mortgage rates as well as tighter financial conditions will start weighing on the economy and new home sales and will depress economic growth in the coming quarters with GDP in Q1 2024 expected at less than 2%.”

The high rates are limiting applications for new mortgages. Wednesday the MBA reported that applications for new loans dipped to the slowest weekly pace since 1995. Meanwhile, the share of applications for adjustable rate mortgages rose to 9.5%, the higher since November.

The soaring cost of borrowing money for a home has skewed the U.S. housing market.

Millions of people who locked in mortgages at this time two years ago at 3% or below cannot afford to, or refuse to move, due to the comparative cost of financing a home today.

Last week, the National Association of Realtors reported that sales of existing homes not only fell for the fourth consecutive month, but the pace of sales has ground to the slowest pace in more than a decade.

At the same time the pace of new home sales continue to astound economists for the opposite reason.

New home sales in last month jumped to 759,000, about 79,000 more than had been expected with prospective buyer flooding the only market where homes are available – those that were just built.

“Homebuilders are offering buyers interest rate buydown incentives that funnel demand into the newly-built segment,” said Bill Adams, chief economist at Comerica. “They are also shrinking floorplans to boost affordability.”

Adams says home builders are the “surprise winner” of attempts by the Federal Reserve to cool inflation through interest rate hikes.

Mortgage rates have been climbing along with the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing loans. Investors’ expectations for future inflation, global demand for U.S. Treasurys and what the Fed does with interest rates can influence rates on home loans.

The threat of higher rates for longer pushed Treasury yields this week to their highest levels in more than a decade. The 10-year Treasury yield hit 5% earlier this week and was at 4.89% in midday trading Thursday. It was at roughly 3.50% in May and just 0.50% early in the pandemic.

CNN, the Associated Press, and the Southern California News Group’s Jonathan Lansner contributed to this report.

Pierre-Luc Dubois helps Kings beat Jets in return to Winnipeg

Staff and news service reports — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 03:10:41 +0000

Kings goaltender Cam Talbot makes a save on a shot by Winnipeg Jets center Mason Appleton (22) during the first period on Tuesday night in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Kings rolled to a 5-1 win, their first of the season. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Kings’ Pierre-Luc Dubois, left, passes the puck as he is checked by the Winnipeg Jets’ Dylan Demelo during the first period on Tuesday night in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Winnipeg Jets’ Cole Perfetti, left, looks to pass the puck as Kings goaltender Cam Talbot protects the near post and the Kings’ Phillip Danault (24) defends during the first period on Tuesday night in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Kings’ Pierre-Luc Dubois, center, and the Winnipeg Jets’ Kyle Connor, left, battle along the boards as the Kings’ Kevin Fiala, right, tries to control the puck during the first period on Tuesday night in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Winnipeg Jets’ Mark Scheifele (55), Josh Morrissey (44) and Brenden Dillon (5) battle the Kings’ Blake Lizotte (46) and Trevor Moore (12) along the boards during the first period on Tuesday night in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Kings’ Phillip Danault, right, passes the puck past the Winnipeg Jets’ Brenden Dillon (5) during the first period on Tuesday night in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Kings’ Pierre-Luc Dubois, left, carries the puck past the Winnipeg Jets’ Mark Scheifele during the first period on Tuesday night in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Kings’ Vladislav Gavrikov, right, is checked by the Winnipeg Jets’ Neal Poink during the first period on Tuesday night in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Kings’ Pierre-Luc Dubois, right, celebrates with Drew Doughty, left, and Adrian Kempe after scoring his first goal as a King during the second period of their 5-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday night in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Kings’ Pierre-Luc Dubois, right, celebrates his goal with teammates as Winnipeg Jets center Adam Lowry, left, looks on during the second period on Tuesday night in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Kings’ Drew Doughty, right, and the Winnipeg Jets’ Mark Scheifele (55) battle for possession of the puck during the second period on Tuesday night in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Kings’ Andreas Englund, left, scuffles with the Winnipeg Jets’ Dylan Samberg during the second period on Tuesday night in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Kings’ Andreas Englund (5) fights with the Winnipeg Jets’ Dylan Samberg during the second period on Tuesday night in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Kings’ Drew Doughty (8) takes the puck away from the Winnipeg Jets’ Mark Scheifele (55) during the second period on Tuesday night in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Kings’ Phillip Danault, left, and the Winnipeg Jets’ Alex Iafallo (9) battle for the puck during the second period on Tuesday night in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Kings’ Arthur Kaliyev (34) celebrates his goal with Phillip Danault (24) during the third period of their game against the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday night in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Winnipeg Jets’ Mark Scheifele, left, scores past Kings goaltender Cam Talbot during the third period on Tuesday night in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
Kings head coach Todd McLellan instructs his players during the third period of their game against the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday night in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Kings’ Phillip Danault, right, celebrates his goal with Jordan Spence during the third period of their game against the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday night in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Kings’ Arthur Kaliyev (34) scores on Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) during the third period on Tuesday night in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Kings’ Jordan Spence (21) and the Winnipeg Jets’ Vladislav Namestnikov (7) battle for the puck in front of Kings goaltender Cam Talbot during the third period on Tuesday night in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Kings’ Mikey Anderson, left, dumps the Winnipeg Jets’ Vladislav Namestnikov in front of the the Kings’ bench during the third period on Tuesday night in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
Winnipeg Jets head coach Rick Bowness watches the action from behind the bench during the third period of their game against the Kings on Tuesday night in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
Kings goaltender Cam Talbot, left, celebrates with Drew Doughty (8) and other teammates after their 5-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday night in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

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WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Pierre-Luc Dubois heard the boos from Winnipeg Jets fans who used to cheer him, but his goal and a 5-1 win with his new Kings team on Tuesday made his return a fun night.

“It was an honor to play here,” Dubois told reporters after the game. “They were passionate tonight even when they were booing me so it was great to see.”

Dubois was traded to the Kings from Winnipeg in June for forwards Gabriel Vilardi, Alex Iafallo and Rasmus Kupari. He had joined the Jets in January 2021 in a trade from the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Some fans welcomed Dubois back by booing the center each time he touched the puck.

Trevor Moore had two goals and an assist to help the Kings pick up their first victory of the NHL season, while Cam Talbot made 26 saves. Phillip Danault recorded a goal and two assists and Arthur Kaliyev notched a goal and assist for the Kings (1-1-1).

Jets center Mark Scheifele averted a shutout by scoring with 1:16 remaining in the third period in front of 11,226 fans at 15,324-seat Canada Life Centre, which is believed to be the lowest attendance since the Jets moved to Winnipeg from Atlanta in 2011, outside of game restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Connor Hellebuyck stopped 24 shots for Winnipeg (1-2-0).

The trade storyline didn’t end on a happy note for Vilardi, who was tripped by Kings forward Blake Lizotte 5:55 into the first period along the boards. Vilardi grabbed his right knee and skated off the ice putting some weight on it. He didn’t return.

Nikolaj Ehlers and Vladislav Namestnikov had turns replacing Vilardi on the top line with Scheifele and Kyle Connor.

Jets coach Rick Bowness didn’t have an update on Vilardi.

“Did we miss Gabe? Absolutely,” he said. “He’s our top guy, he’s a huge part of the power play. But injuries happen, you move on.”

Kings coach Todd McLellan was crossing his fingers for Vilardi.

“You never want to see anybody hurt, but one of your old teammates and a really good kid, you don’t want to see that at all,” he told reporters. “A complete accident. But we’re hoping that he can come back and heal up.

“He’s going to be a big part of this team. He’s a hell of a player and fans here in Winnipeg are going to enjoy not only him but the other two that came.”

There was no scoring in the first period, although it looked like Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey had a goal seven minutes into the period, but his blistering shot hit the crossbar and stayed out.

Winnipeg outshot the visitors 14-9 in the opening period.

“We needed to get back to how we played in the first, and we weren’t really able to do that,” Ehlers told the Canadian Press.

“It was a lot of east-west plays. … We were ripping that puck down for icing, all of us. That’s not how you’re going to get back into the game.”

Dubois scored his first goal of the season five seconds after a Winnipeg penalty expired, putting Anze Kopitar’s rebound past Hellebuyck at 11:01 of the second period.

Tempers erupted late in the period after Kings defenceman Andreas Englund hit Jets forward Cole Perfetti in the back and into the boards. Dylan Samberg jumped to Perfertti’s defense. Samberg and Englund were both dinged for fighting, but Samberg was also handed a penalty for instigating and a 10-minute misconduct.

The bad blood continued when Perfetti went into the corner and was called for cross-checking Matt Roy. Jets center Mark Scheifele and Kaliyev joined in and both got dinged for roughing.

The Kings, who outshot the Jets 12-4 in the second period, came out the winner on the scoreboard when Moore made it 2-0 at 16:19.

It was all Kings for most of the third, with Kaliyev scoring at 2:51, Moore netting his second at 14:31 and Danault scoring on the power play two minutes later.

Winnipeg was 0 for 4 on the power play and the Kings were 1 for 5.

FRANCHISE WORKHORSE

Kopitar played in his 646th career road game, tying Dustin Brown for the most road games played in franchise history. Kopitar is now one game away from tying Brown (1,296) for most games played all-time in franchise history.

Kopitar also became the second player in Kings’ history to record 750 assists, joining Marcel Dionne (757).

CHEEKY MOVE

Jets head coach Rick Bowness had some fun with the game’s subplot.

