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DIGITAL SPORTS DESK The Lede Game Scout: Twins at Sox

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Minnesota at Boston
When: 7:10 PM ET, Monday, June 26, 2017
Where: Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts
Preview for Digital Sports Desk by Gracenote

BOSTON – The Boston Red Sox have had multiple opportunities to move up in the standings over the last two weeks but seem to be stuck in neutral. The Red Sox will try to pull out of a brief slide and turn the momentum back in a positive direction when they host the surging Minnesota Twins in the opener of a four-game series on Monday.

Boston Red Sox v Philadelphia Phillies

Starting pitcher Chris Sale of the Boston Red Sox delivers a pitch in the second inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on June 15, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Drew Hallowell/Getty Images)

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Boston dropped six of its last 10 games, including two of three to the Los Angeles Angels to begin the seven-game homestand, and remains in a virtual first-place tie with the New York Yankees in the American League East. The Red Sox managed a total of five runs in losses on Saturday and Sunday, going a combined 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position while leaving 11 men on base. The Twins went through their own funk recently that put their position atop the AL Central in jeopardy but pulled out of it with wins in five of six, including a three-game sweep at Cleveland over the weekend in which they outscored the rival Indians 13-2 to retake first place. Minnesota will try to keep the stellar pitching performances coming behind Jose Berrios on Monday while Boston counters with ace Chris Sale.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FSN North (Minnesota), NESN (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Jose Berrios (7-1, 2.67 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH Chris Sale (9-3, 2.85)

Berrios is establishing himself as one of the best young starters in the AL and is enjoying a streak of four straight wins. The 23-year-old went eight innings in each of his last two starts while allowing a total of four runs and striking out 14 with two walks. Berrios is making his first career start against the Red Sox and is 4-0 with a 2.84 ERA in four road starts.

Sale leads the majors with 146 strikeouts and punched out 10 over 8 1/3 innings in a win at Kansas City on Tuesday. The Florida native has issued just 19 walks in 107 1/3 innings but surrendered a pair of home runs against the Royals to snap a stretch of three straight outings without a long ball. Sale struck out 10 in six innings and got plenty of support in a win at Minnesota on May 7 that ended up a 17-6 final in favor of Boston.

WALK-OFFS

1. Red Sox LHP David Price has a cracked fingernail on his pitching hand but is expected to make his next start.

2. Minnesota 1B Joe Mauer is 7-for-14 over the last four games.

3. Boston RF Mookie Betts is 3-for-24 over his last six contests.

NBA Awards: All-Rookie Team

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NEW YORK – (Staff report from Official News Release) – Milwaukee Bucks guard Malcolm Brogdon and Philadelphia 76ers forward Dario Saric have been unanimously selected to the 2016-17 NBA All-Rookie First Team, the NBA announced today.  Both players received all 100 First Team votes from a global panel of sportswriters and broadcasters.

Milwaukee Bucks v Boston Celtics

NBA All-Rookie team member Malcolm Brogdon #13 of the Milwaukee Bucks drives against Isaiah Thomas #4 of the Boston Celtics during the first quarter at TD Garden on March 29, 2017 in Boston, (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

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Joining Brogdon and Saric on the First Team are 76ers center Joel Embiid (171 points, 82 First Team votes), Sacramento Kings guard Buddy Hield (154 points, 63 First Team votes) and New York Knicks center Willy Hernangomez (128 points, 44 First Team votes).

Brogdon, Saric and Embiid are the three finalists for the 2016-17 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year Award.  The winner will be announced tonight during the inaugural NBA Awards, which will be televised live by TNT at 9 p.m. ET.

This season marks the first time since the annual honor was first presented 54 years ago that the NBA All-Rookie First Team includes four international players: Saric (Croatia), Embiid (Cameroon), Hield (Bahamas) and Hernangomez (Spain).  The previous record was three international players on the NBA All-Rookie First Team.

The NBA All-Rookie Second Team consists of Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (123 points, 34 First Team votes), Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown (106 points, 24 First Team votes), Phoenix Suns forward Marquese Chriss (91 points, 20 First Team votes), Los Angeles Lakers forward Brandon Ingram (83 points, 11 First Team votes) and Dallas Mavericks guard Yogi Ferrell (63 points, 7 First Team votes).

The voting panel was asked to select five players for the First Team and five players for the Second Team at any position.  Two points were awarded for First Team votes and one point for Second Team votes.

Brogdon led rookies in assists (4.2 apg) and steals (1.12 spg) and ranked second in three-point field goal percentage (40.4) and free throw percentage (86.5).  He was also third in field goal percentage (45.7) and fourth in scoring (10.2 ppg).  A second-round pick (36th overall) in NBA Draft 2016 presented by State Farm, Brogdon became the first Bucks rookie ever to record a regular-season triple-double when he posted 15 points and career highs of 12 assists and 11 rebounds against the Chicago Bulls on Dec. 31, 2016.

Represented by Saric and Embiid, the 76ers are the first team with multiple players on the NBA All-Rookie First Team since 2008.  Saric was the second-leading scorer (12.8 ppg) and third-leading rebounder (6.3 rpg) among rookies, raising his averages to 17.9 points and 7.3 rebounds over the last 30 of his 81 games.  Embiid averaged rookie bests of 20.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.45 blocks in 31 games.

Hield paced rookies in three-pointers made (148), ranked third in scoring (10.6 ppg) and finished fourth in three-point field goal percentage (39.1).  In 25 games with Sacramento after being acquired in a trade with the New Orleans Pelicans on Feb. 20, Hield averaged 15.1 points and 4.1 rebounds and shot 48.0 percent from the field and 42.8 percent from beyond the arc.

