The No. 12 Cal baseball team (11-1-1) won its eighth straight game today at Evans Diamond by the tally of 10-4 against Loyola Marymount (7-8). The headliner of the game was supposed to be starter Tyson Ross, returning from two weeks on the injured list. Ross worked a solid three no-hit innings, before a dying quail fell in front of right fielder Blake Smith in the top of the fourth to break up the no-no. Given Smith’s toughness and grit, I expected him to dive, and it looked like Ross did too, because immediately afterward, he gave up a two-run home run. Ross gave up one more run - again on a homer - in the fifth before the weather turned chilly and damp. I’d bet that coach David Esquer pulled Ross so as to not aggravate the injury more, which is probably a good idea. He definitely was fidgeting and looked uncomfortable. (Click here to read more…)