The starting line he sent on the ice was Iafallo, Kupari and Vilardi. They usually play on different lines.

UP NEXT

The Kings travel to Minnesota for a Thursday game against the Wild.

And the crowd goes DUUUUUUB!!! @LAKings I #GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/NPtPwRjxXe

— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) October 18, 2023

PLD talks about his return to Winnipeg @LAKings I #LAKingsLive pic.twitter.com/mbyhQTFocd

— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) October 18, 2023

One Moore goal!! @LAKings I #GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/4uVAV6AtBB

— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) October 18, 2023

Two Moore goals!!@LAKings I #GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/0gSm8pzLcx

— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) October 18, 2023

Look who's back! @LAKings I #GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/qAx5LLzJDB

— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) October 18, 2023

Post game with Cam Talbot after first win of the season@LAKings I #LAKingsLive pic.twitter.com/rHdU4aVPNF

— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) October 18, 2023

NLDS Game 3: Dodgers at Diamondbacks, starting pitchers, lineups, TV info

Staff and news service reports — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 21:39:15 +0000

DODGERS AT DIAMONDBACKS

When: Today, 6:07 p.m.

Where: Chase Field, Phoenix

TV/radio: TBS, 570 AM, 830 AM

LINEUPS

Here is the Dodgers’ starting lineup for tonight …

Tonight's #Dodgers NLDS Game 3 lineup at D-backs: pic.twitter.com/fpHZGftanL

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 11, 2023

And the Diamondbacks’ lineup looks like this …

The home team. #EmbraceTheChaos pic.twitter.com/ATFzGcSJpV

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) October 11, 2023

THE PITCHERS

DODGERS RHP LANCE LYNN (13-11, 5.73 ERA overall, 7-2, 4.36 ERA with Dodgers)

Vs. Diamondbacks: 6-1, 2.96 ERA (14 games, 73 innings, 71 Ks)

At Chase Field: 4-0, 3.27 ERA (6 games, 33 innings, 34 Ks)

Postseason history: 5-5, 5.28 ERA (27 games, eight starts, 58 innings, 56 Ks)

Loves to face: Christian Walker, 0 for 5, 4 Ks

Hates to face: Ketel Marte, 4 for 13 (.308), 2 doubles, 2 RBIs

DIAMONDBACKS RHP BRANDON PFAADT (3-9, 5.72 ERA)

Vs. Dodgers: 0-2, 9.35 ERA (2 games, 8⅔ innings, 9 Ks)

At Chase Field: 2-5, 6.46 ERA (10 games, 46 innings, 46 Ks)

Postseason history: 0-0, 10.13 ERA (1 game, 2⅔ innings, 4 Ks)

Loves to face: David Peralta, 1 for 5 (.200)

Hates to face: Freddie Freeman, 4 for 6 (.667), 2 doubles, 1 HR, 3 RBIs

Clippers even their preseason record by beating Jazz in Seattle

Staff and news service reports — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 05:33:10 +0000

