Cousins Joins Warriors on Short Deal
The Los Angeles Lakers got LeBron James on Sunday, so many could believe that they are the Golden State Warriors' biggest threat in the Western Conference. In this entertaining game of chess we call free agency, the Warriors had the next move on Monday night, and it was a major one. The two-time defending NBA Champions added DeMarcus Cousins on a one-year, $5.3 million deal, responding to LeBron joining L.A. Cousins reportedly rejected a two-year offer from the New Orleans Pelicans, whom he played with last season, and agreed to take less money for a year to contend for a title. Although, he is coming off a torn ACL suffered last season. It is not certain that he will be ready for the start of next season, but Cousins already assured that he will be ready for training camp. "Boogie Cousins" is a two-time All-NBA selection, but moved on from Anthony Davis and the Pelicans after New Orleans added Julius Randle on a two-year contract. The 27-year-old averaged 25.2 points, 12.9 rebounds, 5.4 assists in 48 games last year. He reportedly claimed that he was "confused and hurt" that he didn't have any offers, even from the Pelicans, despite the report that they did have one on the table. For Golden State, they did lose JaVale McGee to the Lakers, so Cousins is an improvement for size underneath. If Cousins isn't ready, expect Jordan Bell to start with the usual suspects, and Cousins to take over once he is healthy.
Braves Get Best of Yankees in Extras
The Atlanta Braves are a young team that had their rebuilding process boosted this season, but a win in Yankee Stadium gives them a whole different level of confidence. They pulled one off in extras on Monday night, as Ronald Acuna Jr. hit a game-winning two-run shot in the 11th for a 5-3 win over the New York Yankees. The game-deciding homer came off of David Robertson and went off of the glove of a leaping Aaron Judge in to the seats in right field. Johan Camargo also went deep for the Braves, while Jesse Biddle got out of a late jam to give his team a signature win. They have won four in a row, following a sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals, and are now 15 games over .500 for the first time since the end of the 2013 season. The 20-year-old Acuna also had a double and drove in three, putting on a show in his first career game at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees record dropped to 54-28, a game behind the Boston Red Sox in the AL East. Judge did hit his 23rd home run, while Gleyber Torres added three hits and two runs scored, but did have a significant error in the 11th. Torres now has 10 errors since getting called up to the majors on April 22nd. The home run given up by Robertson was rare, since he had faced 182 right-handed batters since giving up a home run, dating back to June of last year. The Yankees could not capitalize on the young Braves, finishing a season-worst 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position and stranded 12 in the loss.
Porcello Helps Himself, Red Sox in Interleague Win
Rick Porcello has won a Cy Young Award since joining the Boston Red Sox, but he got the job done with the bat on Monday night. Porcello hit a key three-run double off of former teammate Max Scherzer in the Red Sox's 4-3 win over the struggling Washington Nationals. Porcello's big hit came in the second inning for the first three runs of the game, as he went on to earn his 10th win of the year on the mound. The right-hander lasted six innings and gave up two runs while striking out five, as Boston overcame a series loss to the Yankees over the weekend. With the Yankees' loss to the Braves, the Red Sox did take over first place in the AL East with the best record in the majors at 57-29. Porcello's big hit was the first extra-base hit of his career, as he came in with a .156 career batting average. The three RBI was his first runs driven in since 2009 as a member of the Detroit Tigers. Scherzer did surrender the hit, which led him to his fifth loss, despite striking out nine in a losing effort. He became the 11th pitcher in MLB history to reach 1,000 strikeouts with two different teams. Boston closer Craig Kimbrel came in for the ninth and recorded his 25th save in 27 tries, this of the four-out variety. The Nationals drop to just a game over .500 overall, and two games under at Nationals Park this year.
The Los Angeles Lakers got LeBron James on Sunday, so many could believe that they are the Golden State Warriors' biggest threat in the Western Conference. In this entertaining game of chess we call free agency, the Warriors had the next move on Monday night, and it was a major one. The two-time defending NBA Champions added DeMarcus Cousins on a one-year, $5.3 million deal, responding to LeBron joining L.A. Cousins reportedly rejected a two-year offer from the New Orleans Pelicans, whom he played with last season, and agreed to take less money for a year to contend for a title. Although, he is coming off a torn ACL suffered last season. It is not certain that he will be ready for the start of next season, but Cousins already assured that he will be ready for training camp. "Boogie Cousins" is a two-time All-NBA selection, but moved on from Anthony Davis and the Pelicans after New Orleans added Julius Randle on a two-year contract. The 27-year-old averaged 25.2 points, 12.9 rebounds, 5.4 assists in 48 games last year. He reportedly claimed that he was "confused and hurt" that he didn't have any offers, even from the Pelicans, despite the report that they did have one on the table. For Golden State, they did lose JaVale McGee to the Lakers, so Cousins is an improvement for size underneath. If Cousins isn't ready, expect Jordan Bell to start with the usual suspects, and Cousins to take over once he is healthy.
Braves Get Best of Yankees in Extras
The Atlanta Braves are a young team that had their rebuilding process boosted this season, but a win in Yankee Stadium gives them a whole different level of confidence. They pulled one off in extras on Monday night, as Ronald Acuna Jr. hit a game-winning two-run shot in the 11th for a 5-3 win over the New York Yankees. The game-deciding homer came off of David Robertson and went off of the glove of a leaping Aaron Judge in to the seats in right field. Johan Camargo also went deep for the Braves, while Jesse Biddle got out of a late jam to give his team a signature win. They have won four in a row, following a sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals, and are now 15 games over .500 for the first time since the end of the 2013 season. The 20-year-old Acuna also had a double and drove in three, putting on a show in his first career game at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees record dropped to 54-28, a game behind the Boston Red Sox in the AL East. Judge did hit his 23rd home run, while Gleyber Torres added three hits and two runs scored, but did have a significant error in the 11th. Torres now has 10 errors since getting called up to the majors on April 22nd. The home run given up by Robertson was rare, since he had faced 182 right-handed batters since giving up a home run, dating back to June of last year. The Yankees could not capitalize on the young Braves, finishing a season-worst 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position and stranded 12 in the loss.
Porcello Helps Himself, Red Sox in Interleague Win
Rick Porcello has won a Cy Young Award since joining the Boston Red Sox, but he got the job done with the bat on Monday night. Porcello hit a key three-run double off of former teammate Max Scherzer in the Red Sox's 4-3 win over the struggling Washington Nationals. Porcello's big hit came in the second inning for the first three runs of the game, as he went on to earn his 10th win of the year on the mound. The right-hander lasted six innings and gave up two runs while striking out five, as Boston overcame a series loss to the Yankees over the weekend. With the Yankees' loss to the Braves, the Red Sox did take over first place in the AL East with the best record in the majors at 57-29. Porcello's big hit was the first extra-base hit of his career, as he came in with a .156 career batting average. The three RBI was his first runs driven in since 2009 as a member of the Detroit Tigers. Scherzer did surrender the hit, which led him to his fifth loss, despite striking out nine in a losing effort. He became the 11th pitcher in MLB history to reach 1,000 strikeouts with two different teams. Boston closer Craig Kimbrel came in for the ninth and recorded his 25th save in 27 tries, this of the four-out variety. The Nationals drop to just a game over .500 overall, and two games under at Nationals Park this year.
