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UCLA hits 4 HRs, rolls past Oklahoma in Game 1
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Breaking News
Monday, 03 June 2019 23:21
OKLAHOMA CITY -- After rolling past Oklahoma in record fashion, the Bruins now have to forget about it.
Rachel Garcia hit a two-run homer and gave up one run in five innings, and UCLA routed Oklahoma 16-3 on Monday night to take a 1-0 lead in the Women's College World Series' best-of-three championship series. The Bruins matched the WCWS single-game record for runs scored and earned the largest margin of victory ever for a championship series game since the three-game format started in 2005.
Game 2 will be played Tuesday. UCLA (55-6) can claim its 13th national title and first since 2010.
"Tomorrow is a completely different game," Kinsley Washington, who went 4-for-4 and scored three times for UCLA, said. "This past game we just played has nothing to do with tomorrow's game. We need to keep that mindset."
Garcia, who threw 179 pitches on Sunday to earn the win against Washington, threw just 61 on Monday and rested the final two innings.
"Being able to have the ability to score the runs and not have Rachel be in the whole game was an ideal plan," UCLA coach Kelly Inouye-Perez said. "It's huge. A lot of things came together tonight."
A day after hitting a dramatic, walk-off homer, Garcia cranked one of UCLA's four home runs against Oklahoma. The Bruins had 16 hits against the Sooners, who entered the night leading the nation in earned run average.
"First, I have to give absolute credit to UCLA," Oklahoma coach Patty Gasso said. "They cleaned our clocks. There's no tiptoeing around it. That's the bottom line. There's nothing in our game that worked tonight. It's very atypical of this team."
Oklahoma (57-5) can still win its third title in four years with victories on Tuesday and Wednesday. Gasso expects that her team will learn from what happened on Monday.
"This game absolutely does not define us or our season," she said. "This team is very resilient, and that's what we were trying to get out of the worst game we've played all season, on the biggest stage. Unfortunately, it happened that way. But it does not define who we are."
UCLA's Aaliyah Jordan hit a solo homer in the top of the first inning to open the scoring. Oklahoma's Shay Knighten answered with a solo shot in the second.
Oklahoma committed three errors in the third inning to help the Bruins score twice.
With UCLA up 3-1 in the third, Oklahoma got two on with two outs when Jocelyn Alo drove one deep to right field that was caught near the warning track for the third out.
The Bruins scored again in the fourth when Washington doubled to score Colleen Sullivan, and in the fifth when Taylor Pack singled to knock Bubba Nickles in.
Oklahoma pulled starting pitcher Giselle "G" Juarez after the fourth inning, but UCLA was just getting started. The Bruins hit three homers in the sixth. Brianna Tautalafua hit a solo shot, Briana Perez hit a 3-run homer and Garcia hit the two-run blast to put UCLA up 11-1.
Grace Green hit a solo homer for Oklahoma in the bottom of the sixth to make it 11-2, but UCLA scored five more in the seventh.
It was a disappointing showing for the Sooners just 25 miles from campus.
"I told them not to read what people are going to be saying about us," Gasso said. "Don't get caught up into that. I think the thing that hurt them the most is feeling like they disappointed our fans."
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Kawhi files lawsuit against Nike over 'Klaw' logo
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Basketball
Monday, 03 June 2019 17:44
Toronto Raptors star Kawhi Leonard filed a lawsuit against Nike on Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California in an attempt to reclaim control over a logo Leonard says he created.
"In 2011, just after being drafted to the National Basketball Association, Kawhi Leonard authored a unique logo that included elements that were meaningful and unique to him," the lawsuit reads. "Leonard traced his notably large hand, and, inside the hand, drew stylized versions of his initials 'KL' and the number that he had worn for much of his career, '2.' The drawing Leonard authored was an extension and continuation of drawings he had been creating since early in his college career.
"Several years later, as part of an endorsement deal with Nike, Leonard allowed Nike to use on certain merchandise the logo he created while Leonard continued to use the logo on non-Nike goods. Unbeknownst to Leonard and without his consent, Nike filed an application for copyright registration of his logo and falsely represented in the application that Nike had authored the logo."
A Nike spokesperson declined to comment.
The lawsuit goes on to say that Leonard, who flew to California along with the Raptors on Monday afternoon ahead of Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors, intends to use the "Klaw" logo in various capacities -- including clothing lines, footwear and in connection with sports camps and charity functions -- but that Nike has objected to him doing so. Leonard, therefore, wants to regain control of the logo, which he created while he was part of Jordan Brand's stable of athletes.
Since then, though, Leonard became a shoe free agent -- before eventually signing a deal with New Balance earlier this season. The Boston-based company has created multiple campaigns involving Leonard this season -- one being "Fun Guy," and another, more recently, being "King of the North," playing off a phrase from the recently concluded HBO series "Game of Thrones."
The nine-page lawsuit would, in theory, allow for a new campaign with New Balance sometime in the future -- or at the very least would again give Leonard (should he win) control of a logo he says should be his.
The lawsuit goes on to explain, in detail, how Leonard came up with the idea for the logo, which was developed at the start of his rookie season during his lockout-shortened 2011-12 campaign with the San Antonio Spurs.
"Leonard is known for his extremely large hands," the lawsuit reads. "Throughout his career, spectators have noticed Leonard's large hands and they are often described as contributing to his success as a player.
"Since at least his college years, Leonard contemplated and conceived of ideas for a personal logo which would be unique to him and reflect something meaningful relating to his own image. In late December 2011 or January 2012, Leonard refined a logo he had been creating for several years that encompassed his large and powerful hands, his initials and his jersey number.
"Leonard shared his original work of authorship with family and friends, solicited the advice and expertise of a creative designer, received comments and suggestions, and made modifications to his design."
Later in the lawsuit, it states Leonard and Nike have gone back-and-forth multiple times over the past several months regarding the use of the logo, with the last correspondence being in March, when Nike told him, "it owns all intellectual property rights in the Leonard Logo and demanding that Leonard immediately cease and desist from what Nike claimed was the unauthorized use of the Leonard Logo."
Finally, the lawsuit says the goal of the plaintiff is for Leonard to be declared the sole author of the logo; that Leonard's use of his logo doesn't interfere with Nike's rights, including "without limitation any rights Nike may claim to possess with respect to the Leonard Logo"; and that the defendant committed fraud on the Copyright Office in registering the Leonard Logo, along with "any such other and further relief as this Court deems just and proper."
Leonard and the Raptors will face the Warriors for Game 3 of the Finals at Oakland's Oracle Arena on Wednesday night. The series is tied at a game apiece.
ESPN's Nick DePaula contributed to this report.
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Warriors' Looney likely out for Finals with fracture
Published in
Basketball
Monday, 03 June 2019 17:20
Golden State Warriors forward Kevon Looney is likely to be lost for the rest of the NBA Finals with a right upper body fracture of the first costal cartilage.
