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Houston Rocks

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American League 8, National League 6

When: 8:00 PM ET, Tuesday, July 17, 2018
Where: Nationals Park, Washington, DC
Attendance: 43,843
Recap for Digital Sports Desk by Field Level Media

WASH DC – Houston teammates Alex Bregman and George Springer hit back-to-back homers in the top of the 10th inning as the American League scored three runs and pulled out an 8-6 victory over the National League on Tuesday night at Nationals Park in Washington.

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The American League now has won six consecutive All-Star Games. There were 10 homers hit overall, five from each team, a new All-Star record.

Bregman, honored afterward as the game’s Most Valuable Player, homered to lead off the 10th against Ross Stripling of the Dodgers, and Springer blasted his on the following pitch to give the AL a 7-5 lead. Jean Segura of the Mariners, who hit a three-run homer earlier, scored later in the inning on a sacrifice fly from the Indians’ Michael Brantley.

“I was just trying to put it in play and was fortunate that it got out,” Bregman said in a TV interview.

Springer also kept things simple when he came to the plate moments later.

“This is kind of one of those things where he had a big swing, and I’m looking to hit a ball hard,” Springer said in a TV interview.

Joey Votto of the Reds, who dropped a Segura foul pop-up that allowed the Seattle star to slug his three-run homer, homered off J.A. Happ from the Blue Jays in the 10th to make it 8-6, but the American League held on.

Happ earned the save, and Edwin Diaz of the Mariners got the win.

Aaron Judge of the Yankees started the scoring in the second inning with a lead-off homer against Washington’s Max Scherzer, who started the game against left-hander Chris Sale from the Red Sox.

Mike Trout from the Angels extended it to 2-0 in the third when he hit a solo homer off Jacob deGrom of the Mets.

The National League answered in the bottom half when Cubs catcher Willson Contreras homered against Tampa Bay’s Blake Snell. That cut the lead to 2-1.

Trevor Story of Colorado tied the game in the seventh with a solo shot against Houston’s Charlie Morton. After Segura’s three-run homer in the eighth, Christian Yelich of the Brewers hit another solo homer off Morton in the bottom of the inning to cut the lead to 5-3.

Scooter Gennett of the Reds tied the game in the ninth with a two-run homer off Diaz.

Also, if various media reports are correct, Baltimore shortstop Manny Machado played as an Oriole for the last time. Numerous outlets are saying he’ll be headed to the Los Angeles Dodgers, possibly as early as Wednesday. He went 0-for-2 in this game.

“It was a tremendous honor to wear this uniform. They gave me the opportunity to play in the big leagues,” Machado said during a midgame TV interview. “That’s everyone’s dream, they gave me that. They gave me the opportunity to play shortstop again. The organization has done everything [for me].

“So if this is the last time [wearing an Orioles uniform] … hopefully I did everything I could for the organization.”

–Field Level Media

Market Gap?

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WASH DC – He may be the best player in his sport, but when it comes to popularity, Mike Trout is nowhere near the likes of LeBron James, Tom Brady or Cristiano Ronaldo. But while Major League Baseball’s failure to market the Los Angeles Angels star is commonly attributed as a major reason for that popularity gap, commissioner Rob Manfred is pointing the finger in another direction.

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Mike Trout

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Back at Trout.

Speaking at his annual All-Star Game news conference in Washington on Tuesday, hours before the game was scheduled to begin, Manfred agreed that the league should promote Trout more. But it isn’t that simple, he contends.

“Player marketing requires one thing, for sure: the player,” Manfred said. “You cannot market a player passively. You can’t market anything passively. You need people to engage with those to whom are trying to market in order to have effective marketing.”

“Mike has made decisions on what he wants to do, doesn’t want to do, how he wants to spend his free time or not spend his free time,” Manfred added. “I think we could help him make his brand very big.

“But he has to make a decision to engage. It takes time and effort.”

Trout has long contended he is far more concerned with playing baseball and trying to help the Angels win the World Series than he is with marketing himself or growing his celebrity. He does not take part in the Home Run Derby. He does not take part in the World Baseball Classic.

“I’d rather just have that night with my family, spend time with them,” Trout said of the Home Run Derby last week, according to The Orange County Register. “I just want to relax and enjoy the day. Just watch it … I just never had any interest in doing it.”

Trout has not completely avoided the commercial spotlight. Earlier in his career he was involved in a national ad campaign with Subway. He also has a big shoe deal with Nike.

“I try to do as much as I can, but keep it to a point where I can still play baseball,” Trout told USA Today on Monday when asked about endorsements and promotion off the field. “Obviously you want to get out there, but you’ve got to pick and choose, for sure.”

Trout, who will turn 27 in August, is doing just fine financially. He is scheduled to make just north of $34 million per season through 2020, then hit free agency before he is 30.

He has made the All-Star Game in every one of his full seasons, has won two American League MVPs and All-Star Game MVP awards, and is on track to post the highest single-season wins above replacement (WAR) in MLB history this season.

–Field Level Media

Spieth and the Claret Jug

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CARNOUSTIE – (Special to Digital Sports Desk by Field Level Media) – Jordan Spieth returned the Claret Jug to the R&A on Monday as part of a ceremony to kick off the 147th Open Championship at Carnoustie in Scotland.

Standing in the way of Spieth reclaiming golf’s oldest trophy on Sunday is an unfamiliar golf course playing different than most have ever seen it, and an inconsistent game that has seen him fail to win a tournament since this event last year.

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Since a Sunday rally to finish third at the Masters in April, Spieth has not posted a top-20 finish in his past six events. In his past three, Spieth has a pair of missed cuts and a tie for 42nd at the Travelers Championship three weeks ago.

Only four players have repeated as the Open champion in the past 50 years, the most recent being Padraig Harrington in 2008.

Spieth said he feels re-energized following a several-week break and that he enjoys links-style golf.

“I needed a break,” Spieth said at his Monday press conference. “I was kind of dragging along, cut-line golf for a whole, and playing a pretty heavy schedule.”

However, he still had not played a single hole at Carnoustie – the famed course that is considered the toughest in the Open rotation by many.

Players who have had a chance to get in some practice holes have reported that the course is “baked out,” with balls rolling great distances and wreaking havoc with distances and club selections.

“I haven’t played one hole yet,” Spieth said. “I talked to a couple of my friends and they said it’s extremely baked out. Michael (Greller, his caddy) said you might wear out your four or five irons off the tee, a couple of longer hitters might take driver more because I don’t think the rough is that bad.”

Spieth missed the cut at the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills and has only two top-15 finishes since the California swing ended in February. At the heart of his middling results has been an inconsistent putter. Spieth ranks fourth on the PGA Tour in greens in regulation, but 147th in total putting.

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The three-time major champion is hopeful that the unpredictability inherent with playing in The Open will bring more creativity and feel to his game.

“Coming to an Open Championship requires a lot of feel and imagination, and I think that’s what I needed a bit of in my game,” Spieth said. “I went through some stuff in my swing. I was striking it beautifully at the Masters, then struggled in New Orleans.

“I kind of struggled with overdoing it one way or overdoing it the other – getting away allowed me to come back with different feels.

“Is (my swing) as consistent as it’s ever been? Probably not. Can it be by the time I tee off? Absolutely. Does it need to be around here? Not really, no, because so much is feel.”

Spieth won by three shots at Royal Birkdale last year, and vows that he has “attacked” the phases of his game that needed work. Even if the swing is in strong form come Thursday, Spieth is well aware that the weather is among the factors that must play in your favor in order to win The Open.

“Hopefully we get a pretty even draw (with the weather),” he said. “That’s the one thing The Open can bring. You can eliminate half the field with one afternoon of bad weather, which is disappointing if you are on the wrong side.”

The Claret Jug was first awarded in 1873. Spieth has earned it once, and hopes to be in position to reclaim it Sunday afternoon.

“Having to return that was certainly difficult. Kind of hit me a little bit there on the tee box,” he said. “Hopefully it’s only out of my possession for a week because the Claret Jug is the coolest trophy that our sport has to offer.”

–Field Level Media

Tiger Readies for The Open

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CARNOUSTIE – (Wire Service Report for Digital Sports Desk by Field Level Media) – Tiger Woods is heading back to The Open for the first time since 2015, and even snuck in a few practice holes at Carnoustie Links in Scotland on Saturday before Sunday’s round.

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Tiger Woods during practice round at Carnoustie

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“I have missed not playing The Open in a while because this is our oldest tournament,” Woods told reporters. “And then coming here to Carnoustie, it is special. This is my fourth time playing it as a tournament. From my first time coming here as an amateur to being back now, it’s just amazing how this course doesn’t change. It is right in front of you.

“It’s hard. It’s probably the most difficult one we play in the whole rotation.”

Woods will make his fourth start at Carnoustie on Thursday. He first played the course as a 19-year-old amateur in 1995, getting his first taste of a links course, and then played the course as a pro in 1999 and 2007. He tied for seventh in 1999 and tied for 12th in 2007.