Hernangomez topped first-year players in field goal percentage (52.9) and double-doubles (11) to go with 8.2 points and 7.0 rebounds (second among rookies).  After Embiid won the first three Kia NBA Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month awards of the season and Saric was honored with the next two, Hernangomez earned the accolade in April behind averages of 12.5 points and 8.5 rebounds.

Below are the voting totals for the 2016-17 NBA All-Rookie Teams:

Other players receiving votes, with point totals (first-place votes in parentheses): Rodney McGruder, Miami, 61 (7); Caris LeVert, Brooklyn, 36 (2); Domantas Sabonis, Oklahoma City, 19 (4); Tyler Ulis, Phoenix, 10 (1); Patrick McCaw, Golden State, 8; Skal Labissiere, Sacramento, 7 (1); Kris Dunn, Minnesota, 5; Juancho Hernangomez, Denver, 5; Taurean Prince, Atlanta, 5; Isaiah Whitehead, Brooklyn, 5; Alex Abrines, Oklahoma City, 4; Davis Bertans, San Antonio, 3; Dejounte Murray, San Antonio, 3; Thon Maker, Milwaukee, 3; Andrew Harrison, Memphis, 2; Fred VanVleet, Toronto, 1; Dragan Bender, Phoenix, 1; DeAndre’ Bembry, Atlanta, 1; Jakob Poeltl, Toronto, 1; Malcolm Delaney, Atlanta, 1.

NBA Awards: All-Defensive Team

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NEW YORK – (Staff report from Official News Release) – Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green, Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert and San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard – the three finalists for the 2016-17 Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award – lead the 2016-17 NBA All-Defensive First Team, the NBA announced .

2017 NBA Finals - Game Five

Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors reacts late in the game in his teams 129-120 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 5 of the 2017 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 12, 2017 in Oakland, California.  (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

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Green (198 points, 99 First Team votes), Gobert (196 points, 97 First Team votes) and Leonard (192 points, 93 First Team votes) were overwhelming choices for the First Team, as selected by a global panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters.

The three players are vying for the Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award, with the winner announced tonight during the inaugural NBA Awards live on TNT (9 p.m. ET). Leonard earned the honor in each of the last two seasons, while Green finished second both times.

The 2016-17 NBA All-Defensive First Team also features guards Chris Paul of the LA Clippers (140 points, 61 First Team votes) and Patrick Beverley of the Houston Rockets (110 points, 38 First Team votes). Paul was named to the First Team for the sixth consecutive season and the seventh time overall. Beverley, a 2013-14 NBA All-Defensive Second Team choice, was selected to the First Team for the first time.

The NBA All-Defensive Second Team consists of guards Tony Allen of the Memphis Grizzlies (80 points, 17 First Team votes) and Danny Green of the Spurs (68 points, 21 First Team votes), center Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans (58 points) and forwards Andre Roberson of the Oklahoma City Thunder (53 points, 3 First Team votes) and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks (35 points, 7 First Team votes).

Players were awarded two points for each First Team vote and one point for each Second Team vote. Voters were asked to select two guards, two forwards and one center for each team, choosing players at the position they play regularly. Players who received votes at multiple positions were slotted at the position where they received the most votes.

Green, who led the NBA in steals (2.03 spg) and became the first player in Warriors history to record at least 150 steals and 100 blocked shots in a season, made the NBA All-Defensive First Team for the third season in a row. Leonard was also selected to the First Team for the third straight year, while Gobert earned his first nod after leading the NBA in blocks (2.64 bpg). Behind their respective Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year finalists, San Antonio (first), Golden State (second) and Utah (third) posted the NBA’s three best defensive ratings during the regular season.

Below are the voting results for the 2016-17 NBA All-Defensive Teams:
Other players receiving votes, with point totals (First Team votes in parentheses): Avery Bradley, Boston, 46 (12); Klay Thompson, Golden State, 45 (16); John Wall, Washington, 38 (14); DeAndre Jordan, LA Clippers, 35 (1); Paul Millsap, Atlanta, 35; Hassan Whiteside, Miami, 25 (1); Marcus Smart, Boston, 21 (5); Jimmy Butler, Chicago, 18; LeBron James, Cleveland, 12 (1); Robert Covington, Philadelphia, 11 (2); Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City, 10 (5); Paul George, Indiana, 7; Kevin Durant, Golden State, 6; Dwight Howard, Atlanta, 6 (1); Mike Conley, Memphis, 5 (1); Jae Crowder, Boston, 5; Jrue Holiday, New Orleans, 5; Wesley Matthews, Dallas, 4 (2); Stephen Curry, Golden State, 3; Andre Iguodala, Golden State, 3 (1); Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Charlotte, 3; Ricky Rubio, Minnesota, 3; P.J. Tucker, Toronto, 3; Trevor Ariza, Houston, 2; Nicolas Batum, Charlotte, 2; Marc Gasol, Memphis, 2; Eric Gordon, Houston, 2 (1); Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota, 2 (1); Steven Adams, Oklahoma City, 1; LaMarcus Aldridge, San Antonio, 1; Al-Farouq Aminu, Portland, 1; Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Detroit, 1; George Hill, Utah, 1; Serge Ibaka, Toronto, 1; Damian Lillard, Portland, 1; Luc Mbah a Moute, LA Clippers, 1; Austin Rivers, LA Clippers, 1; Isaiah Thomas, Boston, 1; Cody Zeller, Charlotte, 1.

Spieth Takes The Travelers

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CROMWELL (Conn) – (Wire Service Report for Digital Sports Desk by The Sports Xchange) – Jordan Spieth holed a miraculous 60-foot shot from the bunker for the winning playoff birdie on Sunday to win the Travelers Championship at Cromwell, Connecticut.  Spieth, who had a final-round 70, pitched the shot out of the sand and the ball went directly toward the hole before dropping in. He fired his pitching wedge into the ground, did a chest-bump with his caddie and celebrated wildly after the improbable shot.
“For the bunker shot to go in, that was awesome,” Spieth said afterward. “I don’t know if I’ll ever have a moment like that again.”
GOLF: JUN 25 PGA - Travelers Championship - Final Round

CROMWELL, CT – JUNE 25: Jordan Spieth, of the United States, and caddie Michael Greller react to his birdie from the beach in the playoff during the final round of the Travelers Championship on June 25, 2017, at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut. (Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images).

