ROCKETS MAKE A MOVE

Rockets hire former GM as Director of Scouting, per sources

Rockets hire former GM as Director of Scouting, per sources
Rafael Stone will get some help with the NBA Draft approaching. Composite image by Jack Brame.
Rafael Stone has worked his way up the ladder

According to ESPN's Tim MacMahon, the Rockets are hiring former Grizzlies and Celtics GM, Chris Wallace, to be the new Director of Scouting. Many fans have voiced concerns about current GM Rafael Stone's lack of experience as a general manager, and with so much riding on the No. 2 overall pick in the NBA Draft, the Rockets now have someone in the building with more experience.

Stone and now Wallace have some big decisions to make with Houston's three picks in the first round of the draft. Hopefully these two can put their heads together and take the best player on the board. Many believe that the Pistons will take Cade Cunningham with the first pick, which would leave the Rockets to choose between Jalen Green, Jalen Suggs, and Evan Mobley. But who knows what could happen if the Pistons take Jalen Green first, who they are rumored to be big fans of according to Sam Vecenie of The Athletic. That would leave Cade Cunningham available at No. 2 overall for the Rockets to draft, a player many believe has the most talent in the draft. Either way, Rockets fans should be excited that the organization is taking this draft seriously, and trying to be as prepared as possible for their rebuild.

Most Popular

SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome

Listen Live

The Astros beat the Blue Jays, 3-1. Photo by Jack Gorman/Getty Images.

Christian Walker homered in a three-run second, Ryan Gusto pitched well into the sixth and the Houston Astros beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-1 on Wednesday night to sweep the three-game series.

Walker led off the second with a home run to left off Bowden Francis (2-3), Yainer Diaz tripled and scored on Zach Dezenzo's RBI single and Yordan Alvarez capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly.

Gusto (3-1) allowed one run on three hits with six strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. Gusto has allowed three runs or fewer in each of his three starts this season.

Bryan King pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings, and Bryan Abreu threw a scoreless eighth.

George Springer walked, and Ernie Clement doubled with one out in the ninth, but Josh Hader struck out Alejandro Kirk and induced a flyout by Myles Straw for his seventh save.

Houston has won five of its last six.

Springer hit an RBI double in the fourth for the Blue Jays. They have lost five straight games.

Francis surrendered three runs on eight hits in 4 2/3 innings. He has allowed three runs or fewer in four of his five starts.

Key moment

Hader striking out Kirk and getting Straw to flyout to center to end it.

Key stat

The Astros swept the Blue Jays for the first time since they swept a four-game series in Houston on May 14-17, 2015.

Final Thoughts

Julia Morales caught up with Walker after the game.

Up next

Houston starts a three-game series Friday at Kansas City, with RHP Hayden Wesneski (1-1, 3.91 ERA) starting the opener. Toronto RHP José Berríos (1-1, 5.02) starts Friday night in the opener of a three-game series at the Yankees.

___________________________

Looking to get the word out about your business, products, or services? Consider advertising on SportsMap! It's a great way to get in front of Houston sports fans. Click the link below for more information!

https://houston.sportsmap.com/advertise

SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome