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About the time Boston fans began leaving quietly into the night with less than a minute left, the small smile of accomplishment began flickering on Miami Heat players. Tyler Herro, at the free-throw-line, offered a quick grin to Bam Adebayo, who offered one back before finishing their night’s work.
Caleb Martin, as the clock ticked toward zero, smiled at Jaime Jaquez Jr., before walking off the court by the stone faces of Boston Celtic players and the stunned looks of their fans.
What had they done in pulling off a 111-101 win in Game 2 of their playoff series? Was this a one-off kind of wonderful night that reversed a 20-point loss in Game 1 and rewarded their resolve?
Or was it a step toward something more surprising? Erik Spoelstra stood amid his players in the locker room afterward, as shown on TNT, and amid the talk of a “very productive” game and caution to rest up on Thursday planted the seed of something interesting.
“We understand, you know, that this is still a long series,’’ he said.
No one outside the Heat expected a long series. No one really thinks an injured, eighth-seeded Heat can pull off what would be the biggest playoff upset in NBA history by beating top-seeded Boston. It would be the greatest story ever dribbled.
The Heat start a rookie, a 20-year-old, an undrafted veteran who was out of a job when the Heat signed him and two mid-level, first-round picks who have three All-Star appearances combined (all three by Adebayo). Four of Boston’s five starters have played in multiple All-Star games.
You can make a sensible case that Boston is better in every area than the Heat except, strikingly, the coaching. This was another night that told you everything about Spoelstra.
“I’m going to give Coach Spo a lot of credit for giving those guys the confidence that they can win,’’ TNT’s Kenny Smith said.
Start there in explaining Game 2. The young Heat were run off the court from the start of Game 1 and lost by 20 points. So, Spoelstra not only had to emotionally help his players regroup but strategically give them something to believe in.
He did both by insisting they take the 3-point shots Boston was leaving open to them. “Take them and keep taking them,’’ as he said. And as TNT’s Smith said, “What player doesn’t like a coach to have confidence in you and tell you to take shots?”
The Heat shot more 3-pointers (43) than regular field goals (32) in Game 2. Somehow, they didn’t seem forced at all. Seven players made at last one. Every starter scored in double digits, even the 20-year-old, Nikola Jovic, who had 11 points and nine rebounds.
The Heat pitched a perfect game Wednesday in that regard, getting help from everyone, everywhere. Herro ran the offense much of the night had had 24 points and 14 assists. Adebayo hit shot after shot when Boston tried to draw close in the fourth quarter and finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds.
In so doing, Herro and Adebayo answered some nagging questions about their games. Next question: Can they do that again? And again?
Boston has the health advantage, the 64-win team advantage, the nine-point favorite advantage, the All-Star-talent advantage and. perhaps, the motivational advantage of the Heat having stolen their season last year in Game 7.
Or maybe that last one is a Heat an advantage? Has it planted the seed of doubt in Boston’s minds? Or maybe the Celtics are just in their own heads?
Jayson Tatum is Exhibit A. He felt the need to flop in an off-the-ball bump with the Heat’s Duncan Robinson in the third quarter. He got that call, but didn’t a couple of others and soon had lost the composure that defines great players in big games.
Tatum scored 28 points in Game 2. Sidekick Jaylen Brown had 33. But they combined for an insignificant nine points in the fourth quarter. Kristaps Porzingis, their big offseason addition, was 1 of 9 shooting.
A bad night at the office for Boston? Or did the Heat unmask a front-running fraud?
“Especially with that team, it’s never going to go how people expect it to go,’’ Tatum said afterward of the Heat.
Sounds like the scars of last season haven’t healed.
It’s still a long way from being the long series Spoelstra talked to his team about afterward. Game 3 will tell us more.
“You don’t realize the Heat culture they have there,’’ Shaquille O’Neal said on TNT.
Game 2 was a win for Heat culture, a testament to Spoelstra’s ways and the kind of surprise that’s the best part of sports. The question now is whether there’s more coming.
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/04/25/dave-hyde-does-heats-stunning-game-2-win-open-path-to-upset-for-the-ages/
Here are Orlando area high school scores and top performers for Wednesday, April 24:
Baseball
Windermere 4, Hagerty 3
Buzz: Connor Fink pitched 6 innings with 4 strikeouts for the Wolverines (21-3). Fink gave up 2 earned runs in the win. Randy Ruiz went 3-for-4 with an RBI. Juan Lopez went 2-for-3 with a double. Carlos Morales went 2-for-3 with 2 RBI for the Huskies (18-6). Talan Bell pitched 6 innings with 5 strikeouts. Bell allowed 2 earned runs in the loss.
The Master’s Academy 11, Orlando Christian Prep 1
Buzz: Jackson Bellhorn went 1-for-1 with 3 RBI, hit-by-pitch, sacrifice fly and a run scored for the Eagles (16-8). James Rudolph and David Garcia had 2 RBI apiece. Julian Mercado, Trey Seluk and Cy Smith each had an RBI. Josh Fernandez pitched an inning, striking out 2 batters. Landon Reynolds, Ben Soderholm and Jackson Stecher each had one hit. Jose Rojas and Wilfredo Figueroa each had singles for the Warriors (8-8-2).
Lake Brantley 6, Boone 0
Buzz: Isaac Padilla pitched a complete-game 2-hitter with 6 strikeouts. Michael Kalinich and Padilla each had 2 hits. Ryley Chapman and Menfis Colon-Viera each had 2 RBI. Jack Lynch went 1-for-3 for Boone (14-7).
Olympia 7, Lake Howell 0
Buzz: Madden Bourst went 2-for-2 with 2 RBI while Daniel Ortiz went 2-for-3 with a home run for Olympia (16-8). Xavier Rodriguez went 1-for-2 with a walk for Lake Howell (6-19). Tyler Pittington went 1-for-3.
Bishop Moore 10, Oviedo 3
Buzz: Danny Garcia, Tyler Lomas and Jesiah Woodside each had 2 RBI for the Hornets (14-9). Woodside went 4-for-4 with 2 runs scored and 2 doubles. Devon Elmendorf chipped in with an RBI.
Timber Creek 8, Horizon 0
Buzz: Eli Buffaloe went 2-for-3 with 2 RBI and a run scored for Timber Creek (18-6). David Colmenares, Tyler Mendoza and Gabe DeCardenas each added an RBI. Horizon fell to 12-12.
East River 10, Trinity Prep 2
Buzz: Michael Senay pitched 5 innings, allowing 1 hit for East River (12-10). He gave up no earned runs while striking out 12. Ty Kennedy went 1-for-3 with a home run, 3 RBI and 3 runs. Danny Gilliard had 2 RBI and a triple. Ryan Burgoon chipped in with an RBI double. Trinity Prep fell to 6-13.