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His four-round score was 12-under 268, the same total as Daniel Berger, who birdied three of the final six holes to force the playoff with a 67.
Spieth, 23, has 10 PGA Tour victories, joining Tiger Woods as the only players in the modern golf era to reach that total before the age of 24. Woods won 15.
He was in awe while discussing the milestone.
“I’m hesitant and will speak out adamantly about not comparing myself to anybody else. I think that’s unfair,” Spieth said. “I don’t think anybody will do what Tiger did for the game, but it’s really cool to be out here at my age, to experience what we’re able to experience, play golf for a living.
“That’s a dream come true for me.”
Berger came up empty on a 50-foot birdie putt that would have forced a second playoff hole.
“I played the playoff hole great,” Berger said. “He hit an unbelievable bunker shot, and Jordan does Jordan things. So, there’s not really much you can say. I’m obviously disappointed, but happy to be in the position I was in today.”
Ironically, Spieth found himself on the same bunker when he played 18 in regulation. On that occasion, his shot from the sand stopped three feet short of the hole.
“I felt more comfortable in the bunker than I did from four feet,” Spieth said. “I was in there in regulation, knew it was the place to be. So, my approach shot I thought that if it were not going to carry, that bunker’s not bad. If it happens to carry on to the green, great. From 225 into this hole I was happy with where it was.
I was just trying to get it up there somewhere around the hole.”
Charley Hoffman (66) and New Zealand’s Danny Lee (67) finished third at 10 under. Patrick Reed (66), England’s Paul Casey (69) and Boo Weekley (72) were another shot back.
Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, who barely made the cut on Friday, finished with a 64 and tied for 17th at 274

 

Red Sox Honor Big Papi w No. 34

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BOSTON — (Special to Digital Sports Desk by The Sports Xchange) – David Ortiz had seemingly won and done it all throughout his storied 20-year career.

Three World Series championships and a World Series MVP Award. Seven American League Silver Slugger and two Hank Aaron awards. Ten All-Star Game appearances.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim v Boston Red Sox

BOSTON, MA – JUNE 23: Former Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz reacts during his number retirement ceremony at Fenway Park on June 23, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Michael Ivins/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Oh, and an unforgettable ALCS MVP performance in 2004 against the New York Yankees to help lead the Boston Red Sox to their first World Series title in 86 years.

But the honor bestowed upon the man they call Big Papi on Friday night at Fenway Park cemented his legacy forever in the city of Boston.

“That happening to me today, it’s a super honor to be out there hanging with those guys,” Ortiz said after the Red Sox retired his iconic No. 34 in a pregame ceremony.

Ortiz is the 11th player to have his number retired by the Red Sox and the first since the team retired Wade Boggs’ No. 26 last May.

“Those guys, those numbers have a lot of good baseball in it,” Ortiz said. “It takes a special people to do a special thing and … be able to have their number retired up there.”

Pedro Martinez, who had his No. 45 retired by the team in 2015 and lobbied the Red Sox to sign Ortiz as a free agent, was among Ortiz’s former teammates present at the ceremony and addressed the crowd.

Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia, who teamed with Ortiz on the 2007 and 2013 World Series teams, also spoke.

Ortiz spent 14 of his 20 seasons with the Red Sox from 2003 to 2016 after breaking in with the Twins and playing six seasons with Minnesota.

The family of late Twins great Kirby Puckett, who Ortiz said wore the number 34 in honor of, also greeted Ortiz on the field during the ceremony.

“When I first started wearing the jersey, that number, I was just happy and proud of doing it because of him,” Ortiz said. “Never thought about my number being, hanging up there with all those legendaries.”

Ortiz hit .290 with 483 home runs and 1,530 RBIs in 1,953 career games with Boston. He trails only Ted Williams on the Red Sox’s all-time home runs list and ranks third in franchise history in RBIs.

Asked about his future with the organization, Ortiz said he has been in conversation with Boston’s front office about a role with the team but hasn’t hammered anything down yet.

“It’s going to happen,” he said. “At some point, I’m going to be able to help out somehow, some way.”

NBA: 76ers Build “The Program”

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NEW YORK — For the last four years, the mantra of the Philadelphia 76ers has been trust “the process.” Now, they must build “the program.”

As the anticipation intensified and commissioner Adam Silver said the 76ers “were on the clock,” fans at Barclays Center began chanting to express their excitement to another young piece being added to Philadelphia.With about 90 seconds left in the Sixers’ allotted five minutes, Markelle Fultz officially became the first overall pick in Thursday’s draft.

2017 NBA Draft

Markelle Fultz selected number one overall by the Philadelphia 76ers talks with the media at the 2017 NBA Draft on June 22, 2017 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. (Michael J. Lebrecht II /NBAE via Getty Images)

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The former Washington point guard averaged 23.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.9 assists in 25 games. In his only collegiate season, Fultz shot 47.6 percent from the field, made 41.3 percent of his 3-point attempts, reached double figures 24 times and set a school record for points by a freshman with 579.

“I’m very excited really, just like the fans in Philly, how they back up their players and everything like that,” Fultz said. “And I’m just looking forward to going in there and giving it my all and hopefully changing the program around.”

The performance at Washington capped a meteoric rise on the amateur level for Fultz. Cut from the varsity team as a sophomore at DeMatha Catholic High School in 2013 because he was only 5 feet 9, Fultz dominated opponents on the junior varsity level and then continued his stellar performances in his final two years at high school.