Clippers guard Russell Westbrook handles the ball as Utah Jazz forward Simone Fontecchio defends during the first half of their preseason game on Tuesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Clippers center Ivica Zubac goes to the basket as Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler defends during the first half of their preseason game on Tuesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Utah Jazz guard Talen Horton-Tucker shoots between Clippers forwards Kawhi Leonard, left, and Robert Covington during the first half of their preseason game on Tuesday night in Seattle. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
A general view of the preseason game between the Clippers and the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Clippers center Mason Plumlee brings the ball up the court during the first half of their preseason game against the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson shoots in front of Clippers center Mason Plumlee during the first half of their preseason game on Tuesday night in Seattle. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard tries to get possession of the ball during the first half of their preseason game against the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Clippers center Ivica Zubac, right, goes up to try to block a shot by Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen during the first half of their preseason game on Tuesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Utah Jazz coach Will Hardy watches from the sidelines during the first half of their preseason game against the Clippers on Tuesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Clippers guard Bones Hyland shoots in front of Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton during the first half of their preseason game on Tuesday night in Seattle. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
The Utah Jazz’s Lauri Markkanen dunks during the first half of their preseason game against the Clippers on Tuesday night in Seattle. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Clippers point guard Russell Westbrook looks down the court during the first half of their preseason game against the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night in Seattle. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Clippers guard Terance Mann dunks as Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler watches during the first half of their preseason game on Tuesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Clippers point guard Russell Westbrook gestures during the first half of their preseason game against the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night in Seattle. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton, left, shoots as Clippers guard Russell Westbrook defends during the first half of their preseason game on Tuesday night in Seattle. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson, left, and forward Kelly Olynyk celebrate after a basket during the first half of their preseason game against the Clippers on Tuesday night in Seattle. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Clippers center Mason Plumlee grabs a rebound in front of the Utah Jazz’s Walker Kessler during the first half of their preseason game on Tuesday night in Seattle. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Former Seattle SuperSonics player and coach Lenny Wilkens, right, sits courtside during the first half of a preseason game between the Clippers and the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard handles the ball as Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen defends during the first half of their preseason game on Tuesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Utah Jazz guard Talen Horton-Tucker, right, drives to the basket as Clippers forward Moussa Diabate, defends during the second half of their preseason game on Tuesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue watches from the sideline during the first half of their preseason game against the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
The Utah Jazz’s Walker Kessler, left, and the Clippers’ Moussa Diabate reach for a rebound during the second half of their preseason game on Tuesday night in Seattle. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George claps during the second half of their preseason game against the Clippers on Tuesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Clippers guard Jordan Miller handles the ball as Utah Jazz forward Luka Samanic defends during the second half of their preseason game on Tuesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
The Clippers’ Moussa Diabate, center, and the Utah Jazz’s Omer Yurtseven, right, reach for a rebound during the second half of their preseason game on Tuesday night in Seattle. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Clippers rookie Kobe Brown shoots as the Utah Jazz’s Omer Yurtseven (77) defends during the second half of their preseason game on Tuesday night in Seattle. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Utah Jazz guard Talen Horton-Tucker handles the ball as Clippers guard Russell Westbrook defends during the first half of their preseason game on Tuesday night in Seattle. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Utah Jazz guard Talen Horton-Tucker, left, gestures after making a 3-point shot during the second half of their preseason game against the Clippers on Tuesday night in Seattle. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Clippers forward Kenyon Martin Jr. makes a face after a collision during the second half of their preseason game against the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Utah Jazz guard Kris Dunn drives to the basket as Clippers guards Kobe Brown, left, and Xavier Moon defend during the second half of their preseason game on Tuesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Clippers guard Terance Mann, right, grabs a rebound during the second half of their preseason game against the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night in Seattle. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Utah Jazz guard Talen Horton-Tucker, left, and Clippers guard Amir Coffey chat during a pause in play in the second half of their preseason game on Tuesday night in Seattle. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Clippers guard Amir Coffey shoots as the Utah Jazz’s Luka Samanic defends during the second half of their preseason game on Tuesday night in Seattle. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Utah Jazz guard Kris Dunn, right, shoots as Clippers guard Amir Coffey defends during the second half of their preseason game on Tuesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Clippers guard Xavier Moon shoots during the second half of their preseason game against the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night in Seattle. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
The Clippers’ Xavier Moon, left, and rookie Jordan Miller react after a basket during the second half of their preseason game against the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night in Seattle. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Utah Jazz guard Kris Dunn reaches back to catch a pass as Clippers guard Kobe Brown, right, watches during the second half of their preseason game on Tuesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Clippers owner Steve Ballmer does his best to pump up the crowd before the preseason game between the Clippers and the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
A Seattle Sonics fan holds a sign before the preseason game between the Clippers and the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Clippers owner Steve Ballmer addresses the crowd before the team’s preseason game against the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Fans wearing Seattle SuperSonics jerseys cheer during a T-shirt toss during a timeout in the second half of a preseason game between the Clippers and the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Clippers owner Steve Ballmer does his best to pump up the crowd before the preseason game between the Clippers and the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Clippers players, including guard Amir Coffey, center, huddle before their preseason game against the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Clippers point guard Russell Westbrook reacts as he is introduced before their preseason game against the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
A general view of the preseason game between the Clippers and the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
A fan in a Kevin Durant Seattle Sonics jersey takes their seat before a preseason game between the Clippers and the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night in Seattle. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
A fan poses in a Seattle Sonics cap and jersey before a preseason game between the Clippers and the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night in Seattle. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
A Seattle Sonics fan holds a sign before the preseason game between the Clippers and the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Former Seattle Storm star Sue Bird, left, and former USWNT soccer star Megan Rapinoe pose for a photo before a preseason game between the Clippers and the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Seattle Mariners players Marco Gonzales, left, and J.P. Crawford cheer during the second half of the preseason game between the Clippers and the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Former Seattle Sonics coach Lenny Wilkens, left, talks with Utah Jazz assistant coach Jason Terry before a preseason game between the Clippers and the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Former Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin talks with a fan during the second half of a preseason game between the Clippers and the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue answers questions before their preseason game against the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
A fan in a Seattle Sonics hard hat looks toward the Space Needle before a preseason game between the Clippers and the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night in Seattle. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Expand

SEATTLE — Kawhi Leonard scored a team-high 16 points and the Clippers evened their preseason record with a 103-98 victory over the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night in the second annual “Rain City Classic.”

Two days after the teams squared off in Honolulu, the Clippers got the better of the Jazz in the rematch at Climate Pledge Arena. Point guard Russell Westbrook and veteran forward Nicolas Batum, both healthy scratches on Sunday, made their preseason debuts but three Clippers sat out with injuries and starting center Ivica Zubac played just five minutes before taking a seat.

