SALT LAKE CITY — Two games into Summer League is way too early to talk about greatness. Games in July are a notoriously terrible way to project a career — Stephen Curry struggled in Summer League. Greg Ostertag owned Tim Duncan head-to-head in July.
But it's hard to watch Darryn Peterson's first two games in the Salt Lake City Summer League and not think he can be truly special.
Monday night, in a game hyped as No. 2 pick Peterson against No. 3 pick Carlos Boozer, it was Peterson who stole the show with 25 points and 12 assists (to just two turnovers). He was explosive, showed off his shooting range, and his decision-making was way beyond his years. "What is greatness to me? I think it's just kind of being one-of-one," Peterson said. "I would say to achieve greatness, definitely something I want to try to achieve. Far away from it now, so early in my career — it's Summer League — but it's something I wanted to try to achieve in my career."
Peterson puts on a show
Jazz fans showed up and were loud — this is a fan base that has needed a team and a player they can rally behind and believe in. It's been two games, but the fans are all in.
Peterson gave those fans what they wanted from the opening tip Monday. He started 3-of-3 with nine points in the game's first four minutes, hitting a 3-pointer in there, getting to the line and showing some creative shot-making with a scoop layup.
Darryn Peterson is FEELIN' IT
The 2nd overall pick scored the first 9 PTS for the Jazz!
What was more impressive than his scoring was his playmaking. An aggressive Memphis defense blitzed him with doubles off nearly every pick, but Peterson remained calm in the face of pressure, and either found his space to get off a shot or passed to the open man.
"He's able to play at the pace the game calls for," Jazz Summer League head coach Steve Wojciechowski said. "He's going to be closely guarded and doubled, probably a lot of his career, and for a young guy to be able to play at the pace the game calls for, is a very unique skill.
"And he's got a great ability to stay neutral, whether a guy is pressuring him full court, whether he's being trapped, whether it's the first possession of the first quarter, the last possession of the fourth quarter, he stays pretty present in the moment."
Putting in the work
The best reason for Jazz fans to be optimistic is that Peterson appears to have the work ethic of the greats.
"I tell you what, he's a really hungry learner. He's watching tape with Coach [Will] Hardy. he wants to be great," Wojciechowski said.
"First and foremost, I think it's super cool that he's willing to watch film with me, something that I didn't do at Kansas was watch with my head coach, so that's huge for me," Peterson said. "And then, yeah, we just broke it down."
He said Hardy not only showed him basketball, but they dove into film of former Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed, the nine-time Pro Bowler and Defensive Player of the Year. The topic was being aware of what is happening on the court and being light on his feet.
That Peterson is absorbing this at Summer League is a very positive sign.
"His scoring, I think, jumps off the page, but when you watch the game back, there's a lot of different winning plays that he has his fingerprints on," Wojciechowski said. "His scoring is what gets the most attention, but he's gotten better defensively. He gets his hand on balls, he ends up being in the right spot at the right moments and key moments."
Boozer has good night
Cameron Boozer did not disappoint: 18 points, including 4-of-5 from 3, plus seven boards. It's easy to see how he will plug into the Grizzlies' front line and help them from Day 1.
#3 overall pick Cameron Boozer in tonight's Salt Lake City Summer League game:
Also for the Grizzlies, Cedric Coward impressed with 23 points, while also defending Peterson at points, and he had three blocks. Don't bet on seeing a lot of him when the Summer League shifts to Las Vegas, he is too good for this.
But Monday was Peterson's night. He looks like something special.
BROOKLYN, NY - MAY 21: Noah Clowney #21, Day'Ron Sharpe #20 and Josh Minott #00 of the Brooklyn Nets attend the game between the Golden State Valkyries and New York Liberty on May 21, 2026 at Barclays Center Arena in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Catalina Fragoso/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
At noon Monday, the NBA’s annual race for proven talent — free agency — began but for Brooklyn Nets fans, it was a bit of non-starter. The Nets made some moves, all of them already agreed to and not surprising. However, the big move so far this Summer did not materialize: the multi-team trade that will send Nic Claxton to Chicago and bring Julius Randle and an exchange of picks from Minnesota to Brooklyn. The reason why was for the most mundane of reasons, as Keith Smith pointed out late in the day…
A handful of people asked why the big Nets-Hornets-Bulls-Wolves trade hasn't gone official yet…
That deal will have to wait until July 9. Mouhamadou Gueye, who the Bulls are trading as part of the deal, isn't eligible to be traded until July 9 because he was signed on April 9.
Gueye, a 6’9” journeyman, had been added to the trade that already included the Nets, Bulls and Timberwolves. On arrival in Minnesota, Gueye is expected to be waived. Could the trade be expanded further? Sure, but at the moment, there’s nothing rumored. Rui Hachimura, the most recently rumored target of Sean Marks & co. signed with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Another apparently more serious target, Nuggets forward Peyton Watson, remains a restricted free agent. Watson could wind up as the subject of an offer sheet or moved in a sign-and-trade either with the Nets or another team. Again, though, there’s nothing but speculation on that front. Part of that speculation has been driven by PWat’s friendship with Michael Porter Jr. Indeed, Watson was hosted by MPJ on a yacht in the Mediterranean last week.
And while Brooklyn didn’t sign Moe Wagner, they did ink Cleveland 3-and-D guard. That signing like Wagner’;s had previously been reported, but the Nets made Ellis official but not Wagner’s. Marc Stein reported that that may be the result of nothing more than a logjam at league offices where each trade must meet CBA muster from the NBA league department before officially being blessed.
Back to basketball …
Several NBA signings and some agreed-to trades are still awaiting league processing … but the expectation at this point of the evening (ET) is that official announcements on completed deals with the moratorium now lifted are likely to resume Tuesday.
The Nets may also be considering alternative routes to sign the 6’11” 29-year-old. He could be signed for example out of cap space or the Room MLE which is valued at $9.4 million. That’s just about what he will make in the coming year as part of a two year, $18 million contract.
The Nets also signed both Day’Ron Sharpe and Josh Minott to extensions Monday, Sharpe at two years and $20 million and Minott at two years and $9 million. Sharpe has no option in his deal but Minott has a team option next summer.
Brooklyn also seems to have ended its relationship with both Ziaire Williams and Ochai Agbaji, renouncing their Bird Rights, a sure signal that a return is highly unlikely…
As part of the process to complete their offseason moves, the Brooklyn Nets have renounced the free agent rights for Ochai Agabji and Ziaire Williams.
Williams acquired in July 2024 in a trade that was a spin-off of the Mikal Bridges trade. In two seasons, the 24-year-old Stanford product played 119 games, averaging 10.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals, but was seen by many in the organization as inconssistent and sometimes lacking energy as Fernandez noted when he held Williams out of game in late November. In that same 2024 trade with Memphis Grizzlies, the Nets also acquired and retain the Mavs second round pick in 2030.
Agbaji came to the Nets at last season’s trade deadline in a three-team salary dump. Brooklyn acquired the 6’5” wing, $3.5 million in cash considerations and the Raptors second rounder in 2032 for the draft rights to a Serbian guard who had blown his achilles tendon 10 days before the trade. Agbaji played 20 games for the Nets averaging 6.2 points and 2.3 rebounds in 16 minutes per game.
The move will also clear up cap holds for the two players, a bit of a housekeeping move in free agency. Interestingly, the Nets did not denounce the rights to Jalen Wilson.
The Nets will have 15 guaranteed contracts once all the paperwork is concluded.
SACRAMENTO, CA - JULY 6: Darius Acuff Jr. #5 of the Sacramento Kings and Brayden Burries #0 of the Milwaukee Bucks look on during the game on July 6, 2026 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Bucks put up one hell of a fight in their final game in Sac, but couldn’t outlast the Kings in a tight one, losing 95-89. Brayden Burries debuted and was impressive in somewhat limited minutes, while Cormac Ryan and Pete Nance did not suit up. Zack Austin led the Bucks with 17 points, while Darius Acuff Jr. was the Kings’ best with 22 points and three assists.
The Bucks started out slow, with Brayden Burries looking to get his feet wet right away: Burries pulled a transition three on his first possession, then beat his man to the rim but failed to see the help defender come over, getting his shot blocked. At last, Milwaukee’s No. 10 pick drove off the side pick-and-roll to get himself to the free throw line. the Kings, on the other hand, were rolling, with their first-round pick Darius Acuff Jr. scoring in bunches to give his team a 15-4 edge halfway through the first. Other than Burries getting to the line, the Bucks simply couldn’t find a consistent source of offence, making just one of their first 13 shots to be down 25-9 late in the period. Thankfully, new Bucks two-way Kam Jones checked in late and powered the team to a 13-3 run to close the frame—featuring some nifty finishes in the lane—down just six, 28-22, after one.
Amid the Kings’ hot start to the second, Burries nailed a tough side-step three for his first field goal of the game, followed by a stampede to the rim in transition; he looked the goods on both ends of the floor. Still, Milwaukee couldn’t reduce the deficit past ~eight points in the opening six minutes of the frame, with missed boxouts doing them in time after time. As the period drew to a close, Milwaukee continued to struggle locking down Acuff, but crucial buckets from Jesse Edwards, Kam Jones, and BJ Boston kept the “visitors” within shouting distance, down 55-48 at the half.
After a quiet first half, 60th pick Malique Lewis was aggressive to open the third, knocking a kick-out three followed by a transition rack-attack to reduce the margin to just three. Unfortunately, the lead blew back out to the customary ~eight-points as Milwaukee missed some easy chances and got hurt the other way. King’s second-year man Dylan Cardwell was playing on another level than most of the guys out there, beasting in the paint on both ends. There weren’t too many highlights to end the frame for Milwaukee, but BJ Boston’s lob to Zack Austin was certainly one. Bucks down 74-66 after three.
Consecutive threes from Marquel Sutton and Isaiah Stevens to open the final frame immediately put the Bucks behind the eight-ball, but an 8-0 run shortly thereafter—headed primarily by Bogi Markovic—had the deficit right back down to six. Milwaukee, for the first time in the game, then knuckled down on defence and were finally able to get on level terms behind an extended 19-5 run in which Austin was key. Crucially, the unit that got the team back in the game stayed in the game, with Burries taking a seat on the pine to finish this one. Unfortunately, a few key misses from Markovic, paired with crucial makes from Cardwell and Acuff, meant the Kings took the W.
Stat That Stood Out
Milwaukee’s bench was huge, notching 50 of their 89 points. Sac’s bench scored just 24.
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 8: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Rich Paul talk after the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on March 8, 2024 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
LeBron James is still a free agent, and the Cleveland Cavaliers are still one of the teams trying to secure his services for next season. Whether or not they’re the front-runners to do so is anyone’s guess, even though other teams seem to think that they are.
LeBron has always handled free agency differently than most. He and his team have always played things pretty close to the vest. While there are signs that James could be leaning one way or another, the only people who really know what he’s thinking are he and his team.
Not directly meeting with prospective teams is a new wrinkle James is adding this go around. According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, James’s agent, Rich Paul, will be the one meeting with teams, and then will relay that information back to James for his decision.
Chris Haynes:
"As of right now there are no plans for LeBron to engage in any meetings to allow teams to pitch him on the idea of coming to their prospective teams…his agent Rich Paul is doing all the background work. He's talking with teams and then he in return he will relay… pic.twitter.com/bKXz8teNfT
Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cavs gear HERE. The link to the 2016 championship shirt HERE.
Figuring out what exactly this means for the Cavs or their chances is truly anyone’s guess.
On one hand, it’s easy to see this news and talk yourself into being a good thing for the Cavaliers. After all, why would James have to meet with Dan Gilbert and/or Koby Altman to discuss? LeBron has worked with both during his time in Cleveland. It’s not like they would need to get to know each other or anything like that. This could mean that he isn’t seriously considering a drastically different environment like the Minnesota Timberwolves or Golden State Warriors.
However, if you wanted to read this more pessimistically, you’re more than able to do that as well. Paul has been pretty complimentary of the other teams in the process, especially ones like the Philadelphia 76ers, on his podcast, Game Over, with Max Kellerman. Could any particular preference Paul has for a team possibly sway James’s opinions?
Maybe LeBron comes back to Cleveland. Maybe he doesn’t. How much of a factor James not meeting with individual teams, but letting Paul do so, is truly anyone’s guess. But that’s how much of the last few weeks have gone. We don’t know what LeBron is thinking, and we won’t until he officially tells us which city he’ll be playing for in his 24th season.
On Sunday, the Pittsburgh Penguins announced a slew of RFA signings, which included one-year deals to goaltender Arturs Silovs and forward Daniel Gustafsson, a two-year deal to netminder Joel Blomqvist, and a three-year contract for scoring forward Egor Chinakhov.