“I figured out I had a chance to make it there (the NBA) probably (in) my 11th grade,” he said. “I just realized that I was doing stuff that other kids weren’t doing and it just started to work out for me.”

When Fultz was cut from the high school team, the Celtics had recently acquired the pick from the Brooklyn Nets in July 2013. The Celtics were looking to rebuild after six seasons with Kevin Garnett paired with Paul Pierce and the Nets were looking to win instantly in their second season in Brooklyn.

Neither side anticipated the deal would become so lopsided in favor of the Celtics, but the Nets posted the league’s worst record last season, setting in motion the chain of events leading Fultz to become a 76er.

Fultz was all set to become a Celtic, but on Monday the pick was officially dealt to Philadelphia. The deal was first reported on Saturday and when it was apparent the trade was going to occur, Fultz quickly worked out for the 76ers after a short drive from Maryland.

“That morning I woke up, I didn’t know where I was going,” Fultz said. “I didn’t know (who) I was working out for.”

Last season, the 76ers held the top pick for the first time since drafting Hall of Famer Allen Iverson in 1996 and selected Ben Simmons. Simmons injured a foot in training camp and never played while the Sixers improved their win total by 18 games to 28.

Now they are hoping for more with the trio of Fultz, Simmons and entertaining center Joel Embiid.

After Fultz was picked, fellow freshman Lonzo Ball was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers with the second pick. The Lakers used their third straight No. 2 pick on Ball, who averaged 14.6 points and led the nation with 7.6 assists per game in his only season at UCLA.

Ball was projected to be picked by the Lakers’ new front office of Hall of Famer Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka. It became even more apparent the Lakers were going to select him once D’Angelo Russell was traded to Brooklyn for Brook Lopez.

The Celtics used the third pick on Duke’s Jayson Tatum but also were reportedly in talks with Indiana for Paul George.

The Suns picked fourth for the second straight year and selected Josh Jackson from Kansas. In his only season in college, Jackson averaged 16.3 points and 7.4 rebounds.

Sacramento was the only team with two lottery picks.

The Kings’ first pick at No. 5 was guard De’Aaron Fox of Kentucky and they selected Zach Collins of Gonzaga at No. 10 with the pick obtained from New Orleans for DeMarcus Cousins. They later traded the rights to Collins to the Trail Blazers for North Carolina’s Justin Jackson (selected with the No. 15 pick) and the 20th pick.

Orlando selected Florida State forward Jonathan Issac at No. 6 and Minnesota picked Arizona forward Lauri Markkanen, who is heading to Chicago as part of the deal that sent Jimmy Butler to the Timberwolves.

At No. 8, the Knicks picked French point guard Frank Ntilikina, who heard a mix of cheers and boos from fans. Before Sacramento used its second top-10 selection, Dallas made North Carolina State point guard Dennis Smith the ninth pick.

The first surprise might have been Malik Monk falling out of the top 10. Monk, who averaged 19.8 points in his only season at Kentucky, went at No. 11 to the Charlotte Hornets.

Luke Kennard was the second Duke player selected when the Detroit Pistons took him at No. 12 to improve a team that posted the third-worst 3-point percentage last season. Kennard averaged 19.5 points and shot 43.8 percent from long range.

Denver picked Louisville’s Donovan Mitchell at No. 13 and sent the guard to the Utah Jazz for Trey Lyles and the No. 24 pick.

Bam Adebayo became the third Kentucky player picked when the forward went to the Miami Heat at No. 14.

Portland picked Jackson at No. 15. The Trail Blazers traded him and the 20th pick to the Sacramento Kings for the rights to Collins.The Bulls picked Creighton’s Justin Patton at No. 16 and sent him to Minnesota in the Butler trade.

Milwaukee picked Michigan’s D.J. Wilson at No. 17, Indiana selected UCLA forward T.J. Leaf with the 18th pick, Atlanta used the 19th pick on Wake Forest forward John Collins and Portland chose Duke’s Harry Giles at No. 20, who was then traded to Sacramento.

At No. 21, Oklahoma City selected Terrance Ferguson, who played in Australia after initialing committing to Arizona out of high school. Brooklyn picked Jarrett Allen out of Texas at No. 22, Toronto picked Indiana forward OG Anunoby with the 23rd pick and Utah picked Syracuse’s Tyler Lydon at No. 24 though he was traded to Denver.

Latvian center Anzejs Pasecniks was picked by Orlando at 25 and he was then traded to Philadelphia. Portland picked Purdue forward Caleb Swanigan at No. 26. Utah forward Kyle Kuzma went to Brooklyn at No. 27, and he was included in the D’Angelo Russell-Brook Lopez deal with the Lakers.

North Carolina forward Tony Bradley went No. 28 to the Lakers, though he was reportedly traded to the Utah Jazz for the 30th pick and a second-round pick. The San Antonio Spurs picked Colorado point guard Derrick White at No. 29 and Utah ended the first round by taking Villanova guard Josh Hart though he was reportedly sent to the Lakers.

  • Below are the picks from the second round. Trades denoted with a letter.31. A — Charlotte (from Atlanta via from Brooklyn) — G — Frank Jackson, Duke32. Phoenix — G Davon Reed, Miami (Fla.)33. Orlando (from Los Angeles Lakers) — G — Wesley Iwandu, Kansas State34. Sacramento (from Philadelphia via New Orleans) — G Frank Mason, Kansas35. B — Orlando — F Ivan Rabb, California

    36. Philadelphia (from New York via Utah and Toronto) — F Jonah Bolden (Australia)

    37. Boston (from Minnesota via Phoenix) — F Semi Ojeleye, SMU

    38. C — Chicago (from Sacramento via Cleveland) — F Jordan Bell, Oregon

    39. Philadelphia (from Dallas) — G Jawun Evans, Oklahoma State

    40. New Orleans — G Dwayne Bacon, Florida State

    41. Atlanta — G Tyler Dorsey, Oregon

    42. D — Utah (from Detroit) — C Thomas Bryant, Indiana

    43. Houston (from Denver) — F Isaiah Hartenstein (Lithuania)

    44. New York (from Chicago) — G Damyean Dotson, Houston

    45. E — Houston (from Portland) — F Dillon Brooks, Oregon

    46. Philadelphia (from Miami via Atlanta) — G Sterling Brown, SMU

    47. Indiana — C Ike Anigbogu, UCLA

    48. Milwaukee — G Sindarius Thornwell, South Carolina

    49. Denver (from Memphis via Oklahoma City) — F Vlatko Cancar (Slovenia)

    50. Philadelphia (from Atlanta) — F Mathias Lessort, (France)

    51. Denver (from Oklahoma City) — G Monte Morris (Iowa State)

    52. F –New Orleans — G Edmond Sumner, Xavier

    53. Boston (from Cleveland) — G Kadeem Allen, Arizona

    54. Phoenix (from Toronto) — F Alec Peters, Valparaiso

    55. Utah — G Nigel Williams-Goss, Gonzaga

    56. Boston (from LA Clippers) — G Jabari Bird, California

    57. Brooklyn (from Boston) — F Alexandar Vezenkov (FC Barcelona)

    58. New York (from Houston) — G Ogunjen Jaramaz (Mega Bemax, Serbia)

    59. San Antonio — F Jarron Blossingame, Clemson

    60. Atlanta (from Golden State via Philadelphia and Utah) — F Alpha Kaba (France)

    A — Traded to Pelicans for Dwayne Bacon and financial considerations

    B — Traded to Memphis for a future second-round pick

    C — Traded to Golden State for financial considerations

    D — Traded to the Lakers along with Josh Hart for the rights to Tony Bradley (No. 28)

    E — Traded to Memphis for a future second-round pick

    F — Traded to Indiana for financial considerations

NBA Draft: Celtics Select Tatum

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BROOKLYN – (Official player bio from NBA) – Jayson Tatum, an early entry candidate from Duke University, was drafted at No. 3 overall by the Boston Celtics in the 2017 NBA Draft.

2017 NBA Draft

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Career Highlights: One of five final candidates for the Basketball Hall of Fame’s Julius Erving small forward of the year award as a Duke freshman. … An All-ACC Third Team pick, USBWA All-District III honoree and member of the ACC All-Freshman Team. … Owns three gold medals with USA Basketball. … In high school, selected as the 2016 Gatorade Boys National Player of the Year. Freshman (2016-17): Averaged 16.8 points and 7.3 rebounds to rank second in each category on both the team and among ACC freshmen. … Shot 45.2 percent from the field and 84.9 percent from the free throw line. … A three-time ACC Freshman of the Week honoree. … Ranked fifth in the ACC in free throw percentage, 10th in rebound average and 12th in scoring. … Set a Duke single-season record with six games of at least 10 points, five rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks — third most in the Duke career record books. … Ranks fourth on the Blue Devils’ single-season freshman charts in free throws made (118), fifth in both free throw percentage (84.9) and rebounding, seventh in scoring, eighth in blocks (1.1 bpg) and 10th in both steals (1.3 spg) and minutes (33.3 mpg). USA Basketball: Has won three gold medals with USAB. … Averaged 13.9 points and 4.6 rebounds to help lead the United States to a first-place finish at the 2015 FIBA U19 World Championship. … At the 2014 FIBA U17 Worlds, averaged 11.3 points and 3.1 rebounds. … Posted 10.0 points and 4.6 rebounds at the 2013 FIBA U16 Americas. … At the 2016 Nike Hoop Summit with the U.S. Junior Select team, scored 14 points in a win over the World Select team. … Participated in the 2015-16 U.S. Men’s Junior National Team minicamp.

High School: Averaged 29.5 points and 9.1 rebounds as a senior with Chaminade HS. … Ranked as the No. 3 recruit by ESPN and Rivals and No. 4 by Scout and 247Sports. … Named 2016 Gatorade Male Athlete of the Year and Gatorade National Player of the Year. … Naismith Award finalist. … Played in the McDonald’s All-American Game and Jordan Brand Classic, tallying 18 points in each game. … A Naismith Trophy All-American, MaxPreps All-American and USA Today All-USA First Team pick. Strengths: Smooth athlete with a polished offensive game. … Scores from many different spots on the floor. … Terrific isolation player who has great command of his dribble and gets easy separation from defenders. … Prototypical size and length to defend both forward spots at the NBA level.

Personal: His father, Justin, played forward at Saint Louis University and averaged 8.2 points and 5.3 rebounds over three seasons.

“This is a dream come true and everything that I’ve ever wished for,” said Tatum. “I’m so happy to be drafted by an organization like the Boston Celtics.”

 

Sports Biz: ReKTGlobal Expands eSports Ops with New Ventures

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NEW YORK –  (Staff Report from Official News release) – ReKTGlobal, a fast-growing business authority in esports and competitive gaming, announced an expansion of its business with the official launch of three new ventures; ReKTVenues, ReKTLive and ReKTMedia.

eSports World Convention (ESWC) : Day One At Porte De Versailles In Paris

PARIS, FRANCE: E-Sports player competes a video game at the eSports World Convention (ESWC) in Paris, France (Photo by Chesnot/Getty Images).

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These new ventures are designed to help bridge the gap between the multi-billion-dollar business of traditional sports and the burgeoning new biz of esports and competitive gaming. The new extensions will meet the growing demand of existing businesses in professional sports and entertainment, from teams and venues to brands and media companies, looking to expand and attract millennials and gamers. They will help companies interested in creating authentic media content for esports fans, and festival and convention producers who want to bring unique esports experiences to their events.