On Saturday evening, Woods got in eight practice holes late in the day, feeling out a course that is expected to play very long and fast in the hot, dry conditions. He teed off at No. 1 and played the first four holes before moving over to the 15th and finishing out the course.

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On Sunday, Woods hit 7-irons over 215 yards on the third and fourth tees, with a club he normally hits about 180 yards. Adjusting to the speed of the course — with the fairways running extremely fast — will be a key challenge for the entire field at this year’s Open.

“It is mainly trajectory,” Woods said of adjusting to the course and links play. “You can get the same numbers [yardages] with different trajectories. That’s what is going to be important, how hot you want the ball coming into the fairways. You can really make the ball roll 60, 70, 80 yards. Is it really worth it or not? Some of the holes, can you carry bunkers? It is a risk/reward golf course, and the way it is set up right now, it is going to play very narrow because it is so fast.”

This will be Woods’ 20th Open appearance, and he has won three times. He missed the tournament in 2008 and 2011 and again in each of the past to years due to back problems.

“We have a long way to go,” he said. “And I have to spend the next few days getting a feel for this type of golf again.”

–Field Level Media

Harper Takes HR Derby

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WASH DC – Hometown favorite Bryce Harper of Washington rallied from a slow start in the final round and edged Kyle Schwarber of the Chicago Cubs 19-18 to win the Home Run Derby on Monday night at Nationals Park.

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Harper is the third player to win the Home Run Derby at his home park, joining Todd Frazier in Cincinnati (2015) and Ryne Sandberg at Wrigley Field in Chicago (1990).

Harper finished second in the 2013 Derby, but things went better this time.

Schwarber went first and banged 18 homers. Harper had just nine with 1 minute, 20 seconds left in his four-minute time frame, but then crushed homers on nine straight swings.

He had earned 30 seconds of extra time to hit and homered on the second pitch from his father, Ron, to win it. Harper said he knew when calling timeout with 1:20 left that things needed to change.

“I [knew] I better figure it out or I’m going to lose,” Harper told ESPN.”To be able to do that with [my father] is a dream come true.”

The semifinals began with a battle between Schwarber and Rhys Hoskins of the Philadelphia Phillies. Hoskins opened by blasting 20 homers, the highest number that had been hit to that point.

Schwarber started slowly but picked up steam late during his four-minute run and outlasted Hoskins, 21-20, with the deciding homer coming as time ran out.

“It was a ton of fun,” Schwarber told ESPN.

The other semifinal saw Max Muncy of the Los Angeles Dodgers go against Harper. Muncy hit 12 homers, and Harper started slowly before going on a tear and scoring a 13-12 victory — getting the go-ahead homer with 1:11 still left on the clock.

Hoskins, the No. 8 seed, pulled the biggest upset of the first round when he knocked off top-seeded Jesus Aguilar from the Milwaukee Brewers, 17-12, in the first matchup.

Next, Schwarber edged the Houston Astros’ Alex Bregman, 16-15. Muncy followed with another victory by one, 17-16, over Javier Baez of the Cubs.

Harper took on Freddie Freeman from the Atlanta Braves and hit several long shots en route to a 13-12 victory.

–Field Level Media

Celtics Guarantee Ojeleye

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BOSTON – The Boston Celtics are keeping forward Semi Ojeleye on the roster and have waived guard Kadeem Allen. Both players’ 2018-19 salaries would become guaranteed if they were on the roster beyond Sunday evening. Ojeleye is now guaranteed $1.38 million this season after making $1.29 million last year. Allen was on a two-way contract and was waived with the expectation that Boston will sign another two-way player.

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Celtics Danny Ainge (l).

Ojeleye, 23, averaged 2.7 points and 2.2 rebounds in 15.8 minutes per game in 73 games off the bench for the Celtics last year. Boston took him with the 37th pick in the 2017 draft out of SMU.

Allen, 25, was taken 16 picks later by the Celtics last year and signed a two-way deal last summer. He appeared in just 18 NBA games (starting one) as a rookie, scoring 19 points in 107 total minutes. He averaged 17.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 2.2 steals in 34 games (33 starts) for Boston’s G League affiliate, the Maine Red Claws.

The Celtics now have 13 guaranteed contracts on the roster for the 2018-19 season.