The team opened training camp fully healthy last week, but Zubac (back spasms), guard Norman Powell (strained left groin), forward Marcus Morris Sr. (strained left groin) and guard Brandon Boston Jr. (knee contusion) are all on the team’s injury report.

The Clippers, who have just two exhibition games remaining before their Oct. 25 season opener against Portland, do have a pair of healthy All-Star wings.

Leonard shot 5 for 12 from the field (4 for 10 from 3-point range) in his 20 minutes, while Paul George had three points, four rebounds and five assists in 20 minutes on a rough shooting night (1 for 9 overall, 1 for 6 from 3-point range).

Westbrook made his return to the city that drafted him, when the SuperSonics made the former UCLA and Leuzinger High standout the fourth overall pick in the 2008 draft. The team left for Oklahoma City before Westbrook got a chance to suit up in Seattle. The former league MVP was held scoreless in 15 minutes but had five rebounds, three assists, two steals and three turnovers while missing his only shot – a 3-point attempt.

The Clippers pulled Leonard, George and Westbrook with a 49-39 lead at halftime, but the cushion grew to 19 points before the Jazz erased most of it before the end of the third quarter.

Robert Covington started and finished with 11 points, three rebounds, four blocked shots and two steals in 22 minutes for the Clippers. Amir Coffey scored 15 points off the bench, Moussa Diabate had nine points, six rebounds, three blocks and two steals in 23 minutes and Xavier Moon had nine points.

Former Laker Talen Horton-Tucker had 24 points on 9-for-18 shooting and seven assists to pace the Jazz (1-1). Lauri Markkanen had 16 points and eight rebounds, Jordan Clarkson had 12 points and five assists and rookie Keyonte George had 10 points and five assists.

NLDS Game 2: Dodgers vs. Diamondbacks, starting pitchers, lineups, TV info

Staff and news service reports — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 21:36:01 +0000

DIAMONDBACKS AT DODGERS

When: Today, 6:07 p.m.

Where: Dodger Stadium

TV/radio: TBS, 570 AM

LINEUPS

Here is the Dodgers’ starting lineup for tonight …

#Dodgers Game 2 lineup: pic.twitter.com/YSbBWNDzb4

— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) October 9, 2023

And the Diamondbacks’ lineup looks like this …

Stay hot, Snakes. #EmbraceTheChaos pic.twitter.com/YftNpSXXUz

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) October 9, 2023

THE PITCHERS

DODGERS RHP BOBBY MILLER (11-4, 3.76 ERA)

Vs. Diamondbacks: 1-0, 3.00 ERA (2 games, 12 innings, 8 Ks)

At Dodger Stadium: 5-3, 4.55 ERA (10 games, 57⅓ innings, 52 Ks)

Postseason history: First appearance

Loves to face: Corbin Carroll, 0 for 6, 1 K

Hates to face: Gabriel Moreno, 2 for 3, double, HR, 3 RBIs

DIAMONDBACKS RHP ZAC GALLEN (17-9, 3.47 ERA)

Vs. Dodgers: 1-4, 3.48 ERA (11 games, 64⅔ innings, 75 Ks)

At Dodger Stadium: 0-4, 4.29 ERA (6 games, 35⅔ innings, 39 Ks)

Postseason history: 1-0, 3.00 ERA (1 game, 6 innings, 4 Ks)

Loves to face: Chris Taylor, 2 for 14 (.143), 1 HR, 6 Ks

Hates to face: Will Smith, 6 for 16 (.375), double, triple, 3 RBIs

Clippers drop preseason opener to Jazz as Russell Westbrook sits out

Staff and news service reports — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 04:11:08 +0000