ReKTGlobal was launched in September, 2016 and less than a year later, its new additions of ReKTVenues, ReKTLive and ReKTMedia will strive to bring esports to its full potential and build on the company’s existing brands including esports careers platform ReKTJobs, consultancy ReKTAgency and collegiate esports connector ReKTUniversity.

“My vision is that every city will have an esports venue and every professional sports team will have an esports strategy,” said founder Amish Shah.

“ReKTGlobal has the solutions to help them navigate through the ecosystem,” continued Shah, an early investor in the esports space with Gameco, the “First Video Game Slot Machine,” professional esports Team EnVyUs and Drone Racing League before finding the sweet spot of esports infrastructure building with ReKTGlobal.

“We view ReKTGlobal as a Rising Tide to Lift all Ships; an infrastructure business in support of the esports and broader gaming marketplaces,” said co-founder and CEO David Bialek. “ReKTGlobal will make it easy for anyone to enjoy, participate or work in esports anytime and anywhere.”

The parent company’s new corporate website, www.rektglobal.com, provides a hub for esports solutions from corporate consultation and creative services, to community-based events, content and programs for professional sports and mixed purpose venues, as well as job placement and university scholarship matching.

The ReKTGlobal executive team includes founder, Shah, also a founding partner of venture capital firm SierraMaya360, who was joined in 2017 by co-founders Bialek, a 25-year sports marketing veteran and Sports Business Journal 40 Under 40 recipient; Christopher J. Steele and Christopher Golden of Sterling Select, a venture development and investment platform affiliated with Sterling Equities; and Counsel Charles Baker, a top sports, media and entertainment attorney.

“We at Sterling Select, considered partnering with Amish in his investment in Team EnVyUs in early 2016 but ultimately decided it was too nascent and unchartered at the time,” said managing partner Christopher J. Steele. “However, when Amish came to me and shared his vision for ReKTGlobal and esports infrastructure, I determined that it was a better fit for the Select platform. Given the estimates of the growth of the industry, Select’s sees ReKTGlobal as being in the right space, at the right time with the right team, which we are excited to be an integral part of as co-founders.”

“Esports is one of the fast-growing parts of our industry,” said Baker. “I am excited to be part of a group that knows how to develop esports correctly and for the long-term benefit of the players and fans.”

Sterling Equities in in ownership of the New York Mets baseball club.

MLB: LA Angels Outlast Red Sox

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LA Angels 4, Boston 2
When: 1:35 PM ET, Sunday, June 25, 2017
Where: Fenway Park, Boston
Attendance: 36,474
Special to Digital Sports Desk by The Sports Xchange

BOSTON — Who could blame right-hander Doug Fister if he was pitching with a bit of a chip on his shoulder Sunday afternoon at Fenway Park? Fister was facing the Los Angeles Angels, the team that released him on Thursday after three minor league outings, for the Boston Red Sox, the team that claimed him off waivers on Friday.

But the Angels (40-39) got the final say, taking the game 4-2, and the series.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim v Boston Red Sox

Doug Fister of the Boston Red Sox high fives his teammates as he exits the game in the seventh inning of a game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Fenway Park on June 25, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)

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Fister went six innings, giving up three runs on seven hits with three walks and six strikeouts. He took the loss, falling to 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA.

“Quality outing,” Boston manager John Farrell said. “He’s a bang-bang play away from a scoreless outing. I thought he held his stuff really well through the entire time that he was on the mound. Good life to his fastball, good sink. Threw a number of good cutters. I thought he pitched in to both lefties and righties effectively. That was a very good start on the part of Doug today.”

He was bested by Angels rookie right-hander Parker Bridwell, who went 6 2/3 innings, giving up two runs on seven hits with no walks, four strikeouts and a hit batter. Bridwell earned the win, improving to 2-0.

“It was much needed and Parker just keeps coming in and keeps us in games in some pretty tough places,” said Angels manager Mike Scioscia. “It’s great to watch.”

Bridwell needed just 75 pitches, 52 for strikes.

“That was partly on their part, too, swinging early,” Bridwell said. “Once I figured out what they were doing, I had to be more precise with fastball location. I was happy with the way first three or four went. I wasn’t throwing very many stress pitches. It was them swinging early and me being able to keep the ball down.”

Fister pitched a lightning-fast and efficient, 1-2-3 first inning, needing just 10 pitches, including a three-pitch strikeout of leadoff batter Cameron Maybin. But in the second inning he gave up three runs — Juan Graterol’s two-run single was the big hit — as the Angels sent six batters to the plate.

“That was the small hiccup and, unfortunately, I got to do a better job than that,” Fister said. “I got to execute some pitches and make sure that guys don’t do what they did. So that’s on me.”

Boston (41-34) cut the deficit as Mitch Moreland led off the bottom of the inning with his 11th home run of the season. Jackie Bradley Jr. got Boston to within a run when he led off the fifth with his 10th homer of the season.

The Angels added a run in the ninth off Boston closer Craig Kimbrel, pitching for the first time since June 18. Ben Revere led off with a single, scoring on Kaleb Cowart’s one-out single to right. Cowart, who was called up before the game to make his season debut, went 2-for-3 with a walk, two RBI and a run scored.

“He had a great game,” Scioscia said. “Kaleb had about 30 minutes of sleep and came out and took his groundballs.”

Yusmeiro Petit earned his first save, going two scoreless innings.