Looney "will be out indefinitely," the Warriors confirmed Monday night, following an MRI in the San Francisco Bay Area after he missed the second half of Sunday's 109-104 NBA Finals Game 2 victory at the Toronto Raptors. The costal cartilage connect the sternum to the ribs.
Without Looney, the Warriors will become more dependent on center DeMarcus Cousins, who made a strong return from his own injury woes in Game 2.
Looney appeared to be dragging his right shoulder in the first half, but it is unclear exactly when he suffered the injury.
Meanwhile, there is optimism among the Warriors that swingman Klay Thompson will play with a mild hamstring strain in Game 3 in Oakland on Wednesday, a league source told ESPN. He will rehab the injury over the next two days.
Thompson, who is officially listed as "questionable" for the next game, exited in the fourth quarter of Game 2 with left hamstring tightness. He said after the game that he expected to play Game 3, with the series tied at one game apiece.
The results of Thompson's MRI were slightly delayed because the Warriors' charter plane landed later than expected Monday morning, pushing back the process a few hours. The plane didn't arrive back in Oakland until after 4 a.m. local time Monday.
The Game 2 injuries were the latest setbacks for a Warriors group already playing without its star Kevin Durant, who continues rehabbing a right calf injury. Meanwhile, swingman Andre Iguodala is dealing with a lingering calf injury.
The Warriors remain buoyed by the fact that they still found a way to win Game 2 and the belief that Durant will be back at some point in this series. Kerr said before Sunday's game that it was "feasible" Durant could participate in a practice, then play in a Finals game.
A second Warriors flight out of Toronto, carrying staff and family members, was scheduled to leave after Game 2 but had a mechanical issue that forced the plane to return to its gate. The second flight arrived safely in Oakland late Monday afternoon. Staff members traveling on the coaches and players' plane said they were happy to have been on the first flight out.
Information from ESPN's Nick Friedell was used in this report.
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Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Andrew McCutchen sprained his left knee while in a rundown in the first inning of Monday's 8-2 loss to the San Diego Padres and will have an MRI.
The former NL MVP had to be helped off the field and was taken to the clubhouse for examination. He was replaced in the lineup by Jay Bruce, who was acquired this week in a trade with the Seattle Mariners.
"I didn't feel it pop or anything," McCutchen said. "Something felt uncomfortable, something that made me grab my knee and go down. I've had an ACL injury before, and I know what that feels like. This didn't feel like that."
Manager Gabe Kapler said the Phillies will bring up Adam Haseley on Tuesday, and if McCutchen isn't available for the Phillies, "it will sting," he said.
Pray for me. Please
— andrew mccutchen (@TheCUTCH22) June 4, 2019
McCutchen, 32, is hitting .256 with 10 home runs and 29 RBIs as a leadoff hitter in his first season in Philadelphia. He was signed to a $50 million, three-year contract during the offseason after finishing last season with the New York Yankees.
McCutchen spent his first nine seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, joined the San Francisco Giants last year and then was traded to the Yankees.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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The Los Angeles City Attorney's office announced Monday that it would not file charges against Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Julio Urias related to his arrest for domestic violence on May 13, as long as he meets several conditions.
Urias, 22, was arrested May 13 after an alleged altercation with a woman in a parking lot of a Los Angeles shopping mall. He will not be prosecuted as long as he participates in a 52-week domestic counseling program and commits no acts of violence for the next year, the city attorney said.
Urias could still face disciplinary action from Major League Baseball, which was investigating the incident.
The city attorney said it was deferring prosecution because Urias has no record of criminal behavior and the incident did not result in any physical injury, nor did the woman involved in the altercation indicate to police officers or witnesses that she believed she was a victim.
After Urias was arrested, MLB and the MLB Players Association agreed to place him on paid administrative leave May 14 pending the league's review of video of the incident, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan. Mall officials in possession of the video declined to give it to MLB, Passan reported, and Urias was reinstated on May 21. At that time, the league's investigation into the incident remained open.
Since being reinstated, Urias has made three appearances for the Dodgers.
ESPN's Alden Gonzalez contributed to this report.
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SECAUCUS, N.J. -- Adley Rutschman heard the chatter for months that he'd be the No. 1 pick in the Major League Baseball draft.
The switch-hitting Oregon State catcher just kept slugging at the plate and throwing out would-be base stealers all season from behind it -- making it an easy call for the Baltimore Orioles on Monday night.
"It's unbelievable,'' Rutschman said from Goss Stadium in Corvallis, Oregon, shortly after becoming the top selection. "Just to look back on how I was as a kid and seeing what my expectations were, how far I've come from there, it's special.''
The announcement by commissioner Rob Manfred at MLB Network studios marked the second time the Orioles led off the draft -- they took LSU pitcher Ben McDonald in 1989.
"I met with all the teams over the course of the year and knew the Orioles were going to be the first overall,'' said Rutschman, a 40th-round pick by Seattle three years ago. "As the year progressed and went along, it looked like it was a possibility more and more. It just worked out that way.''
With the No. 2 choice, the Kansas City Royals grabbed Texas high school shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., son of former big league pitcher Bobby Witt.
The younger Witt has draft-day bragging rights on his father, who won 142 games over 16 seasons after being selected No. 3 overall by Texas in 1985.
"Now I've got him beat,'' Bobby Witt Jr. said on MLB Network.
The rebuilding Orioles had the No. 1 pick after plummeting to the worst record in the majors last season. They're at the bottom of the standings again with an 18-41 start -- but getting Rutschman provides hope for a franchise that finished last in the AL East the past two years.
"He's everything you want and he plays a premium defensive position with athleticism that gives him versatility to play elsewhere, as needed,'' Orioles general manager Mike Elias said in a video statement posted on the team's Twitter account. "A future fixture for this organization."
The 21-year-old Rutschman had been the favorite to go first overall since he led Oregon State to the College World Series championship last year and was selected the most outstanding player.
He followed that up with a dominant junior season for the Beavers, hitting .411 with a career-best 17 homers to go with 58 RBIs and a school-record 76 walks. On defense, he threw out 13 of 27 runners attempting to steal.
Rutschman, a native of Sherwood, Oregon, is a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award, given to the country's top college player. He was the Pac-12 player of the year and the conference's co-defensive player of year.
His selection marked the seventh time a player drafted as a catcher was taken with the top pick and the first since Minnesota tabbed Joe Mauer in 2001.
"The amount of work that goes into what he's done and becoming the No. 1 pick is not something that's ordinary,'' Elias said. "I met Adley this winter and was immediately struck by him and impressed by his maturity and leadership.''
