Cubs Raise Banner, Walk-Off in Home Opener
After waiting out the rain for nearly two hours, the Chicago Cubs got the festivities going to raise their first World Series banner in 108 years. They will receive the World Series rings on Wednesday, but there was enough to celebrate about on Monday in their home opener, as they walked off against the Los Angeles Dodgers for a 3-2 victory. Anthony Rizzo hit the game-winning RBI single in the ninth off of closer Kenley Jansen to cap off the first World Series celebration in Wrigley Field history. Jon Jay scored the winning run after leading off the inning with a pinch-hit single against Sergio Romo, who suffered the loss. Wade Davis earned the win for Chicago after throwing one scoreless inning. The Cubs did hold a 2-0 lead for much of the night before Los Angeles began to come back in the sixth. The defending champs sit at 5-2 atop the NL Central along with the Cincinnati Reds early on in the year. The Dodgers dropped to .500 at 4-4 with the loss, as both teams will enjoy Tuesday off before continuing the series on Wednesday.
Padres' Wil Myers Hits for First Cycle of Season
Young outfielder Wil Myers took advantage of the hitter-friendly ballpark that the Colorado Rockies have, as he became the first player to hit for the cycle this season on Monday night. Myers hit a triple to complete the first cycle of his career in the San Diego Padres' 5-3 victory over the Rockies. He singled in the first, doubled in the third, and homered in the sixth before the three-base hit in the eighth. Only Matt Kemp had hit for the cycle in Padres' history, as he did so in August of 2015, also in Coors Field against the Rockies. Hunter Renfroe added a big fly on Monday to lift San Diego to their third win in four games. Miguel Diaz pitched one scoreless inning to earn his first major league victory. Jarred Cosart got the spot start for San Diego after Trevor Cahill went on the 10-day disabled list, but Cosart lasted just four innings. D.J. LeMahieu and Mark Reynolds both homered in Colorado's third loss of the season.
Celtics Move Past Cavs for Top Seed in East
The Cleveland Cavaliers proved that earning the top seed in the East is not their main goal heading into the postseason, as they rested both LeBron James and Kyrie Irving for Monday's game in Miami. The Cavs fell to the Heat in overtime, 124-121, and also fell one game behind the Boston Celtics, who defeated the Brooklyn Nets, 114-105. Tyler Johnson scored 24 points, including the game's final four points, to help Miami remain in the playoff picture with the win. Hassan Whiteside added a double-double of 23 points and 18 rebounds, taking advantage of the short-handed Cavaliers, who were also without Tristan Thompson. Deron Williams went off for a season-high 35 points in the loss for the Cavs. Meanwhile, the Celtics were led by Isaiah Thomas's 27 points, as they clinched their first Atlantic Division title since 2011-12. Al Horford chipped in 19 points and Avery Bradley had 18 points and five rebounds, helping Boston improve to 29-11 at home. The Cavs do hold the tiebreaker between the two, which means a Cleveland win combined with a Boston loss in the season finale gives the defending champs the top seed.
After waiting out the rain for nearly two hours, the Chicago Cubs got the festivities going to raise their first World Series banner in 108 years. They will receive the World Series rings on Wednesday, but there was enough to celebrate about on Monday in their home opener, as they walked off against the Los Angeles Dodgers for a 3-2 victory. Anthony Rizzo hit the game-winning RBI single in the ninth off of closer Kenley Jansen to cap off the first World Series celebration in Wrigley Field history. Jon Jay scored the winning run after leading off the inning with a pinch-hit single against Sergio Romo, who suffered the loss. Wade Davis earned the win for Chicago after throwing one scoreless inning. The Cubs did hold a 2-0 lead for much of the night before Los Angeles began to come back in the sixth. The defending champs sit at 5-2 atop the NL Central along with the Cincinnati Reds early on in the year. The Dodgers dropped to .500 at 4-4 with the loss, as both teams will enjoy Tuesday off before continuing the series on Wednesday.
Padres' Wil Myers Hits for First Cycle of Season
Young outfielder Wil Myers took advantage of the hitter-friendly ballpark that the Colorado Rockies have, as he became the first player to hit for the cycle this season on Monday night. Myers hit a triple to complete the first cycle of his career in the San Diego Padres' 5-3 victory over the Rockies. He singled in the first, doubled in the third, and homered in the sixth before the three-base hit in the eighth. Only Matt Kemp had hit for the cycle in Padres' history, as he did so in August of 2015, also in Coors Field against the Rockies. Hunter Renfroe added a big fly on Monday to lift San Diego to their third win in four games. Miguel Diaz pitched one scoreless inning to earn his first major league victory. Jarred Cosart got the spot start for San Diego after Trevor Cahill went on the 10-day disabled list, but Cosart lasted just four innings. D.J. LeMahieu and Mark Reynolds both homered in Colorado's third loss of the season.
Celtics Move Past Cavs for Top Seed in East
The Cleveland Cavaliers proved that earning the top seed in the East is not their main goal heading into the postseason, as they rested both LeBron James and Kyrie Irving for Monday's game in Miami. The Cavs fell to the Heat in overtime, 124-121, and also fell one game behind the Boston Celtics, who defeated the Brooklyn Nets, 114-105. Tyler Johnson scored 24 points, including the game's final four points, to help Miami remain in the playoff picture with the win. Hassan Whiteside added a double-double of 23 points and 18 rebounds, taking advantage of the short-handed Cavaliers, who were also without Tristan Thompson. Deron Williams went off for a season-high 35 points in the loss for the Cavs. Meanwhile, the Celtics were led by Isaiah Thomas's 27 points, as they clinched their first Atlantic Division title since 2011-12. Al Horford chipped in 19 points and Avery Bradley had 18 points and five rebounds, helping Boston improve to 29-11 at home. The Cavs do hold the tiebreaker between the two, which means a Cleveland win combined with a Boston loss in the season finale gives the defending champs the top seed.