Deltona 6, Lake Mary 5
Buzz: Jayden Lochiatto went 4-for-4 with 4 RBI, a run scored and a double for the Wolves (8-14). Lake Mary fell to 16-7.
Edgewater 7, Lake Highland Prep 2
Buzz: Jared Shear and Blake Osbahr each had an RBI for the Highlanders (13-10). Edgewater improved to 6-18.
Lake Nona 4, Cornerstone Charter Academy 1
Buzz: Tanyon Dean had an RBI for the Ducks (8-16). Carlos Osorio and Tanielu Cox each went 2-for-3. Lake Nona improved to 15-8.
The Geneva School 1, Legacy Charter 0
Buzz: The Geneva School improved to 10-9-1. Ryan Rushing went 1-for-2 for the Eagles (7-6).
Other scores:
Wekiva 6, Davenport 3
Apopka 9, East Ridge 6
DeLand 16, Seabreeze 0
The Villages Charter 8, Tavares 7
Liberty 8, Poinciana 4
Flagler Palm Coast 5, Pine Ridge 3
Softball
Cornerstone Charter Academy 2, Winter Park 1
Buzz: Ayani Hernandez went 2-for-4 with an RBI while Naya Rosario went 1-for-2 with an RBI and a walk for the Ducks (22-3). Bekah Mitchell pitched 8 innings with 8 strikeouts. Mitchell allowed an unearned run, 4 hits and 2 walks. Rylie Scanlon pitched a complete game in the loss for the Wildcats (13-10). Scanlon had 6 strikeouts and allowed an unearned run and an earned run. Isabel Otero went 4-4 with a run scored.
Winter Springs 8, Windermere 0
Buzz: Winter Springs improved to 12-12. Emilie Ching went 2-for-2 with a hit-by-pitch for the Wolverines (17-4). Sabrina Boyer went 1-for-2 with a walk. Tessa Olofson went 1-for-3.
The Master’s Academy 11, Father Lopez 1
Buzz: Kamryn Mennenga was 1-for-3 with 2 RBI, a walk and a double for the Eagles (10-9). Lauren McMeel went 1-for-3 with 2 RBI, a run scored, a double and a walk. Mya Medina went 1-for-2 with 2 RBI. Reagan Peri went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a walk.
East River 10, Olympia 5
Buzz: Katherine Sanchez went 3-for-4 with 3 runs scored, 3 RBI and 2 doubles for the Falcons (15-7). Jesse Irazarry, Joslyn Schneck and Tru Mastro each had 2 RBI. Julia Benamati, Richelle Ruiz, Elizabeth Aguilar, Teneil Williams and Angelina Laverdi each had an RBI for the Titans (11-11-1).
Sanford Seminole 5, Boone 0
Buzz: Anne Long went 2-for-4 with a home run and 2 RBI for Seminole (13-6). Long pitched a complete game with 11 strikeouts. She surrendered 2 hits and a walk in the win. Alexandra Steffano and Ava Hertz each had an RBI. Paige Barry went 1-for-3 for Boone (10-10). Kalyn Woods went 1-for-2 with a walk.
Lake Nona 18, Orlando University 1 (3 innings)
Buzz: Berit Acker was 1-for-1 with 3 runs scored, 3 RBI and 2 walks for the Lions (10-9). Sy’nai Ari Smith and Ilieymar Feliciano Delgado each had 2 RBI. Celeste Vargas, Izabel Solis, Kennedy McQuillan, Amanda Fiallos and Amanada Cintron each had an RBI. Ari Smith pitched a complete game with 4 strikeouts. She gave up an unearned run and 2 hits.
Lake Howell 7, Orange City University 6
Buzz: Sanae Honore went 1-for-2 with 2 RBI for the Silver Hawks (14-7). Gianna Terito went 1-for-4 with 2 RBI and a run scored. Skii Rodriguez went 2-for-4 with 2 runs scored, a double and a triple. Gianna Hall went 3-for-4 with 2 RBI, a double and a run scored for the Titans (12-10-1). Addison Pertler went 3-for-4 with 2 RBI and a double.
South Lake 10, Poinciana 0
Buzz: South Lake improved to 16-7. Corymar Gotay went 1-for-2 for Poinciana (12-10).
Apopka 12, Timber Creek 1
Buzz: Jelani Rivera went 1-for-2 with a run scored and a walk for the Wolves (14-7). Apopka improved to 9-14.
Other scores:
West Orange 6, Ocoee 3
Deltona 7, Astronaut 0
Boys Lacrosse
REGION QUARTERFINALS
CLASS 1A REGION 2
No. 2 seed Lake Highland Prep 19, No. 7 The First Academy 1
Buzz: The Highlanders (14-2) defeated the Royals (10-6). Region semifinals start on Wednesday.
No. 5 St. Edward’s 4, No. 4 Montverde Academy 2
Buzz: Montverde Academy (10-6) ended the season with a close loss to St. Edward’s (8-8).
No. 6 Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy 8, No. 3 Bishop Moore 5
Buzz: Holy Trinity (15-4) defeated Bishop Moore (15-5).
Boys Track & Field
CLASS 4A DISTRICT 3
At Spruce Creek
Team scores:
1. Lake Mary 116
2. Sanford Seminole 113
3. Flagler Palm Coast 88
4. Hagerty 74
5. Lake Brantley 73.50
6. Apopka 67
7. Oviedo 62
8. DeLand 49
9. Lake Howell 28
10. Spruce Creek 26.50
11. Orange City University 5
First-placers and any local second-placers:
3,200 relay – 1. Hagerty 8:00.03, 2. Oviedo 8:07.49
110 hurdles – 1. Frank Hicks (Seminole) 14.88, 2. James Cox (Seminole) 15.56
100 – 1. Malek Wilkerson (Lake Howell) 10.94, 2. Trarell Beckford (Seminole) 10.95m
1,600 – 1. Nathan Henning (Lake Mary) 4:23.26, 2. Corey Johnson (Lake Mary) 4:28.68
400 relay – 1. Oviedo 42.84, 2. Lake Brantley 42.94
400 – 1. Jadlen Davis (Lake Brantley) 50.77, 2. Jayden Richards (Lake Brantley) 50.77
400 hurdles – 1. Keino Parchment (Apopka) 56.64, 2. Frank Hicks (Seminole) 56.97
800 –1. Rashad Hemissi (Apopka) 1:56.12, 2. Henning (Lake Mary) 1:56.89
200 – 1. Beckford (Seminole) 22.15, 2. Davis (Lake Brantley) 22.32
3,200 – 1. Jonathan Leon (Hagerty) 9:16.83, 2. Colin Aysun (Oviedo) 9:48.25
1,600 relay – 1. Apopka 3:22.06, 2. Lake Brantley 3:26.09
High jump – 1. Kenyon Holden (Seminole) 1.87m, 2. Christopher Ross (Seminole) 1.87m
Pole vault – 1. Tanner Cauley Bennett (Flagler Palm Coast) 3.90m, 2. Michael Smith (Hagerty) 3.75m
Long jump – 1. Lester Williams III (Lake Mary) 6.89m, 2. Taylor Royster (Oviedo) 6.36m
Triple jump – 1. Williams III (Lake Mary) 13.39m, 2. Emiril Gant (Lake Mary) 13.21m
Shot put – 1. Colby Cronk 16.86m (Flagler Palm Coast), 2. Owen York (DeLand) 13.94m
Discus – 1. York (DeLand) 45.16m
Javelin – 1. Levi Hayworth (Flagler Palm Coast) 57.04m
CLASS 1A DISTRICT 6
At Father Lopez
Team scores:
1. Father Lopez 191.5
2. Trinity Christian Academy 127.5
3. St. Joseph 117
4. Florida Deaf and Blind 75
5. Christ’s Church Academy 61
6. St. Johns Country Day 44
7. Peniel Baptist 17
8. First Baptist (Bunnell) 14
First placers and any local second-placers:
3,200 relay – 1. St. Joseph 9:13.17
110 hurdles – 1. Trenton Newton (Trinity Christian) 19.00, 2. Kristofer Medeiros (Trinity Christian) 19.01
100 – 1. Ryan Herdel (Father Lopez) 11.44
1,600 – 1. Ashton Akam (St. Joseph) 4:34.09
400 relay – 1. Father Lopez 44.79, 2. Trinity Christian 45.19
400 – 1. Jeremiah Kes (St. Joseph) 52.94
400 hurdles – 1. Felipe Paredes (Father Lopez) 1:04.68, 2. Gabriel Ponce-Arce (Trinity Christian) 1:08.42
800 – 1. Tyson Manley (Christs Church Academy) 2:05.15
200 – 1. Herdel (Father Lopez) 23.45
3,200 – 1. Akam (St. Joseph) 10:25.71
1,600 relay – 1. Christ’s Church Academy 3:39.57
High jump – 1. Deavyn Coleman (St. Johns Country Day) 1.62m
Long jump – 1. Joseph Brittain (Trinity Christian) 5.64m
Triple jump – 1. Ponce-Arce (Trinity Christian) 11.06m
Shot put – 1. LaSean Nagle (Florida Deaf and Blind) 11.08m
Discus – 1. Finnegan Driscoll (Father Lopez) 32.30m
Javelin – 1. Herdel (Father Lopez) 43.02m
Girls Track & Field
CLASS 4A DISTRICT 3
At Spruce Creek
Team scores:
1. Flagler Palm Coast 128.33
2. Spruce Creek 124.33
3. Sanford Seminole 111.50
4. Lake Brantley 62
5. Lake Mary 60
6. Hagerty 53.50
7. DeLand 50
8. Orange City University 43
9. Oviedo 42
10. Apopka 18.33
11. Lake Howell 9
First-placers and any local second-placers:
3,200 relay – 1. Lake Brantley 9:35.51
100 hurdles – 1. Nyrania Barr-Miller (Orange City University) 15.13, 2. Imani Reid (Seminole) 15.43
100 – 1. Oluwadara Soremi (Seminole) 12.11
1,600 – 1. MacKenzie Roy (Spruce Creek) 4:58.51
400 relay – 1. Seminole 47.74
400 – 1. Jada Hawkins (Spruce Creek) 58.10
400 hurdles – 1. Kylie Davis (Spruce Creek) 1:06.85, 2. Reid (Seminole) 1:09.18
800 – 1. Layla Fuller (Lake Brantley) 2:16.77, 2. Makayla Claudio (Lake Brantley) 2:18.23
200 – 1. Soremi (Seminole) 24.98, 2. Barr-Miller (Orange City University) 25.35
3,200 – 1. MacKenzie Roy (Spruce Creek) 11:10.56
1,600 relay – 1. Seminole 4:00.00
High jump – 1. Alyssa Morley (Hagerty) 1.67m, 2. Anna Vandell (DeLand) 1.62m
Pole vault – 1. Kylie Neira (DeLand) 3.60m
Long jump – 1. Sidney Allen (Seminole) 5.82m
Triple jump – 1. Soremi (Seminole) 11.80m
Shot put – 1. Maya Tyson (Flagler Palm Coast) 11.51m, 2. Ramiah Nwaogwugwu (Lake Brantley) 10.12m
Discus – 1. Emily Lamb (DeLand) 35.28m
Javelin – 1. Taylin Duncan (Lake Mary) 38.34m, 2. Lamb (DeLand) 36.36m
CLASS 1A DISTRICT 6
At Father Lopez
Team scores:
1. Father Lopez 222
2. St. Johns Country Day 163
3. St. Joseph 90
4. Christ’s Church Academy 71
5. Florida Deaf and Blind 66
6. Trinity Christian Academy 23
7. First Baptist (Bunnell) 8
8. Peniel Baptist 1
First-placers:
3,200 relay – 1. Christ’s Church Academy 10:53.43
100 hurdles – 1. Caroline Theriault (Father Lopez) 17.71
100 – 1. Andreya Bridger (Father Lopez) 13.05
1,600 – 1. Paige Brammer (St. Joseph) 5:34.88
400 relay – 1. Father Lopez 52.04
400 – 1. Tenee Clare (St. Joseph) 1:03.40
400 hurdles – 1. Elanor Meyers (St. Johns Country Day) 1:15.72
800 – 1. Dani Raulerson (Christs Church Academy) 2:30.66
200 – 1. Bridger (Father Lopez) 26.90
3,200 – 1. Brammer (St. Joseph) 12:20.75
1,600 relay – 1. St. Johns Country Day 4:23.16
High jump – 1. Theriault (Father Lopez) 1.52m
Long jump – 1. Ellie Garces (Christs Church Academy) 4.79m
Triple jump – 1. Jordan Markeil (Florida Deaf and Blind) 9.78m
Shot put – 1. MacKenzie Brewton (Father Lopez) 10.16m
Discus – 1. Adelae Fulton (Father Lopez) 31.12m
Javelin – 1. Fulton (Father Lopez) 29.48m
Boys Volleyball
Freedom 3, Colonial 0
Horizon 3, Celebration 1
St. Cloud 3, Poinciana 2
Harmony 3, Tohopekaliga 1
West Orange 3, Gateway 0
Wekiva 3, Ocoee 1
Winter Park 3, Lake Nona 0
Trinity Prep 3, Liberty 0
Girls Beach Volleyball
DISTRICT TOURNAMENT GAMES
DISTRICT 11
One-day tournament
At Game Pointe Events Center
Semifinals:
No. 1 Olympia 3, Lake Nona 0
Finals:
The First Academy 3, No. 1 Olympia 0
Varsity Content Editor Buddy Collings can be reached by email at bcollings@orlandosentinel.com.
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/04/25/high-school-scores-and-top-performers-from-wednesday-3/
By Kristie Ackert
Tampa Bay Times
ST. PETERSBURG — Curtis Mead’s first extra-base hit of the season was huge for himself and his team.
The rookie second baseman, who had been scuffling all season, crushed a two-run homer as part of a three-run sixth as the Rays battled back to beat the Tigers 7-5 Wednesday in front of an announced 13,754 at Tropicana Field.
The win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Rays and prevented the Tigers from sweeping the three-game series. With wins in the first two games, Detroit won a series at the Trop for the first time since 2016.
The Tigers erased an early 4-1 deficit with two runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth. Buddy Kennedy singled home Matt Vierling to tie the game in the sixth, and Javier Baez followed with an RBI double to center to give Detroit its first lead, 5-4.
The Rays reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the inning.
Isaac Paredes doubled to left and moved to third on an Amed Rosario groundout. After Harold Ramirez struck out, Ben Rortvedt singled to left to score Paredes. That brought up Mead, who homered to left to put Tampa Bay back in front, 7-5.
Mead’s first home run of the season and second of his career gave him and the Rays a much-needed boost.
Mead, who entered the game with a .226 slugging percentage, changed his approach at the plate about a week ago, manager Kevin Cash said.
“He got a little less worried about swinging and missing, and the intent to drive the ball and impact the baseball has been there,” Cash said. “He’s hit some balls hard right now. He’s super aggressive, but if he’s getting pitched in the zone, we want to see him swinging. You just want to see some balls start to fall or start to land over the wall.”
Mead’s home run dropped over the leftfield wall after traveling just 327 feet. It would not have been a home run at any other MLB park.
Randy Arozarena opened the scoring with a first-inning home run to left-center.
It snapped a stretch of 86 plate appearances without a home run. He hit two in the first series of the season March 30 and 31 against the Blue Jays and then went into an April funk.
Arozarena had been on pace for the worst month of his career. In 20 April games, he was hitting .117 with a .130 slugging percentage and .320 OPS. He had just one extra-base hit, a double, and 23 strikeouts.
“There’s some mechanical things we’ve showed him over the last couple days behind the scenes, and he’s getting better at it,” hitting coach Chad Mottola said. “But it’s one of those things that he has done it for a while, so it’s going to take a little longer to get out of it. But we at least have identified the problem and are moving forward.”
Arozarena’s mechanics looked just fine when he turned on an 85-mph slider from Jack Flaherty that hung over the middle of the plate and pulled it for his third home run of the season. The ball came off his bat at 105 mph and went several rows into the leftfield seats, covering a distance of 397 feet.
Rortvedt doubled in a run to start a three-run second that gave the Rays their early 4-1 lead. Jose Caballero and Yandy Diaz added run-scoring singles in the inning.
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/04/24/curtis-mead-randy-arozarena-homer-as-rays-battle-back-to-beat-tigers/
Every game presents a challenge for the Rockies’ floundering offense. Wednesday night’s 5-2 loss to the Padres presented a unique puzzle the Rockies couldn’t solve.
San Diego started knuckleball right-hander Matt Waldron, who had no problems making his pitch dance in the mile-high atmosphere at Coors Field. Over six innings, he gave up one run on four hits and struck out five.
The one run he surrendered came in the sixth on Ryan McMahon’s one-out, 444-foot solo homer to right-center. It was McMahon’s third homer of the season.
The Rockies, who have yet to win back-to-back games this season, fell to 6-19.
Waldron throws a knuckleball 35% of the time, but there was nothing frivolous about his approach Wednesday night. He went right after the Rockies, mixing in his sinker, four-seam fastball and a cutter.
The Rockies had some chances, but as has been the case so often this season, they couldn’t deliver a clutch hit. In the fourth inning, Colorado loaded the bases on back-to-back walks by Ezequiel Tovar and McMahon and an infield single by Elias Diaz. But Elehuris Montero swung at Waldron’s first pitch and fouled out to first baseman Jake Cronenworth. Then Brenton Doyle grounded out to third.
This season, with runners in scoring position and two outs, the Rockies have hit .136 (11-for-81) with 24 strikeouts. In the sixth, with two outs and runners in scoring position, Brendan Rodgers grounded out to short.
Rockies starter Ty Blach pitched well for four-fifths of his start. But the first inning was his undoing. San Diego scored four runs on three hits and two walks off the lefty, who was making his first big-league start of the season.
Xander Bogaerts led off the game with a solid single to left and Fernando Tatis Jr. followed up with a walk. Blach got Cronenworth to pop out to left field but then he walked Jurickson Profar to jam the bases — a killer mistake at Coors Field’s wide-open spaces.
Ha-Seong Kim blooped a cheap double into shallow right field to score two runs, Jackson Merrill hit a sacrifice fly, and Eguy Rosario added an RBI single to give the Padres a 4-0 lead.
The Rockies have been running uphill all season, having been outscored 35-7 in the first inning.
San Diego’s lead grew to 5-0 in the sixth. Profar looped a leadoff single to left field off reliever Victor Vodnik and Kim put down a bunt for a base hit. When McMahon threw wildly from third base, Profar advanced to third. Profar scored on Merrill’s groundout to second.
Thursday’s pitching matchup
Padres RHP Randy Vasquez (0-1, 1.80 ERA) at Rockies RHP Dakota Hudson (0-4, 5.06)
1:10 p.m. Thursday, Coors Field
TV: Rockies.TV (streaming); Comcast/Xfinity (channel 1262); DirecTV (683); Spectrum (130, 445, 305, 435 or 445, depending on region).
Radio: 850 AM/94.1 FM
Hudson remains winless through his first four starts with Colorado. He’s coming off a loss to Seattle on Saturday at Coors Field when he allowed four runs on seven hits and five walks over four innings. He struck out one. Walks continue to be a problem for Hudson. The right-hander has faced the Padres three times in his career, going 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA that includes seven strikeouts and three walks.
Although Vasquez struggled in his three starts with Triple-A El Paso before being called up last Saturday, he gave the Padres a solid start against Toronto in his 2024 major league debut. He limited the Blue Jays to one earned run on four hits and one walk while striking out three over five innings. With Yu Darvish out with a neck injury, the Padres need Vasquez to give them one of two more solid starts. The rookie has not faced the Rockies.
Pitching probables
Friday: Off day
Saturday: Astros RHP Ronel Blanco (2-0, 1.33) at Rockies LHP Austin Gomber (0-4, 4.32), 2:05 p.m. in Mexico City
https://www.denverpost.com/2024/04/24/rockies-cant-solve-padres-knuckleballer-matt-waldron-lose-5-2/
A call came from a big Magic fan, and longtime friend and best man at my wedding: “Why is Gary Harris still playing? He gets me nothing.”
While true — Harris went scoreless in 33 minutes in Game 1 vs. Cleveland — the problems with this offense can’t be explained with plus-minus. This isn’t Keyshawn Johnson doing a poetry slam of the boxscore on FS1’s Undisputed.
There’s levels to this.
Decision-making. Understanding the coverage and when it changes. Exploiting weaknesses. Not going into its teeth to get swallowed whole.
The Magic enter Games 3 and 4 Thursday and Saturday needing to flip the momentum of a series in which they’ve averaged less than 90 points a game.
So there’s no talk about defense here. They’ve held Cleveland below 100 points twice. That’s enough to win a playoff game, or at least get a split the first two games.
They’ve got to make the Cavs respect their offense to open up the flow. Sometimes it’s difficult to tell if they’re sitting in a zone or just all playing off the ball and daring Orlando to shoot.
A repeat of this offensive effort will end their season in a sweep. Here are some (not all) of the problems and some possible solutions before tip at Kia Center:
Problem: Getting shooters in a rhythm immediately. Gary Harris is a role player. He had difficulty in Game 1 because the ballhandlers didn’t find him. He was there, spotting up while Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner and Cole Anthony drew help. After an offensive rebound, Banchero attacked a set defense with four in the paint. He went at Evan Mobley, an elite defender at 6-11, who also has help in the gap. The read should’ve been a skip pass to the opposite wing for Harris spotting up for a catch-and-shoot 3 (his strength). Darius Garland would’ve had to make a decision to defend Wagner’s cut to the basket or leave Harris on the weakside. Instead Banchero drove into traffic for a turnover.
Banchero went at Mobley again, but a dig from Donovan Mitchell up top forced him to pick up his dribble. The 6-8 Wagner tried to back down the smaller Mitchell with the ball, but Harris’ defender (Max Strus) helped one pass away. That made for an easy pass to where the defensive help initiated. Did Harris touch the ball? No. Wagner threw the ball the other way for Banchero to take a contested 3 over Mobley. That’s a bad miss.
Solution: The best plays are simple. When Banchero drove left vs. Georges Niang, Jarrett Allen was one pass away and helped from the corner off Wendell Carter. Banchero made an easy pass to Carter for a spot-up 3 that was good. Markelle Fultz attacked Garland immediately past halfcourt, forcing Mobley to pull early to help stop him. Fultz found Anthony with a quick pass out of the paint. He missed the open 3, but that’s the shot the Magic want. That puts the pressure on the Cavs. Consistent makes would force them to give up a likely 2 inside or probable 3 outside.
The ball didn’t touch the paint until six seconds remained on the shot clock because Fultz attacked the paint off a curl around Moe Wagner, who handed it to him at the elbow. Fultz’s cut collapsed the defense to the middle and he passed out to Franz Wagner for an open 3. He missed, but this is how to stress a defense that’s essentially zoning the paint.
Know that the Magic realized they’d made a mistake with Harris? Don’t take my word for it. Watch how Game 2 started. The first set called for Harris to get a corner 3. It would’ve been a better look had Franz Wagner made contact on Garland, who was trailing Harris after he’d set a back screen for Jonathan Isaac in the paint. Then Harris got the ball as he curled around Isaac’s high-post screen, did a low tuck on his drive through the lane and converted a layup.
For Wagner and Banchero to be more effective, they do need help. But it’s their job to set up the help so they call can prosper, too. They dominate the ball. Not the role players.
Problem: Too much dribbling. Too many isos. Three guys watching the dribbler and screener forces the Cavs to do nothing. Anthony held for the last shot of the third quarter in Game 1. He was defended by Niang (a weak, slow-footed, unathletic defender). He got a ball screen from Banchero, forcing a switch. Banchero had Niang posted deep. Anthony instead launched a sidestep 3 over Mobley that was not close.
Banchero had an iso vs. Niang, but he danced with the ball for the entire possession and ended up settling for a turnaround fallaway jumper. Allen left his man early to help and shut off the rim.
Solution: Pass. Move. Don’t ball-watch. Find your matchups, but don’t get so transfixed with hunting one that you forget your identity. To play as much iso as the Magic did in Game 1, they’d need to have elite players on the ball in multiple spots. They don’t have that (most teams don’t). That’s not how they’re built. And even teams with elite on-ball talent (see the Nets with Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden) can’t win this way. Of course, there has to be off-ball movement to create switches and mistakes by the defense. There needs to be dummy actions to fool them.
Fultz aggressively posted up Sam Merrill with the ball early in the clock. That forced Mobley to help and Garland to pull in behind him weakside. That opened Joe Ingles for a 3. No one ran at him. Ingles missed a clean look from the wing you’d take every time.
On that Banchero matchup with Niang, the better read was for Allen’s man (Isaac) to set a flare screen for Harris, or vice versa, for a clean 3-point look from the corner or wing. Instead, everyone watched Banchero play with his food. And make no mistake, on defense Niang is food. The Cavs helping him causes a chain reaction that opens other spots.
For Wagner and Banchero to be more effective, they need help. But it’s their job to set up the help so they all can prosper, too. They dominate the ball. Not the role players.
Problem: Late-in-the-clock offense
Solution: Too much dribble can lead to this. Late can be good if you’re running multiple actions, exhausting the defense and creating a busted coverage. It’s bad if you’re dribbling on one side, the ball never touches the paint and there are no other actions happening. The Magic’s quick-hit offense worked. These weren’t play calls. it was just catching the Cavs unsettled. It got the Magic easy buckets early.
Suggs dunked off a push when it appeared he was coming to get a handoff from Banchero up top, reversed his cut and beat Mitchell to the rim. How was that possible?
Allen was lifted because of Isaac, who was inserted into the starting lineup by coach Jamahl Mosley. If that’s, say, Moe Wagner, Allen is in a drop and that space isn’t open for Suggs. The Cavs respected Isaac’s spreadability.
The Magic have to get into their offense quicker, move with authority, screen with a purpose and cut aggressively. Once Cleveland gets set, the quality of the look they’re getting worsens.
Problem: Passing up open shots. It’s happening at an alarming rate.
Solution: Don’t. That doesn’t mean Moe Wagner should be launching 20 3s a game because he’s open. But there are countless times where the Magic had a window for a clean look, hesitated and Cleveland corrected its mistake by recovering. Even worse, the Magic are passing up open shots for worse shots.
Fultz was attacking his matchup with Merrill from the elbow. Because that’s a likely bucket, Mobley held his position in the paint. Fultz didn’t force up a bad shot. He found Carter who had an open 3. He hesitated as Mobley stopped short on his closeout, tried to drive into a single gap and had the ball stripped by Merrill. Carter passed up a potential good look for no look. And that decision put the Cavs in transition.
Problem: The Ingles-Banchero two-man game.
Solution: Avoid it. They’re not in sync the same as Ingles with Moe Wagner with the second unit. They’re spacing isn’t good, and when they run it Cleveland defends successfully 2 v. 2. Meaning, it doesn’t compromise their coverage and lead to other openings.
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/04/24/orlando-magic-cleveland-cavaliers-nba-playoffs-paolo-banchero-donovan-mitchell-evan-mobley-franz-wagner/
With control of series in the balance, Avalanche goalie Alexandar Georgiev crafted his redemption st
WINNIPEG — The Colorado Avalanche desperately needed a save, and Alexandar Georgiev delivered the biggest one of his season to date.
Colorado trailed 2-1 in Game 2 at Canada Life Centre. The Avs had just squandered a four-minute power play, missed on a Grade-A scoring chance and allowed the go-ahead goal on a fantastic one-handed tip-in by Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele.
Given the way Game 1 had gone, it’s not that much of a stretch to say that Game 2 and clear control of the series hung breathlessly in the balance Tuesday night when Josh Manson and Jack Johnson had a miscommunication, and Manson’s pass in his own zone went astray. It was a gasp-inducing turnover.
A goal against in the following sequence — given the context of how the first 96 minutes of the series transpired — would be emotionally deflating for any team, regardless of championship pedigree, and any goaltender, regardless of resume.
Kyle Connor’s initial shot banged off the post to the left of Georgiev with a ping that echoed through the intimate arena. The rebound came directly to Gabe Vilardi, who had just set up the go-ahead goal, nine feet from the net. This was Winnipeg’s chance for a knockout punch.
Georgiev said no.
Fifty-five seconds later the Avalanche tied the game. A little more than five minutes after that, Colorado had stunned the Whiteout crowd by snatching a two-goal lead before the second intermission. Manson capped it with a rare breakaway goal, authoring his own redemption tale after a turbulent Game 1.
“I tried to imagine that feeling of winning the first game of the series for us,” Georgiev said, adding this experience was “super fun” after everything from the previous couple of days. “Trust the game, enjoy the atmosphere and try to approach it as a new game after the last one.”
Vilardi’s rebound attempt had a 29.6% chance of being a goal, given some of the context, including where he was on the ice and the launch angle of his shot, according to MoneyPuck. That’s a huge number for any shot attempt — higher than any of the goals scored in Game 2 before Valeri Nichushkin’s empty-netter.
Maybe the narrative is too easy, but the Avs took flight and grounded the Jets after that one big save. Colorado dominated the final 26 minutes, and Georgiev was perfect en route to his redemption story.
“The goalie and some of your stars, when things go well they’re gonna get the credit and when things go poorly, they’re gonna take a lot of the blame, right? It is what it is, and nobody’s perfect,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said. “If you give up seven as a goalie, what type of things you read online, what you’re hearing from everyone — everyone just goes immediately to doubt and criticism.
“To be able to put that aside, focus on his process just like we would with the team, be mentally strong, resilient, and then go out and prove people wrong again, too, that’s a tough job to do because you are the last line of defense.”
The Avs wanted to be better in front of Georgiev after a few of their mistakes contributed to his seven goals allowed on only 23 shots in a 7-6 loss in Game 1. They were at times in Game 2, but Georgiev actually faced more tough chances than he did in the series opener.
Winnipeg had seven more shots on goal in Game 2, but the Jets were also credited with 10 more scoring chances and four more high-danger chances, according to Natural Stat Trick. They created more expected goals than Game 1 as well.
The save on Vilardi wasn’t the only big one Georgiev made. But it was the most timely, and allowed his teammates to deliver a flurry of offense to strike back and even the series.
Georgiev gave the Avalanche the chance he couldn’t in Game 1. His teammates rallied behind him, and took care of the rest.
“They showed so much support to me over the last couple of days,” Georgiev said. “A very rough first game, obviously. I just felt so much trust in the room from everybody and I appreciate it so much. It helped me reset, to know that they have got my back. I know I’ll help them out as well during this playoff. It was huge from them. I appreciate it.”
https://www.denverpost.com/2024/04/24/alexandar-georgiev-redemption-avalanche-jets-playoffs-save/
The last time the Magic hosted a playoff game in front of Orlando fans, four-year pro Cole Anthony was a senior in high school.
Although Orlando reached the postseason in 2020, they played inside the NBA bubble at Disney. The year prior, the Magic hosted the Raptors in the first round but lost both home contests at Kia Center (then known as Amway).
In fact, it’s been 13 years since the franchise has won a home playoff game (2011 vs. Atlanta) despite three postseason appearances since then.
“The city’s hungry,” Anthony said after practice Wednesday ahead of Thursday’s Game 3 against Cleveland. “I know we’re definitely hungry, especially being down 0-2.
“So it’s going to be some fun.”
In order for the Magic to have that fun in front of a home crowd, however, Jamahl Mosley’s squad will have to figure out a way to open Game 3 off stronger compared to the first pair of contests at Cleveland that they lost after slow starts (Bally Sports Florida, 7).
The No. 4-seeded Cavs average the most first-quarter points (31.5) among all playoff teams and the fourth-most (55.5) in the first half. The No. 5 Magic’s 42.5 first-half points are the second-fewest.
“For us, we’ve just got to get off to a better start [and] not let them get off to this hot start,” Anthony said. “Obviously, we’ve got to control Donovan Mitchell.
“If we do that, we’ll have a great chance to get a win.”
Slowing down Mitchell is easier said than done for Orlando. Through two playoff games, the All-NBA guard is averaging the third-most points (12.0) in the 1st quarter among all players in the postseason behind only 76ers center Joel Embiid (13.5) and Bucks guard Damian Lillard (17.0).