Clippers guard Bones Hyland lays the ball up in front of the Utah Jazz’s Walker Kessler during the first half of their preseason game on Sunday night in Honolulu. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
Clippers star Paul George shoots as Utah Jazz guard Talen Horton-Tucker defends during the first half of their preseason game on Sunday night in Honolulu. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
The Utah Jazz’s Lauri Markkanen tries to drive past the Clippers’ Terance Mann, left, during the first half of their preseason game on Sunday night in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
Clippers star Paul George passes the ball as the Utah Jazz’s Walker Kessler defends during the first half of their preseason game on Sunday night in Honolulu. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
The Utah Jazz’s Lauri Markkanen, center, battles for the ball against the Clippers’ Terance Mann, left, during the first half of their preseason game on Sunday night in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
Clippers center Ivica Zubac has his shot blocked by the Utah Jazz’s Walker Kessler during the first half of their preseason game on Sunday night in Honolulu. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
The Utah Jazz’s Keyonte George (3) squeezes by the Clippers’ Mason Plumlee, left, during the first half of their preseason game on Sunday night in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard shoots over the Utah Jazz’s Lauri Markkanen during the first half of their preseason game on Sunday night in Honolulu. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
The Utah Jazz’s Lauri Markkanen tries for a layup during the first half of their preseason game against the Clippers on Sunday night in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
The Clippers’ Bones Hyland (5) shoots a layup during the first half of their preseason game against the Utah Jazz on Sunday night in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
The Utah Jazz’s Kelly Olynyk looks to pass as Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard defends during the first half of their preseason game on Sunday night in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue, center, yells instructions from the bench during the first half of their preseason game against the Utah Jazz on Sunday night in Honolulu. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
Clippers guard Bones Hyland, left, steals the ball from the Utah Jazz’s Lauri Markkanen during the first half of their preseason game on Sunday night in Honolulu. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
The Utah Jazz’s Lauri Markkanen drives to the basket as Clippers center Ivica Zubac defends during the first half of their preseason game on Sunday night in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard handles the ball as Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton defends during the first half of their preseason game on Sunday night in Honolulu. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard shoots during the first half of their preseason opener against the Utah Jazz on Sunday night at the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu. Leonard had 11 points in 15 first-half minutes before sitting out the second half of a 101-96 loss. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
The Utah Jazz’s John Collins tips out a rebound during the first half of their preseason game against the Clippers on Sunday night in Honolulu. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
Clippers guard Bones Hyland shoots over Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton during the first half of their preseason game on Sunday night in Honolulu. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
The Utah Jazz’s Lauri Markkanen considers his options as he tries to control the ball during the first half of their preseason game against the Clippers on Sunday night in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
Clippers guard Bones Hyland drives up the court during the first half of their preseason game against the Utah Jazz on Sunday night in Honolulu. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
Clippers guard Norman Powell drives to the basket as the Utah Jazz’s Walker Kessler defends during the first half of their preseason game on Sunday night in Honolulu. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
The Utah Jazz’s Walker Kessler shoots as the Clippers’ Kenyon Martin Jr. defends during the first half of their preseason game on Sunday night in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue, center, speaks to point guard Bones Hyland during the first half of their preseason game against the Utah Jazz on Sunday night in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
Clippers guard Bones Hyland looks to shoot as Utah Jazz big man Lauri Markkanen defends during the first half of their preseason game on Sunday night in Honolulu. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
Clippers center Ivica Zubac shoots as Utah Jazz forward Kelly Olynyk defends during the first half of their preseason game on Sunday night in Honolulu. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
Clippers guard Bones Hyland drives to the basket as Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton defends during the first half of their preseason game on Sunday night in Honolulu. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
Clippers guard Bones Hyland lays the ball up during the first half of their preseason game against the Utah Jazz on Sunday night in Honolulu. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
Clippers guard Bones Hyland, left, drives to the basket in front of the Utah Jazz’s Walker Kessler during the first half of their preseason game on Sunday night in Honolulu. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
The Utah Jazz’s Omer Yurtseven, center, battles for position with the Clippers’ Moussa Diabate, left, and Amir Coffey during the second half of their preseason game on Sunday night in Honolulu. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
The Clippers’ Xavier Moon shoots during the second half of their preseason game against the Utah Jazz on Sunday night in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
Clippers guard Bones Hyland controls the ball as Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton defends during the second half of their preseason game on Sunday night in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
Utah Jazz guard Talen Horton-Tucker brings the ball up the court during the second half of their preseason game against the Clippers on Sunday night in Honolulu. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
Clippers rookie Jordan Miller attempts to save the ball from going out of bounds during the second half of their preseason game against the Utah Jazz on Sunday night in Honolulu. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
The Clippers’ Amir Coffey shoots as the Utah Jazz’s Omer Yurtseven defends during the second half of their preseason game on Sunday night in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
The Utah Jazz’s Keyonte George, right, is fouled by Clippers rookie Kobe Brown during the second half of their preseason game on Sunday night in Honolulu. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
The Clippers’ Xavier Moon goes up for a layup in front of the Utah Jazz’s Simone Fontecchio, right, during the second half of their preseason game on Sunday night in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
The Clippers’ Kenyon Martin Jr., right, tries to get by the Utah Jazz’s Walker Kessler during the second half of their preseason game on Sunday night in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
Clippers guard Bones Hyland tries to make a pass as Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton defends during the second half of their preseason game on Sunday night in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
The Utah Jazz’s Walker Kessler goes for a rebound during the second half of their preseason game against the Clippers on Sunday night in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
The Clippers’ Xavier Moon drives past the Utah Jazz’s Taylor Hendricks during the second half of their preseason game on Sunday night in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
The Clippers’ Xavier Moon shoots between the Utah Jazz’s Kris Dunn, left, and Simone Fontecchio during the second half of their preseason game on Sunday night in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
Clippers guard Bones Hyland shoots over the Utah Jazz’s Collin Sexton during the second half of their preseason game on Sunday night in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
Clippers mascot “Chuck the Condor” waves a flag before their preseason game against the Utah Jazz on Sunday night in Honolulu. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)

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HONOLULU — Clippers stars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George logged 15 first-half minutes each, while Russell Westbrook sat out the team’s preseason opener against the Utah Jazz on Sunday night in Hawaii.

Leonard had 11 points on 4-for-8 shooting to go with two rebounds, two steals and one assist, while George had eight points on 3-for-7 shooting to go with five rebounds, two assists and two steals in the Clippers’ 101-96 loss in front of a near-capacity crowd of 10,263 at the University of Hawaii’s Stan Sheriff Center.

Backup point guard Bones Hyland paced the Clippers with 18 points in 24 minutes, the only starter to play more than 20 minutes. He shot 7 for 8 from inside the arc but missed all six of his 3-point attempts and added four assists and two blocked shots.

Xavier Moon added nine points and four assists in 23 minutes, Moussa Diabate had eight points and eight rebounds in 17 minutes and Kenyon Martin Jr. had seven points and eight rebounds in 17 minutes.

Clippers coach Ty Lue had told reporters on Saturday that the team would have everyone available for the game, but some last-minute changes were made to the injury report. The team announced that veteran forward Marcus Morris would be sidelined with a left groin strain, and Lue told reporters before tip-off that Westbrook and veteran forward Nicolas Batum would be held out for rest.

With Westbrook, Batum, and Morris sidelined, the Clippers started Terance Mann alongside Leonard, George, Hyland and veteran center Ivica Zubac.

Kris Dunn made all seven of his shots and finished with 15 points and five assists to pace Utah. Former Laker Talen Horton-Tucker had 13 points and six rebounds for the Jazz, who outscored the Clippers 26-16 in the third quarter to turn a seven-point halftime deficit into a 69-66 lead.

Lauri Markkanen added 10 points and eight rebounds. Keyonte George, the 16th overall pick in this year’s draft, had 10 points and five assists, but he shot just 2 for 9 from the field (1 for 6 from 3-point range).

The teams will square off in another preseason game Tuesday night in Seattle before the Clippers return to Los Angeles after spending the first week of training camp in Hawaii.

Cristian Roldan, Sounders hand Galaxy a costly defeat

Staff and news service reports — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 05:15:31 +0000

Galaxy defender Maya Yoshida walks off the field after the team’s 2-1 loss to the Seattle Sounders on Wednesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Galaxy goalkeeper Jonathan Bond (1) can’t stop a goal by Seattle Sounders forward Jordan Morris (13) during the first half of their MLS match on Wednesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Galaxy defender Julián Aude, left, looks toward the goal as Seattle Sounders forward Jordan Morris, third from left, celebrates his goal with midfielder Albert Rusnák, second from left, and midfielder Cristian Roldan (7) during the first half of their MLS match on Wednesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Sounders forward Jordan Morris gestures to a television camera as he celebrates after scoring a goal during the first half of their MLS match against the Galaxy on Wednesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Sounders forward Jordan Morris, left, gestures to fans after scoring a goal during the first half of their MLS match against the Galaxy on Wednesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Galaxy defender Julián Aude, left, tries to work around Seattle Sounders midfielder Alex Roldan for possession of the ball during the first half of their MLS match on Wednesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei makes a leaping save in front of Galaxy forward Billy Sharp (27) during the first half of their MLS match on Wednesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Six points out of a playoff spot with three matches left, Galaxy coach Greg Vanney knows his team has no margin for error the rest of the season. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Galaxy defender Tony Alfaro (93) and midfielder Oriol Rosell, center, defend against a shot from Seattle Sounders midfielder Albert Rusnák, right, during the first half of their MLS match on Wednesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Sounders midfielder Alex Roldan, left, and Galaxy forward Diego Fagúndez vie for the ball during the first half of their MLS match on Wednesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Sounders midfielder Cristian Roldan, center, tries to regain control of the ball as he falls between Galaxy midfielder Edwin Cerrillo, left, and defender Tony Alfaro during the second half of their MLS match on Wednesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Galaxy forward Douglas Costa, left, scores as Seattle Sounders midfielder João Paulo (6) and goalkeeper Stefan Frei fail to deny him during the second half of their MLS match on Wednesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Galaxy midfielder Tyler Boyd, left, falls as he pulls on the jersey of Seattle Sounders defender Nouhou Tolo during the second half of their MLS match on Wednesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Sounders midfielder Alex Roldan (16) steals possession of the ball from Galaxy forward Diego Fagúndez, right, during the first half of their MLS match on Wednesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Sounders forward Jordan Morris, center, looks at the ball in front of Galaxy defender Maya Yoshida, right, during the second half of their MLS match on Wednesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Sounders midfielder Cristian Roldan, a former Pico Rivera El Rancho High standout, celebrates after scoring a stoppage-time goal to give his team a 2-1 victory over the Galaxy on Wednesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Sounders midfielder Cristian Roldan, right, celebrates his stoppage-time goal with Josh Atencio, left, and Nouhou Tolo in their MLS match on Wednesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Sounders midfielder Cristian Roldan, a former Pico Rivera El Rancho High standout, celebrates after scoring a stoppage-time goal to give his team a 2-1 victory over the Galaxy on Wednesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
The Seattle Sounders, including midfielder Alex Roldan, top left, and midfielder Nicolás Lodeiro (10), celebrate after Cristian Roldan scored a stoppage-time goal to give them a 2-1 victory over the Galaxy on Wednesday night in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Sounders midfielder Reed Baker-Whiting, left, and midfielder Josh Atencio, right, react as time expires in their 2-1 victory over the Galaxy on Wednesday night in Seattle. The Sounders clinched a spot in the playoffs. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

