How, despite exciting steps forward, Houston Rockets still hindered by previous regime
ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT
21 November 2023
ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT
The Houston Rockets dropped their third straight game on Monday night, losing to the Golden State Warriors, 121-116. And the big story from the game was Jalen Green being benched in the fourth quarter.
Which brings up a big picture question about Green moving forward. Should the Rockets consider trading him, or just ride it out?
It's hard to believe, but Jalen Green is actually younger than Texans rookie QB CJ Stroud. At 21 years old, Green still has plenty of time to take the next big step, and trading him when his value is down doesn't make a ton of sense.
Plus, how much blame does Stephen Silas deserve for Green's lack of development?
And will Green respond to Ime Udoka benching him in a positive fashion like Jabari Smith?
Don't miss the video above as we break it all down!
José Soriano and two relievers combined for a two-hitter and Oswald Peraza hit his first home run since a trade from the Yankees to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 3-0 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday.
Soriano (10-9) allowed one hit and struck out eight in seven innings. Luis García allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth and Kenley Jansen threw a perfect ninth for his 25th save.
There were two outs in the fifth when Peraza connected off Hunter Brown (10-7) into the bullpen in right-center field to put the Angels up 1-0. His homer comes after his two-run single in the ninth inning Saturday helped Los Angeles to a 4-1 victory that snapped a three-game skid.
Yoan Moncada walked to start the eighth and scored on Mike Trout’s double that bounced off the wall in center field to make it 2-0. Taylor Ward walked before Luis Rengifo reached and Trout scored on an error by Lance McCullers Jr. when the pitcher overthrew first base.
Yordan Alvarez singled with no outs in the first and Soriano walked a batter in the second and sixth innings. The Astros didn’t get another hit until Ramón Urías doubled with one out in the eighth inning. Los Angeles outfielder Taylor Ward was injured trying to make a catch on that hit when he crashed face-first into the metal scoreboard in left field.
He was carted off the field holding a towel to the right side of his face. He was taken to a hospital by ambulance where interim manager Ray Montgomery said he would receive stitches to close the cut and be evaluated.
Brown allowed three hits and a run with five strikeouts in six innings. McCullers Jr. allowed three hits and two runs in his first relief appearance since 2018.
The home run by Peraza.
It’s the fifth time the Astros have been shut out this month.
LHP Yusei Kikuchi (6-9, 3.68 ERA) will start for Los Angeles in the series finale Monday against RHP Luis Garcia, who’ll make his return after sitting out since May 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery.