ROCKETS MAKE A MOVE
Rockets hire former GM as Director of Scouting, per sources
Jul 6, 2021, 11:25 am
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.
Sources: The Rockets are hiring former Grizzlies and Celtics GM Chris Wallace as director of scouting. Houston made it a priority to add experience and expertise under GM Rafael Stone, investing in infrastructure as the franchise rebuilds.
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) July 6, 2021
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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.