The Witts became the highest-drafted father-son duo, topping Tom Grieve (No. 6, 1966) and Ben Grieve (No. 2, 1994). They are the seventh father-son combination of first-rounders and the first since Delino DeShields (1987) and Delino DeShields Jr. (2010).
Royals' No. 2 pick Witt Jr. makes history
The Royals select Bobby Witt Jr. at No. 2 in the MLB Draft, making Witt Jr. and his dad Witt Sr. (No. 3 in 1985) the highest drafting duo in history.
"The dreams are kind of turning into reality,'' the younger Witt said.
University of California slugging first baseman Andrew Vaughn went to the Chicago White Sox with the third pick.
Vaughn batted .381 this season with 15 homers and 50 RBIs, and he struck out just 74 times in three college seasons. The 6-foot, 214-pound Vaughn is also looking to become the first repeat winner of the Golden Spikes Award after earning the honor as a sophomore last year.
Cal had the only set of teammates -- college or high school -- drafted in the first round, with Golden Bears catcher Korey Lee going 32nd overall to Houston.
Miami drafted Vanderbilt outfielder JJ Bleday at No. 4, adding the Southeastern Conference player of the year who leads Division I players in home runs with a school-record 26. A finalist for the Golden Spikes Award, the lefty-hitting Bleday brings a 42-game on-base streak into next weekend's super regionals round of the NCAA tournament.
With the fifth pick, Detroit took Florida high school outfielder Riley Greene. Gatorade's Florida state player of year hit .422 with eight homers and 27 RBIs.
More draft history was made when San Diego selected speedy Georgia high school shortstop CJ Abrams at No. 6, marking the first time no pitchers were taken within the first six picks.
In a draft light on premier pitching prospects, 22 of the 34 first-round picks were position players -- setting a draft record.
TCU left-hander Nick Lodolo ended the early run on hitters, going seventh overall to Cincinnati. Lodolo was the 41st overall pick by Pittsburgh in 2016 -- the highest selection to go unsigned that year.
Lodolo will get the full slot of $5.43 million, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan.
Texas Tech third baseman Josh Jung , the co-Big 12 player of the year, was the eighth pick by Texas.
Atlanta took Baylor catcher Shea Langeliers with the ninth selection -- which the Braves received as compensation for not signing last year's No. 8 pick, pitcher Carter Stewart, who was eligible for this year's draft but instead inked a six-year contract last week with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Japan's Pacific League that will guarantee him as much as $7 million.
Langeliers threw out 14 of 25 would-be base stealers this season and set an NCAA tournament record with 11 RBIs in a three-homer game against Omaha last Saturday night.
Arizona State power-hitting outfielder Hunter Bishop -- younger brother of Mariners outfielder Braden Bishop -- went to San Francisco, rounding out the first 10 selections.
Texas high school third baseman Brett Baty was the first of the four prospects in attendance to be drafted, going 12th overall to the Mets.
San Jacinto Junior College right-hander Jackson Rutledge was the second selected, going to Washington at No. 17. Daniel Espino, a right-hander from Georgia Premier Academy, went 24th overall to Cleveland.
Right-hander Brennan Malone from IMG Academy in Florida was the last of the players on site to find out where he'll be starting his pro career, going 33rd to Arizona -- with Hall of Famer Randy Johnson announcing his selection as the Diamondbacks' representative.
"That was awesome," a beaming Malone said.
The draft resumes Tuesday with Rounds 3-10 held via conference calls with teams, and it concludes Wednesday with Rounds 11-40.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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With Rounds 1 and 2 complete, the 2019 MLB draft continues with Rounds 3 to 10 on Tuesday and Rounds 11 to 40 on Wednesday.
Adley Rutschman went first overall to the Baltimore Orioles on Monday, with the Kansas City Royals taking Bobby Witt Jr. second and Chicago White Sox choosing Andrew Vaughn at No. 3.
See below for analysis of all the picks in the first round.
Full coverage of the 2019 MLB draft is available here and click here for complete the draft 2019 order from Rounds 1 to 40.
More coverage from Keith Law: Top 100 | Mock draft 3.0
1. Baltimore Orioles: Adley Rutschman, C, Oregon State
Who is Rutschman? The clear No. 1 prospect in this draft class and a sure bet to stay at catcher, Rutschman hit .408 for Oregon State this year. According to ESPN's Keith Law, the switch-hitting backstop has one of the safest floors of the draft, because he will stay behind the plate and the ceiling of a perennial All-Star thanks to his power potential.
Why the Orioles took him here: It's no secret that the Orioles have holes to fill just about everywhere on the diamond, and plugging the one behind the plate with a potential franchise cornerstone who has drawn comparisons to Buster Posey and Joe Mauer is a pretty good place to start. How good is Rutschman? Well, Cincinnati showed the ultimate sign of respect by electing to walk him with the bases loaded during an NCAA regional matchup last week. -- Dan Mullen
2. Kansas City Royals: Bobby Witt Jr., SS, Colleyville (Texas) Heritage HS
Who is Witt? Arguably the most famous name in this year's class, Witt's father was the No. 3 overall pick in the 1985 draft, making the Witts the first father-son combination to both be selected as top-five picks. The Texas prep star is a true shortstop with potentially plus defense, a huge arm, good instincts and a history of hitting.
Why the Royals took him here: According to Keith Law, the Royals zeroed in on Witt months ago, and they have not wavered on making him their guy at No. 2. The upside Kansas City is betting on is a middle-of-the-diamond star, but there is some reason for concern about Witt's age (he will turn 19 in June) for a high schooler, since he has been older than most of the competition he has faced so far. -- Mullen
Royals' No. 2 pick Witt Jr. makes history
The Royals select Bobby Witt Jr. at No. 2 in the MLB Draft, making Witt Jr. and his dad Witt Sr. (No. 3 in 1985) the highest drafting duo in history.
3. Chicago White Sox: Andrew Vaughn, 1B, Cal
Who is Vaughn? The 2018 Golden Spikes winner, Vaughn has absolutely raked since he set foot on campus in Berkeley. He followed up his .402 batting average in 2018 by hitting .381 this year, and he smacked 50 home runs in his three seasons at Cal.
Why the White Sox took him here: Keith Law called Vaughn the best pure bat in this draft, and it would have been hard to imagine Chicago passing on adding that kind of hitter with the No. 3 overall pick. As a major conference college star, Vaughn should move quickly through the minors and bring his smooth right-handed swing to the South Side sooner than later. The history of shorter first basemen as high draft picks isn't great, but Vaughn has a chance to change that here. -- Mullen
4. Miami Marlins: J.J. Bleday, OF, Vanderbilt
Who is Bleday? A corner outfield prospect who has shown his power in the toughest conference in college baseball, Bleday is a future right fielder with an unusual swing that could present some risk but enough pop in his bat to make it more than worth it here.
Why the Marlins took him here: A polished college bat is a great fit for a franchise in desperate need of offense at the big league level. Miami has gravitated toward athletic players during Derek Jeter's short tenure, but betting on a bat-first prospect shows a willingness to break from the mold for the right player. -- Mullen
5. Detroit Tigers: Riley Greene, OF, Hagerty HS (Oviedo, Florida)
Who is Greene? Greene lags behind Witt as an all-around prospect, but he might be the best pure bat of any prep hitter in this class. According to Keith Law, Greene's future is in left field.
Why the Tigers took him here: Greene's defense is a work in progress, but Detroit is betting on a high schooler who could hit for both power and average thanks to his hand speed. -- Mullen
6. San Diego Padres: C.J. Abrams, SS, Blessed Trinity HS (Roswell, Georgia)
Who is Abrams? One of the fastest runners in this year's draft, Abrams is a high school shortstop with the athleticism to stay there or end up in center field, where his speed could be put to even better use. Keith Law sees Abrams as a prospect with the potential to hit for average, but not much power.
Why the Padres took him here: With the draft playing out according to form so far, Abrams seemed like the clear choice for San Diego here. One advantage for the Padres is that having a system already stocked with young players in or near the majors allows them to take a chance on a toolsy high school star who might take a little extra time to develop. -- Mullen
7. Cincinnati Reds: Nick Lodolo, LHP, TCU
Who is Lodolo? The first pitcher off the board in a class that Keith Law has noted as the weakest in his time covering the draft, Lodolo is a hard-throwing lefty with a slightly lower arm slot than many starters, leading some to wonder if his future will be in the bullpen.
Why the Reds took him here: Lodolo might profile more as a mid-rotation starter than a true ace -- if he stays a starting pitcher -- but in this draft, he is the best left-handed pitching prospect available, and his slider could become a devastating out pitch as he makes his way through Cincinnati's system. He'll get the full slot of $5.43 million, sources told Jeff Passan. -- Mullen
8. Texas Rangers: Josh Jung, 3B, Texas Tech
Who is Jung? College bats are the clear strength of this draft, and Jung is another player who has been extremely productive during his time as a collegiate player. While his power numbers don't blow you away, he hit .392 in 2018, and he has followed it up with a .335 average for a Texas Tech team that will host a super regional next weekend.
Why the Rangers took him here: Texas is clearly betting that the hit tool will carry Jung as a prospect. There are some questions about hit power potential, and he will need to work to stay at third base defensively -- but there will be a spot for him if he continues to throw out hits like he has as a Red Raider. -- Mullen
9. Atlanta Braves: Shea Langeliers, C, Baylor
Who is Langeliers? The second-best catching prospect in this draft, Langeliers is another prospect who, like Rutschman, should move quickly and stay behind the plate. The Baylor backstop suffered a broken hamate bone early this season, but he kept his stock up by performing well after returning to the field.
Why the Braves took him here: As the compensation pick for not signing Carter Stewart last year, Atlanta is getting a player who would be the top catching prospect in most drafts. Is Langeliers going to challenge Rutschman as a hitter? No. But a strong defensive catcher with some offensive ability still carries plenty of value. -- Mullen
10. San Francisco Giants: Hunter Bishop, OF, Arizona State
Who is Bishop? The younger brother of Mariners outfielder Braden Bishop didn't hit much his first two years at Arizona State, before exploding out of the gate this season. He has power and speed and plays center field for ASU, but he might end up as a left fielder in the pros.
Have you seen that San Francisco outfield? The Giants had the worst outfield production in the majors in 2018, and they are near the bottom once again in 2019. Bishop had the best tools left on the board, and while he has a lot of swing-and-miss in his game (23 percent strikeout rate), if it all comes together, he has much ceiling as any outfielder in this draft. -- David Schoenfield
11. Toronto Blue Jays: Alek Manoah, RHP, West Virginia
Who is Manoah? Listed at 6-foot-6 and 260 pounds, Manoah is as big a pitching prospect as the top of the draft has seen in recent memory. A reliever his first two seasons in Morgantown, Manoah's stock skyrocketed after he moved into the rotation, and he excelled this year.
Why the Blue Jays took him here: Have we mentioned this isn't a great class for pitching prospects? That said, Manoah provides Toronto with the crop's best bet to become a solid piece of a big league rotation. Keith Law points to a four-pitch mix highlighted by two swing-and-miss pitches (changeup and slider) that should get Manoah to the majors. -- Mullen
12. New York Mets: Brett Baty, 3B, Lake Travis HS (Austin, Texas)
Who is Baty? As a power-hitting prep prospect, he will need his bat to carry him to the majors, as his defense at third base is very much a work in progress. He also is one of the oldest high school players in this draft at 19½ -- a pretty big red flag.
Why the Mets took him here: Baty has some of the best power in this draft, but he isn't just a power hitter. If it all comes together, New York just took one of the best all-around hitters in this draft. But there are a few more "ifs" than some of the other prospects drafted around him here. -- Mullen
13. Minnesota Twins: Keoni Cavaco, 3B, Eastlake HS (Chula Vista, California)
Who is Cavaco? A late-blooming third baseman/shortstop, Cavaco was the biggest pop-up high school player of the spring, moving from a little-known prospect to a first-round talent based on his power potential, athleticism and the ability to play third with the possibility that he can stick at shortstop.
Why the Twins took him here: With the big league team thriving in first place and top-rated prospects like Alex Kirilloff and Royce Lewis on the way, the Twins have a good foundation to remain successful in the short term and the long term. Cavaco is a roll of the dice, of sorts, as the Twins project his breakout performance as a sign that he is just beginning his upward trajectory. -- Schoenfield
14. Philadelphia Phillies: Bryson Stott, SS, UNLV
Who is Stott? A shortstop who is likely to actually stay at shortstop, despite his size, the UNLV product is listed at 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds and is most often compared to Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford.
Why the Phillies took him here: Stott will have to prove that his numbers aren't just the product of his hitter-friendly environment in Las Vegas and the Mountain West Conference, but Philadelphia is getting a potential contributor on both sides of the ball at shortstop with enough size that a move to third base also is a possibility. -- Mullen
15. Los Angeles Angels: Will Wilson, SS, NC State
Who is Wilson? Wilson is a college shortstop who profiles more as a second baseman in pro ball. Last summer for USA Baseball's Collegiate National Team, Wilson played second, while the man who went off the board one pick before him -- Bryson Stott -- was the shortstop.
Why the Angels took him here: Wilson has demonstrated power that should play at second base during his time at NC State, belting a combined 31 home runs over the past two seasons. -- Mullen
16. Arizona Diamondbacks: Corbin Carroll, OF, Lakeside HS (Seattle)
Who is Carroll? The No. 4 player on Keith Law's big board, the 5-foot-10 Carroll is an undersized outfielder with speed, athleticism and plus range in center field, and Law believes he has the strength and swing to get to above-average power as he matures. As Law wrote, if he were 6-foot-3, Carroll might have been a candidate to go first overall.
Why the Diamondbacks took him here: With seven of the first 75 picks, the Diamondbacks have the biggest draft pool of the 30 teams, and they might have received a gift here with their first selection. Given the success of all the undersized players across the majors right now, Carroll's size isn't the big negative it might have been viewed as a generation ago. -- Schoenfield
17. Washington Nationals: Jackson Rutledge, RHP, San Jacinto College
Who is Rutledge? If you thought Alek Manoah was big, wait until you see the 6-foot-8, 260-pound Rutledge on the mound. Rutledge landed at San Jacinto after transferring from Arkansas and dominated with a fastball that regularly touched 98 mph this spring.
Why the Nationals took him here: With Rutledge's high 90s fastball, a cutter and an improving breaking ball, it's not hard to understand why Washington would jump on a chance to draft a pitcher with that upside. But it remains to see what he'll do against elite competition after taking the junior college route to the draft. -- Mullen
18. Pittsburgh Pirates: Quinn Priester, RHP, Cary-Grove (Illinois) HS
Who is Priester? A 6-foot-3 right-hander from a northern state, Priester is a strike thrower with a repeatable delivery and a swing-and-miss curveball.
Why the Pirates took him here: Just before the draft started, Keith Law said he was hearing Pittsburgh was likely to go with a high school arm here. Given that Will Wilson and Shea Langeliers (two players Law had going to the Pirates in mock drafts) already were off the board, it seems the Bucs' decision was made easier by those selecting before them. -- Mullen
19. St. Louis Cardinals: Zack Thompson, LHP, Kentucky
Who is Thompson? The Kentucky product is a southpaw who has proved he can compete against high-level competition in the SEC this season. He struck out 130 batters in 90 innings and posted a 2.40 ERA for the Wildcats, thanks to a strong fastball/curveball combo.
Why the Cardinals took him here: According to Keith Law, Thompson could have been a top-10 pick if not for a 2018 elbow issue and some late elbow pronation in his delivery. The Cardinals have a history of success drafting starting pitchers from major conferences, and Thompson could be next in line. -- Mullen
20. Seattle Mariners: George Kirby, RHP, Elon
Who is Kirby? A 6-foot-3 right-hander who is not from a power conference, Kirby gets his fastball up to 95 mph, and his curveball and changeup both rate as above-average. Kirby walked just six batters in 88⅓ innings, but his fastball was fairly hittable for his level of competition (73 hits), so it's hard to know if he can develop from a control guy (throws strikes) to a command guy (hits location).
Why the Mariners took him here: Well, for the third time in four years, general manager Jerry Dipoto took a smaller-college guy in the first round, following outfielder Kyle Lewis (Mercer) in 2016 and pitcher Logan Gilbert (Stetson) last season. Like Gilbert, Kirby is viewed as a high-floor guy more so than having a high ceiling, and given the state of the Mariners' pitching staff, betting on a higher degree of certainty is understandable. -- Schoenfield
21. Atlanta Braves: Braden Shewmake, SS/3B, Texas A&M
Who is Shewmake? A contact hitter in the power-strikeout era, Shewmake hit over .300 in all three of his years at Texas A&M and struck out just 27 times in 241 at-bats this season. At 6-foot-4, he is a tall shortstop who could end up at second or third or moving around the diamond.
Why the Braves took him here: Have we mentioned that college hitters are the strength of this draft? Shewmake proved himself in the tough SEC, and he is a safe bet to produce with his hit tool. There isn't a lot of power here, but Atlanta added a second high-floor player after landing Shea Langeliers at No. 9. -- Mullen
22. Tampa Bay Rays: Greg Jones, SS, UNC Wilmington
Who is Jones? A draft-eligible sophomore, the switch-hitter is an 80 runner, and then some, making him the fastest player in the draft. That makes him one of the most exciting players in the draft. And while he has a strong arm, Keith Law thinks he will move to center field and has concerns about Jones' hit tool (he did hit .343 for UNC Wilmington, playing in a minor conference), thus ranking him just No. 62 on his board.
Why the Rays took him here: Speed never slumps! The Rays have one of the top two farm systems, allowing them to gamble here on a player with game-changing speed. The one thing Tampa Bay's farm system does lack is an obvious center-field replacement for Kevin Kiermaier -- who has been injury-prone in recent seasons -- so if Jones moves to center, he has the speed to give the Rays another great glove in the outfield. -- Schoenfield
23. Colorado Rockies: Michael Toglia, 1B/OF, UCLA
Who is Toglia? The UCLA first baseman/corner outfielder is a plus defender at first with a chance to develop as a hitter. He is the No. 51 player on Keith Law's Big Board, so this pick was something of a surprise.
Why the Rockies took him here: Law mentioned going into the draft that Colorado was one of the toughest teams to get a read on, so it's likely the Rockies saw something in Toglia that others didn't. While the glove is the calling card for Toglia, he has posted a 1.001 OPS and belted 14 home runs for the No. 1 team in college baseball so far this season -- and first base has consistently been a position of need in Colorado since the days of Todd Helton. -- Mullen
24. Cleveland Indians: Daniel Espino, RHP, Georgia Premier Academy
Who is Espino? A prospect Keith Law calls a smaller 6-foot right-hander with effort, Espino has first-round stuff despite his stature. He is a Panamanian-born pitcher who managed to overcome the stigma smaller starting pitchers face in the first round of the draft.
Why the Indians took him: Cleveland is one team that isn't afraid to keep a smaller pitcher in the rotation (think Trevor Bauer), and the Indians are getting a pitcher with as much pure stuff as anyone who has been picked. Espino has flashed 99 mph on his fastball and shown a hard slider to go with it, meaning the payoff for Cleveland could be high if this pick works out. -- Mullen
25. Los Angeles Dodgers: Kody Hoese, 3B, Tulane
Who is Hoese? The Royals took Hoese in the 35th round last year as a draft-eligible sophomore, but he returned to Tulane and improved from .291 hitting with five home runs to .392 and 23 home runs, while registering more walks than strikeouts. He will turn 22 in July, making him the oldest hitter in Keith Law's top 100, and Hoese eventually could end up at first base.
Why the Dodgers took him here: Did you see those offensive numbers? Back in 2015, the Dodgers struck gold with the 24th pick when Walker Buehler fell because of some arm issues. Hoese fell in part because of his age, and you wonder if the Dodgers will once again take advantage with a stealth late-first-round pick. -- Schoenfield
26. Arizona Diamondbacks: Blake Walston, LHP, New Hanover (North Carolina) HS
Who is Walston? Keith Law points to Walston as one of the few pop-up arms of the spring in this draft, but the projectable North Carolina prep prospect is considered a tough sign as an NC State commit. He also was a record-setting quarterback in high school.
Why the Diamondbacks took him here: The Diamondbacks have seven Day 1 picks, so this somewhat surprising selection could have some strategy around it. Arizona took a high school outfielder earlier in the night when it grabbed Corbin Carroll, and it added an athletic pitcher with upside -- if Walston does in fact sign with Arizona here. -- Mullen
27. Chicago Cubs: Ryan Jensen, RHP, Fresno State
Who is Jensen? The No. 32 player on Keith Law's draft board, Jensen has a big-time fastball that sits at 97 to 99 mph but lacks a strong second pitch.
Why the Cubs took him here: Drafting and developing pitchers hasn't exactly been a strength for the Cubs during the Theo Epstein era. In Jensen, Chicago is betting on the heat of an undersized right-hander who has started in college but could end up in a major league bullpen. -- Mullen
28. Milwaukee Brewers: Ethan Small, LHP, Mississippi State
Who is Small? A redshirt junior who missed the 2017 season with Tommy John surgery, Small doesn't have big-time velocity at 86 to 92 mph, but he dominated the SEC with a 1.88 ERA and 160 strikeouts in 96 innings. Batters hit just .160 against him as his fastball showed deception and the movement you need from a finesse-type lefty.
Why the Brewers took him here: Teams don't really use the draft for need, since you don't know what your needs will be in the future. But the Brewers certainly need rotation help -- not just at the major league level, but also in the minors, as the farm system has produced Brandon Woodruff, Corbin Burnes and Freddy Peralta over the past two seasons. Small had big numbers in the best conference in college baseball.
29. Oakland Athletics: Logan Davidson, SS, Clemson
Who is Davidson? Davidson is a shortstop with some pop -- but also some swing-and-miss -- in his bat. He posted double-digit home runs and steals in all three of his seasons at Clemson, and he has a good chance to stick in the middle of the diamond as a pro.
Why the Athletics took him here: The A's are betting Davidson can develop into the player his tools suggest, despite his struggles in the wood-bat Cape Cod League -- where he hit just .194 last season -- and his high strikeout totals during his time at Clemson. -- Mullen
30. New York Yankees: Anthony Volpe, SS, Delbarton HS (Morristown, New Jersey)
Who is Volpe? A high school teammate of the more heralded Jack Leiter (a potential first-rounder himself, but likely headed to Vanderbilt), Volpe ranks just 90th on Keith Law's board. His hit tool projects as his most likely tool to be above-average, and Law likes his feel and instincts but believes Volpe will move to second or third in the pros.
Why the Yankees took him here: Maybe they'll take Leiter -- son of Al -- later on and try to buy him out of that Vanderbilt commitment, using Volpe as a recruiting tool. Or maybe the Yankees just really like that hit tool. -- Schoenfield
31. Los Angeles Dodgers: Michael Busch, 1B, North Carolina
Who is Busch? Keith Law had Busch at No. 16 on his draft board, but he fell to the Dodgers 15 picks later. He has played first base during his time at North Carolina, but he was announced as a second baseman when L.A. took him.
Why the Dodgers took him here: Busch has power -- 16 home runs this spring -- and has walked 20 more times than he has struck out this season. Six picks after grabbing Kody Hoese from Tulane, the Dodgers added another strong bat late in the first round for an organization that has nailed its offensive picks in recent drafts -- Mullen
32. Houston Astros: Korey Lee, C, Cal
Who is Lee? Surprise! When Andrew Vaughn became the first player from Cal selected in Monday's first round, everyone saw it coming. When Lee's name came off the board 29 picks later, none of us saw it coming. Lee is the first player ranked outside of Keith Law's top 100 to be selected.
Why the Astros took him here: Lee's slash line is certainly attention-grabbing, as he went off to the tune of .338/.419/.626 for the Golden Bears this season; and as a general rule, if the Astros see something in a player, there's probably something there. -- Mullen
Compensation Picks
No. 33: Arizona Diamondbacks:* Brennan Malone, RHP, IMG Academy
No. 34: Arizona Diamondbacks:** Drey Jameson, RHP, Ball State
*For losing Patrick Corbin
**For losing A.J. Pollock
Competitive Balance Round A
No. 35 Miami Marlins: Kameron Misner, OF, Missouri
No. 36 Tampa Bay Rays:* J.J. Goss, RHP, Cypress Ranch HS (Houston)
No. 37 Pittsburgh Pirates: Sammy Siani, OF, Penn Charter School (Philadelphia)
No. 38 New York Yankees:** T.J. Sikkema, LHP, Missouri
No. 39 Minnesota Twins: Matt Wallner, OF, Southern Miss
No. 40 Tampa Bay Rays:*** Seth Johnson, RHP, Campbell
No. 41 Texas Rangers:**** Davis Wendzel, 3B, Baylor
* For not signing Gunnar Hoglund
** From Reds via trade
*** From A's via trade
**** From Brewers via trade
Second Round
No. 42 Baltimore Orioles: Gunnar Henderson, SS, Morgan Academy (Selma, Alabama)
No. 43 Boston Red Sox:* Cameron Cannon, SS, Arizona
No. 44 Kansas City Royals: Brady McConnell, SS, Florida
No. 45 Chicago White Sox: Matthew Thompson, RHP, Cypress Ranch HS (Houston)
No. 46 Miami Marlins: Nasim Nunez, SS, Collins Hill HS (Suwanee, Georgia)
No. 47 Detroit Tigers: Nick Quintana, 3B, Arizona
No. 48 San Diego Padres: Joshua Mears, OF, Federal Way (Washington) HS
No. 49 Cincinnati Reds: Rece Hinds, SS, IMG Academy
No. 50 Texas Rangers: Ryan Garcia, RHP, UCLA
No. 51 San Francisco Giants: Logan Wyatt, 1B, Louisville
No. 52 Toronto Blue Jays: Kendall Williams, RHP, IMG Academy
No. 53 New York Mets: Josh Wolf, RHP, St. Thomas HS (Bellaire, Texas)
No. 54 Minnesota Twins: Matt Canterino, RHP, Rice
No. 55 Los Angeles Angels: Kyren Paris, SS, Freedom HS (Oakley, California)
No. 56 Arizona Diamondbacks: Ryne Nelson, RHP, Oregon
No. 57 Pittsburgh Pirates: Matt Gorski, OF, Indiana
No. 58 St. Louis Cardinals: Trejyn Fletcher, OF, Deering HS (Portland, Maine)
No. 59 Seattle Mariners: Brandon Williamson, LHP, TCU
No. 60 Atlanta Braves: Beau Philip, SS, Oregon State
No. 61 Tampa Bay Rays: John Doxakis, LHP, Texas A&M
No. 62 Colorado Rockies: Aaron Schunk, 3B, Georgia
No. 63 Cleveland Indians: Yordys Valdes, SS, McArthur HS (Hollywood, Florida)
No. 64 Chicago Cubs: Chase Strumpf, 2B, UCLA
No. 65 Milwaukee Brewers: Antoine Kelly, LHP, Wabash Valley College
No. 66 Oakland Athletics: Tyler Baum, RHP, North Carolina
No. 67 New York Yankees: Josh Smith, 2B, LSU
No. 68 Houston Astros: Grae Kessinger, SS, Ole Miss
No. 69 Boston Red Sox: Matthew Lugo, SS, Carlos Beltran Academy
* Boston's top pick was dropped 10 spots (33 to 43) because the team was more than $40 million over the luxury tax.