Chinakhov, 25, impressed the Penguins and fans last season with 18 goals and 36 points in 43 games after he was brought over from the Columbus Blue Jackets in a change-of-scenery trade in late December. It was finally the breakout that was expected of him since his debut during the 2021-22 season, as he finished the season with 21 goals and 42 points total - both career-highs.
In years past, a 2-3 year bridge deal worth around $3-4 million average annual value would have been appropriate for a player like Chinakhov. Yes, he flashed brilliance with the Penguins last season using his elite-level shot, his surprisingly keen playmaking skills, and his chemistry in the Penguins' top-six - with almost all of his production coming at even strength since he didn't see top power play minutes.
Despite that, it was still a flash-in-the-pan sample size in what has, largely, been an underwhelming and injury-riddled young career. So, once again, in years past, giving a player like Chinakhov $6.25 million for three years may have seemed a bit steep.
But gone are those days. The market is changing, and Chinakhov's contract is one of several that highlight the pretty seismic shift in the NHL salary cap landscape.
In the past several weeks, we have seen - in different ways - how the market is changing with relation to player value. Brady Tkachuk was dealt to the Florida Panthers for three first-round picks and a second-round pick, something that may have seemed excessive just a year or two ago. Defenseman Bowen Byram - hardly one of the NHL's elite defensemen - returned the 2026 fourth overall pick to the Buffalo Sabres and was extended by the Chicago Blackhawks for six years, $12.5 million average annual value, making him the highest-paid blueliner in hockey.
Then, there was the reported trade offer from the Seattle Kraken for Dallas Stars superstar Jason Robertson - who the Penguins have been interested in - that included three first-round picks and a rostered NHL player. Robertson ended up saying he wouldn't extend in Seattle, rendering the offer moot, but those three first-round picks are a pretty decent bet to be in the lottery zone.
And, most recently, Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson - who is 21 years old and has yet to hit the 30-goal or 70-point plateau - was offer-sheeted $18 million by the Philadelphia Flyers, which demands four first-round picks as compensation and which will make him the highest-paid player in hockey next season despite being nowhere close to hockey's best player.
Pavel Mintyukov isn't ~$7.4 million-caliber yet and doesn't project to be worth that over the next five years, either. The offer sheet effect is real and shaking up the Ducks' cap picture. pic.twitter.com/ubRQLfamqJ
All of a sudden, perceived overpays are quite literally happening everywhere in every facet, whether it be offer sheets, extensions, acquisition cost, or anything else. All of a sudden, acquiring elite talent requires paying a premium on premiums, putting teams attempting to get over the hump by leveraging assets for that talent at a major disadvantage. All of a sudden, "prove-it" deals or bridge deals hardly exist, as NHL general managers are paying forward for potential rather than what the most realistic outcomes are likely to be.
In a market that's so rapidly and drastically changing to favor players and their agency, there is a lot of guessing when it comes to player value. With the cap expected to rise substantially year-by-year, some of the league's best players are going to look vastly underpaid very quickly, and players like Robertson and Connor Bedard, both RFAs, are likely to demand even more money because their perceived worth will be ballooned when compared to a player like Carlsson.
So, it's a tricky game for GMs. That's why Penguins' POHO and GM Kyle Dubas giving Chinakhov $6.25 million for three years is a good bet, even if his salary pretty handily exceeds that of the Penguins' two best and most established wingers in Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell. If Chinakhov can build on what he did last season with the Penguins and reach the star-caliber ceiling that Pittsburgh believes he can, that $6.25 million is going to look like a bargain contract as early as sometime this season. If not, $6.25 million isn't going to affect them very much, anyway.
Assuming he does continue to blossom, however, it also means that Chinakhov would be due for a hefty raise on his next deal, which would take effect in his age 28 season.
There is a seismic shift happening in the NHL. Players have more say in where they go, and they'll have increased negotiating power when it comes to dollar figures in contract talks. The Penguins may have found a shining jewel in Chinakhov, and although they may be betting on potential here, it's certainly a bet worth taking in what looks to be a new era of the NHL.
Penguins general manager/president Kyle Dubas is a big fan of him and has tried to land him via trade this offseason, per multiple reports.
Heck, just look at the way Penguins assistant general manager Jason Spezza danced around a question regarding Robertson on July. 1.
"I won't speak directly on him, but I will tell you that we've done lots of work and inquired on lots of different players throughout our time here in the last few weeks, and we will continue to," Spezza said. "I think that's the job, and that's what we're trying to do, is to make sure we're always in on everything and understanding what's going on around the league, and where that fits into our puzzle. Jason's obviously a good player that lots of teams have interest in, and we're going to continue to investigate everything that's out there."
That's the closest you'll get an executive to say that a team has called on a certain player without fully admitting it.
Over the weekend, Robertson was one of 15 players to file for arbitration since he's still a restricted free agent. This means that teams cannot sign him to an offer sheet.
15 players have filed for arbitration:
Bourgault, Xavier (Ottawa Senators) Dach, Kirby (Montreal Canadiens) Drysdale, Jamie (Philadelphia Flyers) Greaves, Jet (Columbus Blue Jackets) Jefferies, Alex (New York Islanders) Krebs, Peyton (Buffalo Sabres) McMichael, Connor (St. Louis…
The Stars would like to avoid arbitration with Robertson because if he signs an arbitration deal, he would become an unrestricted free agent after next season.
They can still look for a trade partner for him or potentially offer more money on an extension. Going off that, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported on the Monday edition of 32 Thoughts that there's still a "gap" in the contract talks. The Stars are in at $12-12.5 million, while Robertson is asking for around $14 million.
This is definitely a situation that the Penguins will continue to monitor throughout the offseason, especially if the Stars can't get anything done.
Boozer and Peterson were named co-MVPs at the 2025 McDonald's All-American classic. Now, on the NBA stage in summer league, both rookies did not disappoint.
Peterson, the No. 2-pick out of Kansas paced the Jazz with a double-double tallying a game-high 25 points, 12 assists and two steals. He shot an efficient 53% from the field, including 33% from 3-point territory going 3-for-9 from deep.
As for the No. 3-pick from Duke, Boozer had a productive 18 points for the Grizzlies, including a thunderous slam and four field goals from long range. He shot 6-for-9 (66%) from the field, including going 4-for-5 from 3-point distance.
Cameron Boozer gets blocked by Cody Williams, but gets the putback dunk, then forces a turnover and hits a 3-pointer. Darryn Peterson nearly turns the ball over and scores the step back 3 at the other end. With replays. pic.twitter.com/5Dib2OSuJ8
Boozer has looked like the son of a NBA veteran (his father, Carlos Boozer played 13 seasons in the NBA, including six in Utah). The younger Boozer looks and moves like he's already been in the league for a decade. Throughout the game, he effectively moved the ball, dishing out four assists. He was also a force on the boards, grabbing seven rebounds.
However, despite the stellar play from the first-year players that has their fanbases excited for fall ball, it's the Jazz who had the advantage in the contest when it was all said and done. Utah defeated Memphis, 109-100.
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) drives to the net in the second half against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center, Friday, Dec. 22, 2023, in Brooklyn, NY. (Corey Sipkin...
Following a FIBA World Cup qualifying game Monday, the Serbian star reaffirmed his desire to extend his contract and finish his career with the Nuggets, though he plans to wait to sign his deal.
“My idea and desire is to stay in Denver,” Jokic told reporters in Serbian. “My desire is to play the rest of my life in Denver.”
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) drives to the net in the second half against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on Friday, Dec. 22, 2023, in Brooklyn, NY. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Jokic, who’s been with the Nuggets since 2014, is under contract for two seasons and has been eligible since June 14 to sign a four-year, $278 million max extension.
But by waiting until next offseason for an extension, Jokic would be eligible to sign a five-year, $359.5 million deal as a free agent, which would be the largest contract in NBA history and push his career earnings to $724 million.
Nikola Jokic: "My idea is to sign next summer and stay with Denver for the rest of my career."
The 31-year-old was also eligible to sign a three-year, $200 million extension last offseason, but opted to delay the process.
Over 11 years with the Nuggets, Jokic has blossomed into one of the greatest centers in NBA history.
Not only did he help the Nuggets to their first title in 2023, but he’s also won three MVPs (2021, 2022, 2024) and has averaged a triple-double the last two seasons.
1/25/24 – Denver Nuggets vs. New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden – Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic #15 reacts on the court during the first quarter.
Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Jokic hasn’t averaged fewer than 24 points per game since 2019-20 and has shot well from downtown the last few years, too.
He also led the league with 12.9 rebounds and 10.7 assists per game.
Despite Jokic’s heroics, the Nuggets lost to the Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs and haven’t advanced past the second round since winning the title in 2023.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JULY 6: Darryn Peterson #22 of the Utah Jazz dribbles the ball during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2026 NBA Salt Lake City Summer League on July 6, 2026 at Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Darryn Peterson took over the media world two days ago in the Utes’ own Huntsman Center. A 28-point debut? Theoretically implausible. But what about Peterson’s eight turnovers? Maybe he isn’t a winning player. Maybe he is just as selfish as everyone said he was.
That would’ve been my conclusion if I hadn’t watched Peterson completely take over the floor against the #3 pick in a duel with the Grizzlies. Stat-sheet analysts warned us not to pass up on the family reunion by returning Cam Boozer to his father in Salt Lake. But the Jazz let that opportunity pass in hopes of a much larger ceiling with Darryn Peterson.
Turns out the ‘that boy nice’ Fanclub had the advantage over the Stat Sheet Fanclub. Utah won its second consecutive game in Utah in a 109-100 finish. Jazz subtly had the edge over Memphis all night. They just looked like they were on a completely different level from these young cubs.
We found out earlier today that Ace Bailey wouldn’t be participating in this one; the team hasn’t ruled him out for Las Vegas, but they’re being extra cautious moving forward.
Ace Bailey will not play today (back spasms) for the Jazz at SLC Summer League
In what many were anticipating, rather than a measly World Cup match for the US, this Salt Lake City Summer League game lived up to the hype. You couldn’t write a better opening: Peterson took the first shot and nailed the turnaround jumper. Boozer answered with a pull-up triple on the other side. AJ Dybantsa utters a profanity on the other side of the country, as Washington gets no early Summer League hoops.
Peterson’s media takeover took away some love from some of the other young Jazzlings. Blake Hinson is much more fun to watch when he isn’t costing your team a lottery ball. After losing over 25 pounds, he looked like he had a higher motor and shot the lights out of the building.
The non-rostered guys left a huge impression in their second game. 6-7, near 260 pounds, Eric Dixon is more agile than he looks. He netted 11 points and 6 rebounds in 16 minutes, which included 2 triples on the box score. Like Luka to Hayes, Utah native Jaxon Kohler was absolutely feeding off dimes from Peterson. He scored 6 of his 8 points in three consecutive possessions. Justin Harmon plays with a motor that is difficult to match, diving for loose balls and showing the energy on defense every coach wants to see.
Alright, settle down, everyone. Let’s discuss Darryn Peterson. He crowned himself in front of Boozer, we can only officially crown Peterson as the top rookie over Dybantsa once they finish their duel Thursday night in Las Vegas. DP hit the 20-point mark once again in the third quarter, finishing with 25. The real story, however, was the all-around game he displayed. He totalled 12 assists in 27 minutes; a polar opposite of what he displayed against the Hawks.
He once mentioned back at the combine that he wanted to show more of his point guard abilities at the NBA level. The impression he left tonight is going to make him so much more valuable as a secondary playmaker next to Keyonte. We saw how well that worked for the Knicks at the NBA Finals.
Jazz fans have to be giggling and kicking their feet like a teenage girl, because Peterson already looks like a five-year veteran in his limited sample size. He IS the closer, he can get HIS shot, and he WILL be the future. We deserve not to be suffering for once.
Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens spent Monday afternoon trying to justify trading away Jaylen Brown as Boston fans stewed in anger and confusion over seeing another star depart the organization.
Brown was traded to the rival 76ers in a deal that included the Celtics receiving Paul George and draft picks, which Stevens said helped give Boston “optionality” going forward.
The Celtics executive expressed appreciation for Brown’s contributions to the organization, but outright said that he did not want 70 percent of their salary cap tied up between two players — Brown and Jayson Tatum.
Even with Stevens saying Monday that Brown’s contract made it more difficult to field a competitive roster, the decision to trade the star has still been a shock after he produced an MVP-caliber campaign during the 2025-26 season.
Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens speaks during a media availability at The Auerbach Center on July 06, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. Getty Images
“We’re not up here to defend ourselves in this decision, which will certainly be scrutinized,” Stevens said. “We’re OK with that. We’re more so trying to deal with the emotions of Jaylen not being here.”
George’s contract is slightly more cap-friendly than Brown’s, with George having a cap hit of $57.7 million this upcoming season and a player option for 2027-28 that has a cap hit of $56.5 million.