–Field Level Media

Hart MVP for Summer of ’18

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LAS VEGAS – Los Angeles Lakers guard Josh Hart was named Most Valuable Player of MGM Resorts NBA Summer League 2018.  The 6-5 guard also headlines the All-NBA Summer League Teams. despite Hart’s MVP efforts, the NBA Summer League, an 82-game, 12-day event showcasing all 30 NBA teams for the first time, culminated with the second-seeded Portland Trail Blazers winning the championship.

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Boston did not place a player on the first or second team stars.

Hart averaged an NBA Summer League-leading 24.2 points (on 47.1 percent shooting from the field), 5.2 rebounds and 1.5 steals in six games.  He scored 27 points and added six rebounds, three assists and three steals in the Lakers’ 109-92 victory over the New York Knicks on July 10.  In the tournament semifinals on July 16, Hart recorded 37 points and nine rebounds to lead the Lakers past the Cleveland Cavaliers 112-109 in double overtime.

Joining Hart on the MGM Resorts All-NBA Summer League First Team are Chicago Bulls forward Wendell Carter Jr., Knicks forward Kevin Knox, Cavaliers guard Collin Sexton and Milwaukee Bucks center Christian Wood.

The All-NBA Summer League Second Team is composed of Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton, Trail Blazers guard Wade Baldwin IV, Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr., Lakers forward Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk and Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young.

A media panel selected Hart as MVP and voted for the MGM Resorts All-NBA Summer League Teams.

All-NBA Summer League First Team

Wendell Carter Jr. (Chicago)

Josh Hart (Los Angeles Lakers)

Kevin Knox (New York)

Collin Sexton (Cleveland)

Christian Wood (Milwaukee)

All-NBA Summer League Second Team

Deandre Ayton (Phoenix)

Wade Baldwin IV (Portland)

Jaren Jackson Jr. (Memphis)

Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk (Los Angeles Lakers)

Trae Young (Atlanta)

NCAA Final Four Galore

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INDIANAPLOIS – The NCAA announced Monday that it has selected Houston, Phoenix, San Antonio and Indianapolis to host the Final Four from 2023 through 2026, respectively.

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All four cities have hosted the event in the past. The three finalist venues that were not selected included Detroit, Los Angeles and Arlington, Texas.

Members of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee toured all seven finalist cities during a yearlong selection process. Representatives from each city gave an in-person presentation last week in Boston at the committee’s annual summer meeting.

Houston has hosted the Final Four in 1971, 2011 and 2016. Phoenix has hosted once (2017), San Antonio has hosted four times (1998, 2004, 2008, 2018) and Indianapolis has hosted seven times (1980, 1991, 1997, 2000, 2006, 2010, 2015). The NCAA is based in downtown Indianapolis, with its headquarters located a short walk from Lucas Oil Stadium.

The next eight sites for the Final Four now are set:

2019: Minneapolis
2020: Atlanta
2021: Indianapolis
2022: New Orleans
2023: Houston
2024: Phoenix
2025: San Antonio
2026: Indianapolis

–Field Level Media

MLB All-Star Game Scout

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National League at American League
When: 8:00 PM ET, Tuesday, July 17, 2018
Where: Nationals Park, Washington, District of Columbia
Preview for Digital Sports Desk by Gracenote

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Boston’s All-Star OF Mookie Betts
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The American League has dominated its older counterpart for the better part of the last three decades but is just now getting the opportunity to pull ahead in the overall series when the Midsummer Classic visits Washington on Tuesday. The game will take place in an NL park for the fourth consecutive summer, but the AL won the last five and 23 of the last 30 – including a 2-1 victory in 10 innings last season – to draw even in the all-time series at 43-43-2.The AL is stacked again on offense and brings the major’s leading hitter – Boston’s Mookie Betts (.359) – along with the top two home run hitters – Boston’s J.D. Martinez and Cleveland’s Jose Ramirez (29 each) – and the game’s top player in Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout. Betts and Martinez headline a quintet of players along with left-hander Chris Sale, closer Craig Kimbrel and first baseman Mitch Moreland coming from the major-league best Red Sox, who cruised into the break 38 games over .500. The NL starting lineup combines exciting young players (Chicago second baseman Javier Baez and catcher Willson Contreras) with some veterans returning to the All-Star Game after putting together surprising first halves (Los Angeles outfielder Matt Kemp, Atlanta outfielder Nick Markakis). The NL team will be led by hometown star Bryce Harper, who comes into the break tied for second in the NL with 23 homers but batting .214 with 102 strikeouts as he tries to impress potential suitors before hitting free agency in the offseason.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, FOX

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox LH Chris Sale (10-4, 2.23 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Max Scherzer (12-5, 2.41)

The AL is just as stout on the pitching side and could have given the start to several pitchers but tabbed Sale to make his third consecutive All-Star start. Sale is in the midst of a remarkable stretch of five consecutive starts with at least 11 strikeouts and no more than one walk, and he leads the AL in ERA and strikeouts (188). AL manager A.J. Hinch will back up Sale with a staff that includes staff aces Luis Severino (Yankees) and Blake Snell (Tampa Bay) along with MLB saves leader Edwin Diaz (Seattle).