Competitive Balance Round B
No. 70 Kansas City Royals: Alec Marsh, RHP, Arizona State
No. 71 Baltimore Orioles: Kyle Stowers, OF, Stanford
No. 72 Pittsburgh Pirates: Jared Triolo, 3B, Houston
No. 73 San Diego Padres: Logan Driscoll, C, George Mason
No. 74 Arizona Diamondbacks: Tommy Henry, LHP, Michigan
No. 75 Arizona Diamondbacks:* Dominic Fletcher, OF, Arkansas
No. 76 Seattle Mariners:** Isaiah Campbell, RHP, Arkansas
No. 77 Colorado Rockies: Karl Kauffmann, RHP, Michigan
* From Cardinals via trade
** From Indians via trade
Compensation Picks
No. 78 Los Angeles Dodgers:* Jimmy Lewis, RHP, Lake Travis (Texas) HS
* For losing Yasmani Grandal
Here is the order for rounds 3-40.
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How Jordan Henderson became Liverpool's leader culminating in Champions League glory
Published in
Soccer
Monday, 03 June 2019 09:40
Jordan Henderson collapsed to his knees, exhausted and happy, before he sunk to the turf completely.
"No one deserves this moment more than you," Adam Lallana ran over to tell his close friend as he lifted him to his feet, while tears fell from Jürgen Klopp's face as he embraced the 28-year-old, later saying: "Jordan Henderson is the captain of the 2019 Champions League winners. That is satisfying."
Dejan Lovren put his arm around the England international's shoulder, walking him over to the Liverpool supporters behind the goal that Divock Origi scored in to secure their sixth European Cup after a 2-0 victory over Tottenham, screaming "this is your f---ing captain, this is the f---ing man." Virgil van Dijk walked behind them, raising his hands high and pointing his fingers down at Henderson to underscore the Croatian's words.
The devotion of Liverpool's players and staff to make sure Henderson was centre-stage was endearing to watch, but not surprising.
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The sound of the final whistle at the Wanda Metropolitano confirmed him as a European Cup-winning captain but on a wider scale, it felt like a full stop to the exhausting battle to prove he belongs at an elite level, let alone at Liverpool and on the biggest stage in club football. From overcoming Osgood-Schlatter disease, a growing pains condition requiring regular treatment, to being "smaller and skinnier" than the other young hopefuls at Sunderland's Academy, a place where he'd have to excel at everything just to get noticed, Henderson has been in fighter mode for two decades.
At 21, he was tagged an expensive flop after switching from Sunderland to Liverpool in 2011. A year later, he rejected being used a as a makeweight in a transfer approach for Clint Dempsey, then at Fulham, to stay and force his way into Brendan Rodgers' plans. Former Premier League player Joey Barton accused him of "trying to impersonate legends" in 2015, while Alex Ferguson was critical of his gait in his autobiography.
Former Liverpool players also weighed in over the years, too. Dietmar Hamann, a Reds midfielder from 1999-2006, said "I think [Henderson is] a good player but whether he is a Liverpool captain, I'll leave that to other people" while Stan Collymore, who played up front for Liverpool from 1995-97, has questioned Henderson's leadership in the past but recently acknowledged he was wrong.
A large portion of Liverpool's fanbase have arguably been most unkind to the midfielder, too. Inside the club, however, Henderson is lionised, which was so emotively illustrated after Saturday's Champions League final victory in Madrid.
Simply put, he is the Reds' leader on every level.
"As a person, Hendo is one of the most fantastic [people] you can ever meet," said Van Dijk, the world's most expensive defender and anchor of Liverpool's back four, to ESPN. "He has been putting the team before himself for years. What I like is that he uses everything he has experienced -- the lows, the criticism, the trouble with injuries -- to help others through similar situations.
"What he does gets overlooked because people think you wear the armband to look good in it and shout a lot and that's the job done. There is so much responsibility on the pitch and off the pitch: you have to think about everyone else before you get to yourself and Hendo is very skilled at that.
"If any young player wants to follow an example, it should be him. He is a fantastic leader, who everyone respects so much at Liverpool and I'm very happy that he is my captain."
Teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold, who will definitely inherit the armband in the future, provided an equally strong appraisal.
"We wouldn't be where we are now without him," he told ESPN. "I'm speaking for everyone when I say massive thanks to Hendo for leading us here. The team is always his first thought: none of us do that more for Liverpool than Hendo. He shows on a daily basis that he deserves to be skipper: how he carries himself in training and around the place, the respect he has for everyone, whether it's Mo Salah or the cleaning staff.
"[Henderson] doesn't see anyone as bigger or more important than anyone else and that's a lesson to learn not just in football but life too. He is so valuable to the club and anyone at Melwood could speak for hours about just that."
Appreciation of Henderson isn't just restricted to the people at Melwood, Liverpool's training complex, either. Amid Henderson's emotional release at full-time, Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino, in a typically classy move, headed right for the Liverpool captain. He put both his hands on Henderson's face, looked him in the eye and told him to enjoy the moment, that he'd earned this joy.
Rodgers once labelled the midfield as "a moral compass of the group" while at the Liverpool helm and England manager Gareth Southgate believes that description extends to the national team as well.
"To have a player like Jordan really sets the standard for what we do," he told ESPN ahead of the UEFA Nations League finals (June 5-9, live on ESPN2, ESPN). "How he prepares for training, how he prepares for matches and the way he lives his life in general -- he doesn't just do his role perfectly, he has a positive impact on others to do the same.
"You can't have too many of those players as a manager."
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Southgate spotlighted Henderson's technical abilities too, which are often overlooked. "He has an incredible range of passing, he is intelligent in the way he presses the ball, which is a huge part of the way Liverpool play and he is an excellent crosser of the ball," said the Three Lions manager.
"Henderson is a responsible player: he is tactically aware when another player goes out of position, he covers across. It's more than just his personal attributes and work rate, his technical qualities are important. He was very much in the frame to be England captain heading into the World Cup, but as soon as the decision was made, he was the first to congratulate Harry Kane.
"He was immense with his leadership throughout the tournament despite not wearing the armband. He has such humility and really great qualities as a person, which makes him such a big part of what we do."
On Saturday, with the defining moment of his career to come, Henderson was still trying to ensure others were in focus. As Liverpool walked onto the podium to celebrate their first trophy under Klopp and the first with him as captain, he asked the manager and James Milner to do the honours of holding "Big Ears" aloft with him. Both immediately declined as they wanted Henderson to be at the forefront alone.
While having his face reflected on the most prestigious prize in the club game was the pinnacle of the midfielder's professional career, it was a more personal scene that will resonate. After proudly lifting the Champions League trophy over his head, Henderson walked over to his father, Brian, with the pair crying into each other's arms as they tightly hugged for a minute.
Before Christmas in 2013, the former policeman was diagnosed with throat cancer, initially keeping the news from his son so it wouldn't affect his football. As surgery approached to remove lymph nodes from both sides of his neck and a tumour from his tongue, Brian broke his silence to Henderson with the instruction "try to get man of the match in every game" after telling him not to visit during the intensive radiotherapy treatment.
"He got it in four of the next five he played," the cancer survivor said in 2014. "People didn't realise the pressure he was under. I was so proud of him."
After their embrace on Saturday night, Brian shared the story of taking Henderson to the 2003 Champions League final at Old Trafford between AC Milan and Juventus. Aged 12, he vowed to his dad that he would compete in the competition's climax one day. Henderson has never been one to just do the bare minimum, though, so he went one better and won it instead.
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Stiaan van Zyl's epic century sets Sussex on course for maximum-points win over Middlesex
Published in
Cricket
Monday, 03 June 2019 14:19
Middlesex 138 and 9 for 0 trail Sussex 481 for 9 dec (Van Zyl 173, Brown 107, Salt 50, Beer 50) by 334 runs
Stiaan van Zyl's marathon hundred set Sussex on course for a maximum-points win over Middlesex on day two at Lord's.
The South African left-hander batted for just over seven and a half hours for his 173 and with wicketkeeper Ben Brown weighing in with 107, Sussex, who bowled out the hosts for 138 on the opening day, piled up 481 for 9.
Middlesex, for whom James Harris returned figures of 4 for 98, survived four overs before stumps reaching 9 for 0, but they face the prospect of having to bat out almost all of the remaining two days to salvage a draw.
Sussex were only 31 ahead at start of play, but van Zyl and Brown showed great application to bat throughout an absorbing morning session against tight bowling from the hosts.
Van Zyl moved to his half-century before surviving a decent lbw shout from Toby Roland-Jones in what was a probing opening spell from the former England seamer.
Brown at this stage was completely becalmed and he got the benefit of the doubt on another lbw appeal when he had made just 18, Ethan Bamber the unlucky bowler. Just 83 runs came in that first session, but even so it meant Sussex were already more than 100 in front.
The new ball was available almost immediately on the resumption, but instead of bringing much-needed wickets for the hosts it was the signal for a furious assault from Brown, who unfurled a series of glorious shots.
It set up a race between the two batsmen as to who could get to three figures first. In the event van Zyl just prevailed, reaching the landmark from 233 balls with 12 fours.
Not long afterwards it was Brown's turn, 16 boundaries getting him to the century almost 100 balls quicker than his team-mate. His second fifty came up in 41 balls in a passage of play which saw 81 runs in the 55 minutes after lunch.
It was 2:35pm by the time Middlesex got their first success of the day, Brown slogging across a straight one from Roland-Jones and losing his off bail.
Two more wickets fell before tea, David Weise pulling a short one from James Harris to Roland-Jones in the deep, before Chris Jordan played on to give Bamber his first scalp of the innings.
Van Zyl remained and any hopes of running through the tail were hindered by staunch support from Will Beer, who ensured maximum batting points were secured before tea. The pair batted deep into the final session taking the eighth wicket stand to 89 before van Zyl's epic vigil ended when he was trapped in front by Harris.
There was still time for Beer to make 50 and so equal his career-best, before Harris struck for a fourth time to scatter Ollie Robinson's stumps, provoking Jason Gillespie's men to declare 343 to the good.
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Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle and six-time Pro Bowler Gerald McCoy has agreed to a contract with the Carolina Panthers, he told ESPN's Josina Anderson.
McCoy is getting a one-year deal worth up to $10.25 million that includes a $4 million signing bonus, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Carolina joined the battle to sign McCoy late, bringing him in for a visit last Thursday and Friday after McCoy visited Baltimore and Cleveland.
McCoy left Baltimore thinking he very well might sign there, sources told Schefter, but Carolina wowed him on his visit and quarterback Cam Newton helped recruit McCoy.
McCoy has been a long-time fan of Newton's, saying in 2015 the first pick of the 2011 draft deserved to win the MVP well before the voting was final.
To cap it off, McCoy gets to stay in the NFC South and play against the Bucs, who released him and gave his No. 93 to Ndamukong Suh. Tampa Bay and McCoy "mutually parted ways" on May 20.
He joins Pro Bowlers Kawann Short and Dontari Poe on a Panthers front line that is transitioning from a base 4-3 scheme to a 3-4.
The 31-year-old's ability to play tackle or end gives coach Ron Rivera, who took over the defensive play calling late last season, the position flexibility he is seeking in trying to keep opposing offenses off balance and improve the pass rush.
Carolina finished 27th in the league last season with 35 sacks, the lowest total since Rivera arrived in 2011.
McCoy has 39.5 sacks when lined up as a defensive tackle since 2010, according to ESPN Stats and Information research. Only Geno Atkins and Aaron Donald have more from the inside rush.
McCoy has 54.5 sacks overall in nine seasons and 45.5 since 2013. Even with a drop-off the past two seasons -- six sacks each year -- McCoy can't help but improve Carolina's rush. No Carolina interior lineman had more than Short's three sacks last season.
McCoy has been a nemesis to the Panthers since arriving in the NFL as the third overall pick of the 2010 draft. His 42 tackles in 15 games against his NFC South rival is his most against any team. So are his 34 solo tackles.
His 4.5 sacks against the Panthers are tied for his second most against any team. He has five against Atlanta Falcons and 4.5 against Philadelphia Eagles.
Carolina Pro Bowl guard Trai Turner called McCoy a "real life savage'' on social media when it was announced the Bucs were releasing their star.
The Panthers had to wait until Saturday, June 1, when they picked up an additional $7.5 million under the salary cap for the release of offensive tackle Matt Kalil, to compete financially for McCoy. They also cleared another $2 million in cap space by getting wide receiver Torrey Smith to take a pay cut.
The team still has approximately $8 million in cap space to sign its top two draft picks, edge rusher Brian Burns and offensive tackle Greg Little, and keep enough in reserve to sign additional help.
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