Brown has three more years on his deal, with him being owed the same amount this coming season, while making $61.6 million the following season and $65.6 million for the 2028-29 campaign.
“I think when you choose the term ‘optionality,’ you’re talking about just length of contract and assets, so that’s where the increased optionality comes from,” Stevens said when asked directly about the similar salaries. “And listen, we’re going to have to lean on our depth. This is a big part of this.”
Stevens denied that Brown was disgruntled or that the Celtics had been upset with him, and expressed appreciation for his 10 years in Boston, describing the former Celtics star as “a meaningful person in all of our lives.”
“We all appreciate Jaylen. We’ve all enjoyed having Jaylen as a teammate. I think he’s got great relationships from here,” Stevens said.
Jaylen Brown (7) drives to the basket against Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George (8) during the first half of Game 2 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series, April 21, 2026. AP Photo/Charles Krupa
Celtics owner Bill Chisholm also addressed the growing feeling that there has been some mandate from ownership to bring down the team’s roster salary.
Since the Celtics’ title run in 2024, Boston has seen Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis, among others, depart the franchise. Chisholm pushed back on that, saying all decisions were basketball ones.
“It’s not about the money at all. This was trying to put together the right set of players and assets to win,” he said. “That’s what this was about. … None of these were about money. We have some more room now, like if we see something we wanted, Brad’s got the green light to do that.”
The Mets engineered a miraculous comeback thanks to late-inning heroics at the plate, winning a 7-6 thriller against the Atlanta Braves.
New York leaves Atlanta with a four-game split of the series against its bitter NL East rival.
Here are the takeaways...
-- Rookie outfielder Carson Benge got the scoring started in the top of the second inning, timing up a Reynaldo Lopez slider and launching it to left-center field for a solo home run.
-- In the bottom half of the second, the Braves retook the lead, 2-1. Mets starter Freddy Peralta allowed singles to Dominic Smith, Jim Jarvis, and Michael Harris II, and first baseman Jared Young made a fielding error on a Mike Yastrzemski short-hopper which advanced both Braves runners which came around to score.
-- Braves All-Star first baseman Matt Olson led off the bottom of the third inning, jumping all over a Peralta changeup and sending it into the right-field seats, making the score 3-1 in favor of Atlanta.
-- With a man on first and one out in the bottom of the fourth, Benge made a difficult diving grab in right field to rob Yastrzemskiof a hit, helping Peralta keep the Braves off the board in the inning.
-- Benge, on the run to the warning track, was unable to haul in a long fly ball off the bat of Ozzie Albies as he led off the bottom of the fifth. It was ruled a double. The Braves wound up with runners on second and third with one out following a Peralta walk and a wild pitch. Peralta was able to record the second out of the inning by striking out Mauricio Dubon, and was subsequently pulled from the game by manager Andy Green to bring in southpaw Cionel Perez to face Smith, Atlanta's lefty DH. Braves manager Walt Weiss refused to cede an advantage at the dish, and sent in righty Joey Bart to pinch-hit for Smith. Perez only needed one pitch to get Bart to ground out, ending the inning without allowing any further damage to the Mets' 3-1 deficit.
-- Peralta's final line tonight was a mixed bag. He was inefficient, completing just 4.2 innings pitched and throwing 103 pitches, allowing six hits. However, of his three runs allowed, just one was earned, and he struck out six Braves batters to just one walk. His ERA for the season now stands at 4.68.
-- Bo Bichette led off the sixth inning with a single up the middle, and with one out, Benge recorded his second opposite-field extra-base hit of the night, splitting Atlanta's left and right fielders with a double. However, Atlanta's defense executed a perfect cutoff relay to home plate, gunning down Bichette before he could slide into home and keeping the score at 3-1. After Young narrowly beat out a throw to pick up an infield single and move Benge to third base, it was Francisco Alvarez who came up clutch with a two out knock, ripping a single through the infield to bring home Benge. Braves reliever Didier Fuentes struck out Brett Baty to strand one Mets runner in scoring position and end the inning with the score 3-2.
-- Amid a "tarps off" frenzy at Truist Park, the Braves managed to get two runners into scoring position with two outs, but Mets reliever A.J. Minter -- honored by his former ballclub with a pregame tribute video -- struck out Bart to end the seventh inning.
-- Right-handed pitcher Guillo Zuniga made his Mets debut in the eighth inning, and he impressed, working a scoreless frame to keep his team within one run.
-- With the Mets down to their final three outs, Alvarez and Ronny Mauricio roped singles off of Braves closer Raisel Iglesias to put runners on first and second base with one out. A.J. Ewing flied out to right field to move pinch-runner Tyrone Taylor up to third base, bringing Soto to the dish with two outs and men on first and third. On a 3-1 count, Iglesias challenged Soto with a fastball, high and tight. The slugger turned on it and sent it skyward, 430 feet, just inside the foul pole, a three-run shot to put the Mets on top 5-3, their first lead of the game. This blown save ended Iglesias's streak of 35 straight saves, which dated back nearly a year.
-- With Mets closer Devin Williams on the hill for the save opportunity, Albies led off the bottom of the ninth and knocked his second double of the night into the alley in right-center. The next batter was Olson, who sent a Williams pitch which tailed high and away in the zone to the opposite field. Soto could only watch as the ball flew over the wall, as Olson's second homer of the game tied the game, 5-5. With two outs and Braves runners at second and third, Green swapped Williams out, inserting left-handed reliever Brooks Raley to face the lefty Yastrzemski, who was promptly sent to the bench in favor of righty pinch-hitter Jose Azocar. Raley struck out Azocar to send the game to extra innings.
-- Former first-rounder Owen Murphy made his MLB debut for the Braves in the 10th, with Bichette on second base as the ghost runner. With two outs and Bichette still at second base, Young was hit by a pitch, and Luis Torrens -- his first at-bat of the night, substituted into the game for Tyrone Taylor, who had pinch-run for Alvarez an inning earlier -- sent a double down the left-field line to score both runners and restore a two-run lead for the Mets, 7-5.
-- Right-handed reliever Luke Weaver made his second straight appearance, and with one out, Harris II drove a double down the right-field line to score the "ghost runner" and cut the Mets lead to one run. Weaver battled back, stranding the potential tying run in scoring position by striking out Albies for the second out, intentionally walking Olson, walking Jorge Mateo on a 3-2 count to load the bases, and finally getting Dubon to ground a ball that was put away at second base for the force out. A 7-6 Mets victory in 10 innings.
Game MVP: Juan Soto
The three-out home run, which turned a potential loss to a two-run lead, immediately becomes a signature moment for Soto's time in a Mets uniform.
ATLANTA, GA - JULY 6: Reynaldo López #40 of the Atlanta Braves pitches in the first inning during the game against the New York Mets at Truist Park on July 6, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Looking for a series win in a four game series, the Braves had Reynaldo Lopez on the mound, hoping to build on his last start against Freddy Peralta and the Mets.
Michael Harris gave Atlanta a chance to take an early lead in the first with a leadoff single, but Peralta got out of it with two strikeouts and a flyout. Carson Benge led of the second with a solo homer to give New York a 1-0 lead. Singles from Dominic Smith and Mike Yastrzemski allowed a bloop single from Jim Jarvis to bring home a run, as the Mets’ offense was a major factor in the Yaz and Jarvis hits. Harris followed Jarvis with an opposite-field single on a pitch way outside the strike zone to bring home another run and give Atlanta the lead.
Lopez worked through a walk and a single to keep the Mets at 1 run in the third and Matt Olson came right out with a leadoff solo homer in the bottom of the frame to extend the lead.
Peralta found himself in some trouble after a leadoff Ozzie double in the fifth and ultimately was pulled with men on second and third but two outs. Perez was first out of the New York bullpen and got Joey Bart to ground out, ending the threat. Didier Fuentes got the sixth and got into some trouble with a single, double, single, and single that only scored one run due to a fantastic relay throw from Jim Jarvis and a great diving play from Dubon, allowing the Braves to exit the inning with a 3-2 lead.
Dylan Lee took over for the seventh inning and walked two but got a double play to escape the inning. AJ Minter took the seventh for New York and allowed a Baldwin single and a Dubon double, but struck out Bart to hold the 3-2 score. Tyler Kinley took the ball in the eighth and walked Benge with one out, but got some help from a great play by Olson to turn an inning-ending double-play. Raisel Iglesias came in for the save after another nothing from the offense and gave up two singles but recorded two outs before facing Juan Soto with runners on the corners, two outs, and the game on the line. Juan Soto won that matchup, hooking a homer just inside the foul pole into the Chop House, giving the Mets a 5-3 lead and giving Iglesias his first blown save of the season. The Braves could have walked Soto, but chose to face him instead and paid the price.
This Braves team wasn’t done though, as Ozzie Albies led off the ninth with a double on Devin Williams. Matt Olson came through massively with his second home run of the night, tying the game up, still with no outs in the inning. Drake Baldwin followed Matt’s blast with a single and Dubon moved him to second with a fielder’s choice. Joey Bart then came up for his third chance with runners in scoring position and walked, passing the baton to Austin Riley in what could have been a big moment for him. Instead, a swinging bunt moved the runners over, but set up a two out situation for Mike Yastrzemski to try and avoid extra innings. The Mets took the opportunity to bring in a lefty reliever and the Braves countered with…Jose Azocar, who struck out on three pitches to send the game to extra innings.
It was at this point that Owen Murphy got to make his MLB debut and recorded two contact outs that moved the ghost runner to third before hitting a batter. He then went up 0-2 on Torrens before allowing a two-RBI double, giving the Mets a 7-5 lead. Owen recorded his first major league strikeout to end the inning on Brett Baty. Jim Jarvis started the bottom of the frame poorly, with a swinging bunt out. Michael Harris gave the Braves life with a one-out RBI double, after successfully challenging a called strike 3 to extend his at-bat. Ozzie Albies struck out, leaving the Mets to intentionally walk Matt Olson. This handed the keys of the game to Jorge Mateo, who drew a walk to hand things over to Mauricio Dubon with the bases loaded and two outs. Dubon grounded out to seal a loss in what was very much a coin-flip game that the Braves just couldn’t win, splitting the series.
Jun 28, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner (2) celebrates after turning a double play to end the game during the tenth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images | Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
It’s another week here at BCB After Dark: the coolest night spot for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. Come on in out of the heat. The music is cool in here. There’s no cover charge. The dress code is casual. There’s no waiting list. The hostess will seat you now. Bring your own beverage.
BCB After Dark is the place for you to talk baseball, music, movies, or anything else you need to get off your chest, as long as it is within the rules of the site. The late-nighters are encouraged to get the party started, but everyone else is invited to join in as you wake up the next morning and into the afternoon.
Last week I asked you to grade the job manager Craig Counsell is doing. There was a real consensus in that 60 percent of you gave Counsell a “B.” Another 23 percent gave him an “A.” I’d probably have given him that A.
So here’s the part with the music and the movies. You’re free to skip that if you want. Or you can enjoy the music and movies and just skip the baseball. Your call.
So I’ve got a little nostalgia going on tonight for us older folks. This is the great jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery covering The Association’s pop single “Windy” on The Hollywood Palace in 1967. You even get Herb Albert introducing Montgomery.
I’m a sucker for “true crime” stuff, even though I know it’s (mostly) bad for me. Movies that are based on true crime stories suck me in more often than they should. Director Richard Fleischer was also a fan of “true crime” stories as he directed four films based on famous murders. I’d seen two of them before. Compulsion (1959) is based on the Leopold and Loeb murder trial and it’s decent, mostly because of a great performance by Dean Stockwell. The Boston Strangler (1968), on the other hand, is a hot mess. So I should have walked into Fleischer’s The Girl With the Red Velvet Swing (1955) with more trepidation. Because while The Girl With the Red Velvet Swing is not a dumpster fire, it does manage to be something that no true crime dramatization should be: dull.
The Girl With the Red Velvet Swing is based on the murder of famous architect Stanford White (Ray Milland) by railroad heir Harry Kendall Thaw (Farley Granger) in 1906. The title character is Evelyn Nesbit (Joan Collins), who was Thaw’s wife and White’s mistress.
If none of these names mean anything to you, I can promise you that you would have known them in 1906. Nesbit was a well-known “Gibson Girl,” by face if not by name. These were the women drawn by illustrator Charles Gibson for magazine covers. They were the turn-of-the-last-century version of supermodels, even if their faces were better known than their names. White was a rich architect, who, among many other things, designed the Washington Square Arch that still stands in New York. Thaw was the heir to an enormous railroad and coal fortune in Pittsburgh. His net worth was estimated to be around $40 million in 1900 dollars. He was also deeply mentally unwell, a fact that his money covered up throughout his life.
Thaw had become deeply obsessed with White. Not only had he “deflowered” Nesbit before she married Thaw, but Thaw was convinced that White had blackballed him from New York high society. (Maybe he did, but if he hadn’t, someone else would have.) One night in 1906, Thaw approached White during a stage performance on the rooftop of Madison Square Garden and shot killed him in front of hundreds of witnesses. He confessed on the spot, shouting that either that White had “ruined his life” or his “wife.” No one was really sure which one he said and probably both were true in Thaw’s mind. Thaw’s resulting murder trial became the first of many “Trial of the Century.”
One thing you need to know about The Girl With the Red Velvet Swing is that Nesbit was still alive in 1955 and served as a paid consultant on the film. As such, the film is far less lurid than the actual details of the case. For one, the film portrays White fairly sympathetically and Nesbit as in love with him. White’s only real crime, per the film, was not wanting the scandal of divorcing his wife any marrying Nesbit would bring. In reality, Nesbit was 16 when she met the 47-year-old White. She also wasn’t the only 16-year-old having an affair with White. The man was the Jeffrey Epstein of his time. Also, while Nesbit admitted that their later sexual encounters were consensual, their first meeting was a clear case of what we’d call date rape today. Thaw is portrayed in the movie as merely controlling and abusive towards Nesbit, but the long trail of payoffs to victims in his life shows him to be a violent psychopath, serial rapist, and a sadist.
Certainly the Production Code probably prevented some of the more lurid details of the story from coming to the screen, I also wonder whether Charles Brackett, who produced the film and also co-wrote the screenplay with Walter Reisch, also toned down the story. I know Brackett mostly from his terrific partnership with Billy Wilder, but I forgot that Brackett refused to work on Double Indemnity, considering it too immoral. Well, the White killing should have made Double Indemnity look like Sesame Street. Instead, we get a love story between a young woman (portrayed as older than she was in real life) and an older man. Then when the older man refuses to leave his wife, she marries her psychopathic stalker because she needs a husband and because he’s one of the richest men in America.
Farley Granger’s Harry Thaw is not nearly crazy enough. Yes, he’s portrayed as having a hair-trigger temper and an obsession with both Stanford White and Evelyn Nesbit, but his true craziness doesn’t come out until the very end of the film. I suppose Nesbit would rather people think she was duped by an abusive man than she knowingly married an abusive man for money and security. I also don’t think she wanted everyone to know that she was carrying on an affair with White at 16, and her age is never mentioned in the film.
The other problem is that while a young Joan Collins looked a lot like a young Evelyn Nesbit, her American accent is all over the place. Milland just rides with his mid-Atlantic accent that works well for upper-class people on both sides of the pond, but Collins needed a more standard lower-class American accent. Sometimes it’s good, but sometimes it just slips and sounds off. Her portrayal of Nesbit is also quite passive. Maybe that’s how the real Evelyn Nesbit was (I don’t know), but it certainly makes her a less-than-intriguing protagonist.
I did like the CinemaScope photography and the colorful look of early 20th-Century New York a lot. The sets and the costuming are first-rate.
The Girl With the Red Velvet Swing takes a really incredible true crime murder story and tries to reduce it to a lame love triangle story. It’s not a terrible film, but a crime like this one deserves much better.
The trailer for The Girl With the Red Velvet Swing.
Welcome back to everyone who skips the music and movies.
As part of our Draft Week coverage, tonight we’re asking you who was the greatest first-round pick in Cubs history.
The MLB Draft only dates back to 1965 and honestly, the Cubs were mostly terrible at it for the first two decades. It can’t explain the first twenty-five years of the pennant drought after 1945, but it certainly does go a long ways towards explaining much of the next twenty-five. Things have gotten much better since around 2007 and certainly Cubs draft picks after that played a huge role in the 2016 title, either as players or as trade bait for other players.
If you go to Baseball Reference and look at the top Cubs players of all-time as ranked by bWAR, only one of the top ten were Cubs draft picks. To be fair, seven of them were from the era before the draft. Two were acquired in trades and only number ten, Rick Reuschel, was a Cubs draft pick. However, Big Daddy was taken in the third round, so he can’t be the Cubs’ best first-round pick.
The drafted player who is second on the Cubs’ career bWAR behind Reuschel is Mark Grace, who is 15th. However, Grace was taken in the 24th round in 1985. Again, not a first-round pick.
The Cubs best draft pick was Greg Maddux, who was taken in the second round in 1984. But he only had about a third of his total value as a Cub before leaving as a free agent. Still, just Maddux’s Cubs career would put him ahead of pretty much everyone except Reuschel and Grace among Cubs draft picks.
So when you look at the list of first-round draft picks in Cubs history, there is one player whose career bWAR is head and shoulders above everyone else. Unfortunately, that player is Rafael Palmeiro, who just 258 games for the Cubs before he was dealt. Second on the bWAR list is Josh Donaldson, who never even played for the Cubs.
I’m ruling that the greatest Cubs picks of all time can’t be people who played for other teams. I suppose if Palmeiro had been traded for Ken Griffey Jr., he could be the greatest Cubs draft pick of all time, but he wasn’t. So I’m calling Palmeiro and Donaldson as ineligible. Same goes for Jon Garland. To be the greatest Cubs first round pick, you have to have contributed to the Cubs.
So who was the greatest Cubs first-round draft pick who delivered the most value to the Cubs? You don’t have to go by bWAR in their time with the Cubs. In fact, I suggest you don’t. There’s more to baseball than just scoring on a metric. But the following players are first-round picks who starred with the Cubs and made a major impact.
I don’t think I need to tell you much about any of these players. But I will put two number to help you pick, The first is the player’s career Wins Above Replacement as calculated by Baseball Reference as a Cub. The second number is the player’s career bWAR.
Obviously all of these players, other than Wood, are still active. So you can include numbers that you think the player will do throughout their career if you want.
1995; Kerry Wood. Cubs—25.5. Career—26.8
2011: Javier Báez. Cubs—21.8. Career—26.9
2013: Kris Bryant. Cubs—28.0. Career—27.3
2015: Ian Happ. Career—24.2
2018: Nico Hoerner. Career—23.1
I could have included Kyle Schwarber, but other than his World Series heroics, Schwarber only returned 5.4 bWAR before he was non-tendered. And because of his poor defense, his career bWAR is below all five of these players, even with all those home runs.
So who was the greatest Cubs’ first-round pick of all-time?
Thank you for stopping by. We’re always glad to see a friendly face. Please get home safely. Recycle any cans and bottles. Tip your waitstaff. And join us again next week for more BCB After Dark.
In the span of a week, Cam Schlittler registered polar-opposite outings.
The Yankees' 25-year-old right-hander pitched New York (50-40) to Monday's 5-1 win at the Tampa Bay Rays with one of his early career's best outings after last Tuesday's season-worst start against the Detroit Tigers -- a result that Schlittler took personally.
"Yeah, I mean, again -- last week was tough, right?" Schlittler said. "They want to say that there's f--king regression because I had one bad outing. So, again, it was personal to go out there and just have a dominant start and put this team in the right position."
Schlittler (9-5, 2.01 ERA) went a season-high-tying eight innings at the Rays (52-36), striking out eight while allowing one run on four hits and throwing 101 pitches (72 strikes) after surrendering six runs in four frames during last week's 9-3 loss to Detroit.
"It was huge," said Yankees manager Aaron Boone. "You know, I'm not surprised. I'm not surprised he bounced back from arguably his toughest outing of his young career so far against the Tigers, so he was great, he was dominant, he was efficient and, yeah, great way to get the road trip started."
The Yankees had lost nine of their past 10 games before they ultimately got back on track Monday with Schlittler giving a boost and returning to form.
"It's frustrating, right?" Schlittler said. "You want to stop the bleeding. I just wasn't able to do that. So, I feel like I dedicated myself this week to just kind of being more locked in and, again, trying to go out there and put the team in a position to win against the first-place team in our division is good.
"So, I think we played great ball tonight and we've got three more to go."
Jul 6, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Milwaukee Brewers third baseman David Hamilton (6) celebrates after hitting a two-run double against the St. Louis Cardinals in the seventh inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Puetz-Imagn Images | Joe Puetz-Imagn Images
The Brewers got a quality start from Shane Drohan and, paired with a four-run seventh inning, were able to sneak away with a series-opening victory in St. Louis on Monday night, moving them to a season-high 23 games over .500 at 56-33.
After Dustin May set the Brewers down in order in the first, Drohan got through his half of the inning with a two-out walk to Jordan Walker but nothing else.
Milwaukee picked up a pair of one-out singles from Jake Bauers and Garrett Mitchell, with both advancing on an error by center fielder Nathan Church to put a pair of runners in scoring position. Unfortunately, the Crew couldn’t cash in, as Sal Frelick went down looking (and lost a challenge while doing it) before Cooper Pratt hit a liner right at JJ Wetherholt at second.
Drohan worked around another baserunner in the bottom of the inning, giving up a double to José Fermín but stranding him at third with a pop out and a pair of groundouts.
After the Brewers had another 1-2-3 inning in the third, the Cardinals put together an offensive threat in the bottom half. Pedro Pagés singled and Wetherholt reached on a misplay by Brice Turang, but Drohan bounced back to induce a pop-up from Iván Herrera. He then walked Walker for the second time on the night, loading the bases with one out for Nelson Velázquez.
Velázquez hit a chopper to David Hamilton at third, and the Brewers were able to get the out at second but were unable to turn two, allowing St. Louis to take a 1-0 lead. Fermín followed with his second hit of the night, bringing another run in for a 2-0 advantage.
With runners still at the corners for Masyn Winn, Fermín got into a rundown between first and second, and Velázquez was caught off third base for the third out. After review, however, the call was overturned, and runners remained at the corners. It wouldn’t matter, though, as Winn struck out to end the rally.
May continued rolling in the fourth, setting the heart of the Brewer lineup down in order. Drohan had a nice bounce-back inning in the fourth, allowing a leadoff single before the runner was caught stealing and a pair of groundouts for a roundabout 1-2-3, 10-pitch inning.
The Brewers got a pair of two-out singles in the fifth, and that marked the end of May’s day, as Justin Bruihl entered in relief. He induced a groundout from Yelich, and the Cardinals held their 2-0 lead at the halfway point.
Drohan worked another quick inning in the fifth, getting Wetherholt, Herrera, and Walker on just six pitches. Thanks to those two quick innings, he got another frame in the sixth, though he allowed St. Louis’ third run on a Velázquez double, Fermín sac bunt, and Winn RBI single to make it 3-0.
The Brewers, in a late hole, finally broke through in the seventh.
With Bruihl still on the mound, Mitchell started things with an infield single, as Bruihl came up grimacing after the play and exited to make way for Ryan Fernandez. He did not fare well, allowing a ground-rule double to Frelick before Pratt reached on a fielding error by Fernandez, loading the bases with no outs for Hamilton.
Hamilton, who quickly fell behind 0-2, worked his way back to a full count before lining the eighth pitch of the at-bat into the right-center gap, scoring both Mitchell and Frelick while moving the tying run in Pratt to third and the winning run into scoring position. Oli Marmol replaced Fernandez with Ryne Stanek, while Joey Ortiz took Hamilton’s place at second base after the double, as Hamilton came up grimacing. It was later reported he exited with left hamstring tightness, so something to monitor in the coming days leading into the All-Star break — hopefully nothing too serious.
Yelich drew a walk against Stanek, and Chourio followed with a groundball that allowed the Cardinals to get the out at the plate, keeping the bases loaded but also giving St. Louis an out. That wouldn’t matter, though, as Turang looped the first pitch he saw into left field for a two-run single, flipping the scoreboard to 4-3 Brewers.
While the Brewers couldn’t do anything else offensively, Chad Patrick took over for Drohan in the seventh and worked a pair of perfect innings, including two strikeouts. Trevor Megill then took the ninth and shut things down, working around a leadoff single by Winn to pick up his 14th save of the year and striking out a pair in the process.
Drohan worked six innings, even if it may not have been the prettiest start. Due to Turang’s error in the third, though, just one of his three runs allowed was earned, as he allowed six hits and two walks while striking out a pair. He also lowered his ERA to 2.97 for the year.
More people need to be talking about Shane Drohan: 6 IP | 1 ER
Offensively, Hamilton and Turang led the way with two RBIs each, and Hamilton was also one of two players to pick up a pair of hits (the other being Mitchell, who had two singles and a walk). The Brewers went 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position, and they made those hits count in this one.
The Brewers are back at it tomorrow, as they’ll play two. Jacob Misiorowski is set to get the ball in the first game, with the Cardinals’ starter listed as TBD. Neither team has announced a starter for game two, though it’s expected to be Robert Gasser for the Brewers and some combo of Hunter Dobbins and Michael McGreevy for St. Louis in the doubleheader. First pitch of the first game is slated for 1:15 p.m., with the second game currently scheduled for 6:45 p.m.