NOTES: Red Sox LHP David Price developed a cracked fingernail on the middle finger of his throwing hand during Saturday’s loss to the Angels. Manager John Farrell expects Price to make his next scheduled start. … Angels LHP Tyler Skaggs suffered a setback Saturday as he tries to make his way back from a strained oblique. He was schedule to pitch in his first rehab game on Saturday, but was scratched because of general soreness in his oblique and abdominal area. He was able to throw on Saturday and is expected to join the team at Dodger Stadium on Monday, going through a full evaluation. … Boston LHP Eduardo Rodriguez, on the disabled list since June 2 with a right knee subluxation, is expected to make his first rehab start Thursday with Double-A Portland, throwing about 75-80 pitches. Angels INF Yunel Escobar was out of the lineup again on Sunday after injuring his thumb on a diving play in Friday’s game. Scioscia said he is improving. … Red Sox LHP Brian Johnson, on the DL since June 15 with left shoulder impingement, threw his first bullpen session on Sunday. Farrell said Johnson would continue to progress with bullpen sessions before there is a plan to get him into games. … 1B/DH Albert Pujols is expected to play one of the two games at Dodger Stadium starting Monday. The most likely scenario would be for him to play Monday, with the Dodgers starting LHP Rich Hill. … RHP Bud Norris, on the DL with right knee inflammation, has begun aggressive long toss, manager Mike Scioscia said. The Angels are hoping he can pitch from a mound this week.

MLB Game Scout: Fister to Start for Red Sox

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LA Angels at Boston
When: 1:35 PM ET, Sunday, June 25, 2017
Where: Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts
Special Game Preview for Digital Sports Desk by Gracenote
BOSTON – Veteran Doug Fister was hoping to be back in the majors before July, just a few weeks after signing a minor-league deal with the Los Angeles Angels. That time has arrived for Fister but not in the manner he planned – he will instead be taking the mound for the Boston Red Sox on Sunday in the rubber match of a three-game series versus the Angels.
Seattle Mariners v Houston Astros

Doug Fister, then of the Houston Astros, look on from the bench aafter he was removed by manager A.J. Hinch #14 of the Houston Astros in the second inning against the Seattle Mariners at Minute Maid Park on September 28, 2016 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

Fister opted out of his deal with Los Angeles during the week and was snapped up on waivers Friday by the Red Sox, who capped the whirlwind series of moves by announcing the veteran will start the series finale. “It gives us an established, winning pitcher who’s been through postseason play, been through a pennant race,” said Boston president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski, who was in charge in Detroit when Fister was with the Tigers from 2011-13. The Angels prevented Boston from moving into sole possession of first place in the American League East with a 6-3 victory Saturday, getting two hits each from Albert Pujols and Kole Calhoun. While Los Angeles (39-39) is sitting at .500, it goes for its fifth series win in the last six, having knocked off majors-best Houston and the New York Yankees (twice).TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FSN West (Los Angeles), NESN (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Parker Bridwell (1-0, 3.07 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Doug Fister (2016: 12-13, 4.64)

Matt Shoemaker (forearm) was scheduled to start Sunday but was sent back to California to be evaluated. Bridwell gave up one run on seven hits over 3 2/3 innings of relief against the Yankees on June 14, but he came back with five innings of two-run ball at Yankee Stadium six days later. He went six innings in his first major-league start on May 30, holding Atlanta to three runs in six innings.

Fister won 14 games with Detroit in 2013 and notched a career-high 16 wins to go with a 2.41 ERA for Washington in 2014. He lost his last five decisions with Houston last year but went 1-0 with a 2.50 ERA in three starts against the Angels and has a backer in Los Angeles reliever Huston Street, who rehabbed with him. “What I saw made me think he’s going to be a tough guy to beat on Sunday,” Street said.

WALK-OFFS

1. Angels 3B Yunel Escobar sat out Saturday’s game due to a left thumb strain.

2. Red Sox 1B Mitch Moreland homered Saturday for only his second hit in 22 at-bats.

3. Shoemaker on Saturday was cleared to resume throwing, but it is uncertain when he will return to the rotation.

PGA Tour: Spieth Hangs Tough at Travelers

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CROMWELL (Connecticut) – Jordan Spieth finished on top of the leaderboard for the third consecutive day at the Travelers Championship.
Spieth remained in the lead when he made a 20-foot birdie putt on the final hole for a 4-under-par-66 at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Conn.

The 23-year-old Spieth completed 54 holes at 12-under 198. Boo Weekley is right behind Spieth at 11-under 199 after a 65 in the third round.

Travelers Championship - Round Three

CROMWELL, CT – JUNE 24: Boo Weekley of the United States plays his shot from the sixth tee during the third round of the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands on June 24, 2017 in Cromwell, Connecticut. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Three shots behind Spieth in third place is Daniel Berger at 9 under after a 66. Another stroke behind Berger are C.T. Pan of Taiwan, David Lingmerth of Sweden and Paul Casey of England.

Lingmerth produced a 65 and Pan and Casey both shot 66 in the third round.

Spieth has finished each round with a one-shot lead in a tournament he’s playing for the first time. His one hiccup on Saturday was consecutive bogeys at Nos. 13 and 14.

Charley Hoffman briefly went moved on top, but Spieth then salvaged the round and regained the lead with birdies on three of his final four holes.

“Yeah, I saw the boards. I was aware,” Spieth said of losing the lead for a short time. “I probably won’t watch tomorrow, but, man, we had nothing else to do. That was a 5 1/2-, six-hour round today. We were standing around so long, you can’t help but look around. But it was (that way) for everybody.”

Spieth hopes to carry the momentum from his strong finish into the final round on Sunday.

“I’m going to go out there and play solid golf,” Spieth said. “That’s what we’ve been doing. That’s cliche, but a couple (birdies) a side on a round like today, I thought at the beginning of the week if you shot 4 under each day, you’d be right there. So I think that’s the goal.”