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SEATTLE — The Galaxy’s playoff hopes suffered a serious blow on Wednesday night, courtesy of a player who grew up not that far from the club’s home base.

Former Pico Rivera El Rancho High standout Cristian Roldan scored in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time as the Seattle Sounders clinched their own playoff spot and snapped a four-match winless streak at home with a 2-1 victory over the Galaxy on Wednesday night.

The loss leaves the Galaxy (8-12-11, 35 points) six points out of a Western Conference playoff spot with three matches left in the regular season. It also extended the club’s futility when it comes to solving the Sounders.

Seattle (13-9-10, 49 points) ran its unbeaten streak against the Galaxy to 11 matches (7-0-4). It is the longest unbeaten run by an opponent in the Galaxy’s storied history, and the Galaxy’s only win in the last 17 matches between the teams was a home match in 2018. The club’s last win in Seattle was a 1-0 decision in 2016.

“To lose the point at the end is heartbreaking for the group,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said. “And just, again, for the effort that the guys put in, what they’ve continued to battle against all year, but even tonight, just looking at the microcosm of tonight. They’ve battled the situation where they had to get a point.

“The mission tonight was to be in it. Take one (point) if we had to and three if we could. We felt like the three if we were even, that we would see if we could play for the three, with the mindset of not giving away the one, obviously. And so, the gut punch in the end, is that it’s the last play of the game. When they get the long throw and they’ve got some big guys in there, we’ve got to do a better job of fronting the big guys and try to make it really difficult for them to try and get the flick.

“And then, [Cristian] Roldan just runs off the back of us as we’re kind of ball watching what’s happening at the front, and Roldan sneaks in behind us as we lose our mark. And, you know, as would have it, with everything, the ball finds the guy that’s in front of the goal to finish it. So, after a ton of work, effort, not an easy place to play. I was really proud of the group. Their fight. Their spirit. And working through it in a difficult place.”

The Sounders, in second place in the Western Conference, jumped out to an early lead when Jordan Morris took a pass from João Paulo in the ninth minute and scored his 11th goal of the season.

Douglas Costa scored the equalizer for the Galaxy in the 54th minute when he used an assist from Julián Aude to score his second goal of the season.

Roldan’s winner and third goal of the season came with assists from Joshua Atencio and his younger brother Alex Roldan.

“Everybody knows how difficult it is to get a result in Seattle,” Galaxy defender Kelvin Leerdam said. “I’ve been on the other side for a long time. We put in the work, and sometimes it’s not about playing good football. Sometimes it’s about energy and fight. I think we’ve done all of that today. And then it hurts in the end if you see it go away like that. It’s just one play. One final play and we didn’t make it.”

Stefan Frei finished without a save for the Sounders. Jonathan Bond saved two shots for the Galaxy, both in the first half.

The Galaxy was coming off back-to-back 3-3 draws following a 4-3 victory – the first time in MLS history that a team played in three straight matches where both teams scored at least three goals.

The Galaxy faces one of the teams it is chasing in the standings when it travels to square off with Minnesota United (9-12-11, 38 points) on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. PT. After that, the Galaxy will close the regular season with home matches against Real Salt Lake (Oct. 14) and FC Dallas (Oct. 21), which currently sits in ninth place and holds the final Western Conference playoff spot.

“For me, it doesn’t matter who is in front of us,” Leerdam said. “We know what we have to do. We have to win all our games. So, I’m not looking at which team we’re playing, where we’re playing. I’m only thinking about winning. I think everybody in the locker room thinks that way. Today we wanted to win also. That’s why it hurts so much. I think that’s what we all care about. Forget about the names. Forget about who we play. It’s all about us now. I think we have to give it all until the final second of the season. And we know what we have to do. Nine points. That’s all that counts. Nine points.”