If the Magic can crack the code to starting off on the right foot and limit Mitchell from the jump, Orlando could give itself a chance to extend the best-of-seven series.
Cleveland’s 41.0 second-half points are the fewest in the postseason. The problem for the Magic is that they’re only two spots higher than the Cavs with 42.0 points after halftime.
A lot of that has to do with shot-making — or lack of — for Orlando.
So far, the Magic have shot 11 of 44 (league-worst 25%) from 3-point range when the closest defender was 6-plus feet away (meaning they’re wide-open looks), according to the NBA.
Even with a defender just 4-6 feet away, Orlando still shot 6 of 25 from distance (24%).
Those open shots, however, could be deceiving. While the Magic might run certain set plays in the half-court to create space, some of those shots could actually be what the Cavs want Orlando to take.
That’s because the Magic shot 33.3% on open 3-pointers where the closest defender was 4-6 feet away during the regular season — the seventh-worst percentage in the league entering the playoffs.
But the Magic like the looks they’re getting.
“Because it’s the shot we’ve taken and stepped in with confidence all year,” Mosley said. “If we weren’t generating other things within the offense, there would be an area of concern but the things that we’ve done with a strength all year, we’re still doing them at a high clip.
“It’s just the ability to step into our shots with confidence, which all of these guys will continue to do.”
And to their credit, they’ve held Cleveland to 3 of 24 (or 12.5%) on 3-pointers with the closest defender 4-6 feet away.
“We’re all capable of making shots,” Anthony said. “We’ve just got to do it now.”
Down 2-0 to Cavs, now we get to see how resilient Magic really are | Commentary
One player who could help is Jalen Suggs, who’s expected to be available for Game 3 after exiting Monday’s loss at Cleveland due to a left knee strain. Although he’s struggled from 3 through two playoff games (1 of 10), Suggs shot 39.7% from 3 in the regular season, which was second-best for Orlando.
He returned to Game 2 in the second half after suffering the leg injury in the first quarter but Mosley said post-game that the Magic guard was in quite a bit of pain at the time.
“I do expect Jalen to be able to play,” said Mosley who shared that Suggs is doing better and was able to practice Wednesday.
A boost from the fans inside Kia Center could help the Magic as well — the same way the electric atmosphere inside Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse boosted the Cavs to a 2-0 lead with the series headed to Orlando.
“I’m sure they’re really hungry,” forward Franz Wagner said of Magic fans. “Not hungrier than us though. We’ve got to come out ready to go and have some fun too.”
Added Mosley: “The support that they give and the atmosphere in the building is absolutely incredible. That gives our guys so much energy and the ability to know that we have to take care of homecourt.”
Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com
If you go …
Cavaliers at Magic, Game 3
When: Thursday, 7
TV: Bally Sports Florida
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/04/24/orlando-magic-cleveland-cavaliers-cole-anthony-franz-wagner-donovan-mitchell-nba-playoffs-jamahl-mosley/
Michael Malone’s individual film reviews this week keep encountering a distraction at the end.
His eyes wander from what’s transpiring on the court and focus instead on his team’s sideline, where the Nuggets are about to erupt into a celebration they’ll someday tell their grandchildren about.
His objective, of course, is to leave Jamal Murray’s Game 2 buzzer-beater in the rearview mirror for the time being. Denver still needs to win twice more to eliminate the Lakers. But Malone is only human.
“I go through the film probably five times. And every time I watch it, I get just as excited,” he said Wednesday before the Nuggets flew to Los Angeles. “And not just at the shot, but the reaction. I’m looking at (lead assistant coach) David Adelman jumping in the air. (Head athletic trainer) Dan Shimensky running around like he’s a 2-year-old. The bench reaction. The fans. Fans behind the bench aren’t even watching the game. They’re watching it on the jumbotron, which is so weird to me. It’s happening right in front of you, and they’re like this.”
Malone craned his neck, mimicking the crowd.
“It was a great moment,” he continued. “Those are the moments that you will talk about and relive for 50 years from now.”
Even in the immediate aftermath of the shot, which gave Denver a 2-0 series lead in the first-round matchup, Malone and the Nuggets displayed a healthy sense of perspective for the history of the moment combined with an understanding of what they still need to accomplish. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope spoke to the team in an ecstatic postgame locker room.
“The message was just, ‘Take this moment. Enjoy it. We’ve got a couple days off. Tonight, enjoy this moment,'” he repeated afterward. And after Monday night: “We’ve still got business to take care of when we go to L.A. Just stay with the business mindset and let’s get it done.”
Denver is still 11 for 42 on wide open 3-pointers in the series. Players other than Michael Porter Jr. are shooting 14 for 29 overall from beyond the arc — a dismal 23.7%. On one hand, it’s a testament to the Nuggets’ imposing stature in the West and their resolve that they managed to win both home games anyway. On the other hand, as players pointed out, they were supposed to win both home games in the first place. All they’ve done entering Game 3 on Thursday (8 p.m. MT, TNT) in Los Angeles is hold serve.
“They’re gonna show up really aggressive,” Porter said of the Lakers. “They’ve shown they can play with us on our home floor. They’ve been up big both games. If I was on their team, I’m sure they have a lot of confidence. Just knowing that they were in the game both games, had big leads. So going back home, I’m sure they feel confident.”
The Nuggets’ top priority at their pre-flight practice? Have the lead after the first quarter this time. No more double-digit deficits early in these games.
Holding a lead has its own baggage, but Malone figures they can cross that bridge when they get there.
“History would tell you that when we have a big lead, we tend to relax. And we tend to abandon what afforded us the lead that we had,” he said. “So when you’re down by 20, you become urgent, you become desperate, you become hungry.”
His late father, Brendan Malone, used to always tell him he felt nervous watching the game whenever Denver took a big lead.
“So hopefully we get a lead,” Malone said, “but it’s not too big of a lead.”
In the meantime, looking back at the film of Game 2 is maybe worth the victory lap.
“It was a hell of a play and one of those shots. Has a nickname been given to it yet?” Malone asked. One was suggested to him: The Shot at 5280. “That’s a lot. We’ve gotta work on that. I’m gonna come up with something better than ‘The shot at 5280.'”
https://www.denverpost.com/2024/04/24/jamal-murray-buzzer-beater-nickname-lakers/
Michael Malone’s individual film reviews this week keep encountering a distraction at the end.
His eyes wander from what’s transpiring on the court and focus instead on his team’s sideline, where the Nuggets are about to erupt into a celebration they’ll someday tell their grandchildren about.
His objective, of course, is to leave Jamal Murray’s Game 2 buzzer-beater in the rearview mirror for the time being. Denver still needs to win twice more to eliminate the Lakers. But Malone is only human.
“I go through the film probably five times. And every time I watch it, I get just as excited,” he said Wednesday before the Nuggets flew to Los Angeles. “And not just at the shot, but the reaction. I’m looking at (lead assistant coach) David Adelman jumping in the air. (Head athletic trainer) Dan Shimensky running around like he’s a 2-year-old. The bench reaction. The fans. Fans behind the bench aren’t even watching the game. They’re watching it on the jumbotron, which is so weird to me. It’s happening right in front of you, and they’re like this.”
Malone craned his neck, mimicking the crowd.
“It was a great moment,” he continued. “Those are the moments that you will talk about and relive for 50 years from now.”
Even in the immediate aftermath of the shot, which gave Denver a 2-0 series lead in the first-round matchup, Malone and the Nuggets displayed a healthy sense of perspective for the history of the moment combined with an understanding of what they still need to accomplish. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope spoke to the team in an ecstatic postgame locker room.
“The message was just, ‘Take this moment. Enjoy it. We’ve got a couple days off. Tonight, enjoy this moment,'” he repeated afterward. And after Monday night: “We’ve still got business to take care of when we go to L.A. Just stay with the business mindset and let’s get it done.”
Denver is still 11 for 42 on wide-open 3-pointers in the series. Players other than Michael Porter Jr. are shooting 14 for 29 overall from beyond the arc — a dismal 23.7%. On one hand, it’s a testament to the Nuggets’ imposing stature in the West and their resolve that they managed to win both home games anyway. On the other hand, as players pointed out, they were supposed to win both home games in the first place. All they’ve done entering Game 3 on Thursday (8 p.m. MT, TNT) in Los Angeles is hold serve.
“They’re gonna show up really aggressive,” Porter said of the Lakers. “They’ve shown they can play with us on our home floor. They’ve been up big both games. If I was on their team, I’m sure they have a lot of confidence. Just knowing that they were in the game both games, had big leads. So going back home, I’m sure they feel confident.”
The Nuggets’ top priority at their pre-flight practice? Have the lead after the first quarter this time. No more double-digit deficits early in these games.
Holding a lead has its own baggage, but Malone figures they can cross that bridge when they get there.
“History would tell you that when we have a big lead, we tend to relax. And we tend to abandon what afforded us the lead that we had,” he said. “So when you’re down by 20, you become urgent, you become desperate, you become hungry.”
His late father, Brendan Malone, used to always tell him he felt nervous watching the game whenever Denver took a big lead.
“So hopefully we get a lead,” Malone said, “but it’s not too big of a lead.”
In the meantime, looking back at the film of Game 2 is maybe worth the victory lap.
“It was a hell of a play and one of those shots. Has a nickname been given to it yet?” Malone asked. One was suggested to him: The Shot at 5280. “That’s a lot. We’ve gotta work on that. I’m gonna come up with something better than ‘The shot at 5280.'”
Want more Nuggets news? Sign up for the Nuggets Insider to get all our NBA analysis.
https://www.denverpost.com/2024/04/24/jamal-murray-buzzer-beater-nickname-lakers/
The Rockies still hope Michael Toglia, their 2019 first-round draft choice, will eventually turn the corner. It hasn’t happened yet. Indeed, Toglia has gone in the wrong direction this season.
Wednesday, the first baseman/right fielder was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque. The Rockies recalled utility player Hunter Goodman to take Togila’s place on the 26-man roster. Goodman will play primarily corner outfield and first base, but he can also fill in at catcher.
Toglia, 25, leads the Rockies with four home runs but has far too many empty at-bats, especially for an offense that has struggled mightily during Colorado’s 6-18 start. He’s slashing .106/.143/.362 with a strikeout rate of 40.8% (20 strikeouts in 49 plate appearances).
Manager Bud Black said the Rockies hope that sending Toglia down will allow him to “take a step back and sort of regroup.”
“He’s a power hitter, so there’s got to be a slugging percentage in there, and there has to be an on-base component in there, too,” Black said before Wednesday night’s game with the Padres at Coors Field. “The strikeout rate and the on-base rate kind of go hand in hand. This year, specifically, there is a big gap there. He’s walked one time.”
Selected 23rd overall out of UCLA, Toglia made his Rockies debut in 2022, but he has yet to prove he can handle big-league pitching consistently. His career slash line is .174/.231/.331, with 10 home runs in 91 games. His career strikeout rate is 35.5%. The major league average is 22.6.
Goodman, 24, has impressed at Triple-A so far this season. In 91 plate appearances, he’s hit seven home runs while slashing .298/.352/.690. His strikeout rate is just 20.9%. But, of course, that was against Triple-A pitching.
Goodman, a fourth-round pick out of Memphis in 2021, made his major league debut on Aug. 27 of last season. After a hot start, he cooled off and finished with a .200 average (14 for 70) with one home run in 23 games.
“The last two weeks, I’ve had some really good at-bats, so I’m turning in the right direction,” Goodman said of his stint with the Isotopes. “I’m hoping that continues up here. I have to mainly trust the process. I feel like toward the end of last season (with the Rockies), I got too results-driven. I was going up there hunting for a base hit instead of just going up there trying to hit the ball hard.”
Black added: “Hunter has been swinging the bat very well at Triple-A, and, hopefully, when he’s in there, he can give us a little jolt.”
The Rockies are comfortable putting Goodman behind the plate if veterans Elias Diaz and Jacob Stallings need a break. Goodman started at catcher in seven of the Isotopes’ 22 games.
“This year, we really put our eyes on Goodman and we said, ‘Hey, this guy can catch,’ ” Black said. “We caught him more in spring training this year than last. And down at Triple-A, he’s caught well. He’s done a good job. So we have no problem catching him in the major leagues.”
Injury updates. Veteran first baseman/right fielder Kris Bryant, who is out with a low-back strain, was eligible to come off the 10-day injured list on Wednesday, but he’s still not close to playing baseball again. Bryant is working in the weight room, doing rehab exercises, and getting treatment but not doing any baseball-related activities. While doctors have examined Bryant, Black said the injury does not require surgery. Bryant, 32, is hitting .149 with one homer through 13 games this season.
Left fielder Nolan Jones said his back feels “much better” than it did Tuesday night, but he’s still a number of days away from returning to the field. Jones departed Tuesday’s game after a sixth-inning at-bat when his lower back locked up.
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https://www.denverpost.com/2024/04/24/rockies-michael-toglia-demoted-to-triple-a/