The 43-year-old Weekley also closed the round with a flourish, making birdies at five of the last eight holes, including the final two.

It has been awhile since Weekley was in contention. His best finish this year is a tie for 37th at the Puerto Rico Open. He hasn’t won since the 2013 Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial.

“I mean, I’ve been having some personal struggles back home and then finally I’m starting to get that little bit taken care of,” he said. “It’s just kind of surreal to be back up here in front of y’all and talking about it. As much work as I’ve put into golf and as much as I’d love to win again and be a part of it, don’t matter which tournament, I just want to win.

“That’s what everybody out here, that’s what we strive to do. To be sitting here feels like it’s an honor, at the same time as I’m playing well.”
Hoffman eagled the par-3 13th hole and followed with two birdies, but then his round fell apart with a double bogey at the par-3 16th hole and bogeys at Nos. 17 and 18. He slipped back into a tie for 10th, six behind Spieth, after a 68.

Rory McIlroy, who barely made the cut on Friday, carved out a round of 70 on Saturday and is well off the pace at par for the tournament with a 210 total

MLB: LA Angels Defeat Red Sox

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LA Angels 6, Boston 3
When: 7:15 PM ET, Saturday, June 24, 2017
Where: Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts
Attendance: 36,868
Special to Digital Sports Desk by The Sports Xchange
BOSTON — JC Ramirez took his road-warrior status to new heights for the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday night. Ramirez tossed six innings of one-run ball and got some help from a balanced LA Angels offense in a 6-3 win over the first-place Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Ramirez (7-5) allowed four hits and no walks while striking out five. He is the first Angels starter to win five consecutive road starts since Jered Weaver won six in a row in 2012.
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim v Boston Red Sox

BOSTON, MA – JUNE 24: JC Ramirez #66 of the Los Angeles Angels pitches during the second inning of the game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on June 24, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)

“This one, especially playing in this park, gave me a lot of confidence,” Ramirez said after making his first career start at historic Fenway.

Ramirez has allowed just nine runs in his last 30 innings away from home, good for a 2.70 ERA.

“I’m (getting) better timing with my warmup (on the road) before the game starts,” said Ramirez, who is 1-3 with a 5.10 ERA at home this season. “At home, I haven’t figured it out yet, but I think I’m getting to that point.”

Martin Maldonado, Eric Young Jr., Luis Valbuena and Cameron Maybin and Kole Calhoun each had an RBI as Los Angeles (39-39) bounced back from a 9-4 loss in Friday’s series opener.

Mitch Moreland slugged a solo home run, his 10th of the season, and Hanley Ramirez had an RBI for Boston (41-33), which has lost three of its last five games.

Despite the loss, the Red Sox remain a half-game in front of the Yankees atop the American League East after New York’s loss on Saturday.

Boston’s David Price (2-2) put up a quality start in a losing effort, allowing three runs (two earned), six hits and one walk with five strikeouts in six innings.

“Felt good. Just I didn’t make enough big pitches when I needed to,” Price said.

Valbuena’s sacrifice fly in the sixth inning gave Los Angeles a 3-1 lead.

The Angels added two runs in the seventh on Maybin’s RBI double and a balk by Boston reliever Fernando Abad later in the inning that allowed Maybin to trot home from third.

Red Sox manager John Farrell came out to argue that time had been called before the balk. Home-plate umpire Ryan Blakney appeared to grant Calhoun time just before crew chief Miller called the balk at third base.

“It started off that Abad had started and stopped before stepping off the back of the rubber,” Miller told a pool reporter. “The Red Sox argument was that time had been called by the home plate umpire before he balked. John came out and asked Ryan Blakney what he had, and Ryan told him that he had the balk before he called time.”

“It looked like Abad balked, then stopped, and it looked like the catcher (Christian) Vazquez tried to call time, but the balk happened before all that happened,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.

Farrell got in an animated argument with Miller and poked his chest, leading Miller to give Farrell his first ejection of the season.

“Time was called,” Farrell maintained after the game. “Time was clearly called before the balk was called. So that was the dispute.”

Calhoun’s RBI infield single in the ninth made it a five-run game.

Ramirez dropped a two-out, ground-rule double in the ninth to bring the Red Sox within four.

Angels reliever Cam Bedrosian walked Jackie Bradley Jr. in the next at-bat to load the bases for Christian Vazquez, who reached on a strikeout and a wild pitch to make it 6-3.

Blake Parker got pinch hitter Chris Young to strike out swinging to end the game, clinching his first save of the year.

Los Angeles clung to a 2-1 lead through the fifth.

Maldonado put the Angels on the board first with a two-out RBI single in the opening inning.

Moreland tied the score with an estimated 418-foot blast to center field in the second. He had just one hit in 20 previous at-bats.

Young restored Los Angeles’ one-run advantage two innings later with an RBI single.

NOTES: Los Angeles CF Mike Trout (torn ligament in left thumb) hit off a tee for the second straight day. … Angels 3B Yunel Escobar (left thumb strain) is day to day after being scratched from the lineup and replaced by Cliff Pennington. … Los Angeles LHP Tyler Skaggs (right oblique muscle strain) made a rehab start in the Arizona League on Saturday. RHP Matt Shoemaker (right forearm extensor strain) has resumed throwing but likely won’t make his scheduled start Friday. … Boston added RHP Doug Fister to the 25-man roster before his Sunday start. Fister was claimed off waivers from the Angels on Friday. RHP Hector Velazquez was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket. … Red Sox INF Josh Rutledge (concussion) was placed on the seven-day disabled list after being scratched Friday. INF Tzu-Wei Lin was selected from Double-A Portland and INF/OF Brock Holt (vertigo) was transferred to the 60-day disabled list. … Fister makes his season debut opposite Angels RHP Parker Bridwell (1-0, 3.07 ERA) on Sunday.

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