Scherzer will make his second consecutive All-Star start and third overall, including one for the AL as a member of the Detroit Tigers in 2013, and rolls into the break tied for the NL lead in wins while ranking third in ERA and first in strikeouts (182). Scherzer will be backed up by MLB ERA leader Jacob deGrom (1.68) and budding young stars like Aaron Nola (Philadelphia) and Mike Foltynewicz (Atlanta). The NL bullpen features a pair of relievers who figure to have their names called out around the trade deadline in San Diego’s Brad Hand and Pittsburgh’s Felipe Vazquez.

WALK-OFFS

1. Royals C Salvador Perez will replace Rays C Wilson Ramos (hamstring) in the starting lineup.

2. Reigning AL Cy Young Award winner RHP Corey Kluber (Cleveland) and World Series hero RHP Justin Verlander (Houston) will be inactive for the game.

3. Betts will bat leadoff for the AL while the Baez starts things off for the NL lineup.

Scherzer and Sale to Start

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WASH DC – For the second year in a row, Chris Sale of Boston and Max Scherzer of Washington will be the starting pitchers in the All-Star Game, the managers announced Monday.

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Max Scherzer (31), Dave Roberts (30), AJ Hinch (14) and Chris Sale.

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American League manager AJ Hinch of the Houston Astros selected Sale to start Tuesday’s game. This will be the third consecutive start for left-hander, who joins Lefty Gomez (American League, 1933-35) and Robin Roberts (National League, 1953-55) as the only pitchers to start three All-Star games in a row.

Sale is 10-4 on the season with a 2.23 ERA. The 29-year-old has started 20 games and struck out a league-high 188 batters in 129 innings.

“Obviously, I appreciate it. It’s a big honor,” Sale told the media of earning another start. “I know this hasn’t happened very often in a long time. I appreciate it. I’m going to try and have some fun with it. That’s why we’re all here, too. Grip and rip, and try to get a win.”

Scherzer, 33, will start for the National League squad, managed by the Dodgers’ Dave Roberts, in his home ballpark. The Nationals’ right-hander is 12-5 in 20 starts on the year. His 182 strikeouts and 134 2/3 innings lead the NL.

He becomes the 12th pitcher to start an All-Star Game on his home field. The last one time that occurred was 2013, when former New York Mets pitcher Matt Harvey started the game at Citi Field.

Game time is at 8 p.m. ET Tuesday. Coverage begins on FOX at 7:30 p.m.

–Field Level Media

MLB All-Stars: Let’s Get It On!

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WASH DC – In addition to announcing Chris Sale and Max Scherzer as their starters, AL and NL Managers, AJ Hinch of Houston and Dave Roberts of the LA Dodgers, respectively announced their full starting line-ups for the annual MLB All-Star Game:

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The Boston Red Sox 2018 All-Stars

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Here are the full lineups:

American League

1. Mookie Betts, RF, Boston

2. Jose Altuve, 2B, Houston

3. Mike Trout, CF, Los Angeles

4. J.D. Martinez, DH, Boston

5. Jose Ramirez, 3B, Cleveland

6. Aaron Judge, LF, New York

7. Manny Machado, SS, Baltimore

8. Jose Abreu, 1B, Chicago

9. Salvador Perez, C, Kansas City

National League

1. Javier Baez, 2B, Chicago

2. Nolan Arenado, 3B, Colorado

3. Paul Goldschmidt, DH, Arizona

4. Freddie Freeman, 1B, Atlanta

5. Matt Kemp, LF, Los Angeles

6. Bryce Harper, CF, Washington

7. Nick Markakis, RF, Atlanta

8. Brandon Crawford, SS, San Francisco

9. Willson Contreras, C, Chicago

Game time is at 8 p.m. ET Tuesday. Coverage begins on FOX at 7:30 p.m.

Hinch and Roberts also announced a pair of New York pitchers will come in after the starters: the Yankees’ Luis Severino and the Mets’ Jacob deGrom.

–Field Level Media

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