Cleveland Indians lose 4-2 to Reds after Votto's 8th Inning HR

(AP) CINCINNATI — Joey Votto hit a tiebreaking home run in the eighth inning, lifting the Cincinnati Reds over the Cleveland Indians 4-2 Monday in the opener of their intrastate matchup.

Votto won this interleague game with his ninth homer, tagging left-hander Nick Hagadone (0-1). The reliever was called up from Triple-A earlier in the day when closer Chris Perez was put on the disabled list with a sore right shoulder.

Shin-Soo Choo led off the Reds' eighth with a single and moved around on a passed ball and Zack Cozart's sacrifice bunt. Votto followed with an opposite-field shot into the seats in left.

Choo, traded from the Indians to the Reds in the offseason, also hit a leadoff homer in the first.

Jason Giambi tied it in the Indians' eighth with a long pinch-hit homer. The solo shot was estimated at 467 feet and caromed off the batter's background in center field. His ninth career pinch-hit homer ended his 0-for-24 slump and was third homer of the season and first since April 20.

Jonathan Broxton (2-1) got two outs in the eighth. Arodis Chapman pitched the ninth for his 13th save.

Reds starter Mike Leake one earned run and five hits in 7 1-3 innings, striking out seven. He left with a no-decision after giving up Giambi's homer.

Ubaldo Jimenez, 3-0 in five previous career starts against Cincinnati, gave up four hits and two runs in seven innings.

Choo, sent to the Reds with infielder Jason Donald and cash for outfielder Drew Stubbs and infielder Didi Gregorius in December, led with his 10th homer of the season.

The Indians took advantage of an error by another former Indians player, Gold Glove second baseman Brandon Phillips, to tie it in the fourth.

Jason Kipnis singled and took third when Phillips mishandled Nick Swisher's grounder. Carlos Santana's sacrifice fly made it 1-all.

Cozart led off the sixth with a double that just nicked the outside of the left-field line, advanced on Votto's groundout to second and scored on Phillips' sacrifice fly.

Read more here: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2013/05/27/2614331/vottos-hr-in-8th-lifts-reds-over.html#storylink=cpy

Winning the Lotto, Weak Drafts and Draft Strategy

The Cleveland Cavaliers struck gold Tuesday night in New York City, winning the 2013 NBA Draft Lottery. However, unlike some previous drafts, there is no unanimous choice for the first pick in the draft. The good news? The Cavaliers are familiar with tough draft decisions.

In 2011, many questioned GM Chris Grant's decision(s) of Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson. Irving was an All-Star in just his second NBA season, but its easy to forget that pundits like Bill Simmons wrote articles bashing the Cavs for not taking Derrick Williams and Brandon Knight at one and four.

Tristan Thompson was even more of an unexpected pick, and the organization caught waves of criticism over not taking European prospect Jonas Valanciunas. However, Thompson is appearing to be a very solid young NBA big, finishing in the top 10 in the NBA in rebounds last year. Thompson also garnered votes for the Most Improved Player award last season.

The point is, in a draft that was considered weak by most analysts, Grant managed to get two very good young players for the Cavaliers. So, while this draft has been dubbed as another "weak" class, there is no reason to think there will not be a phenomenal young player added to the Wine and Gold heading into next season.

(I am really tired of the "weak" draft class label. First, people scream this before EVERY draft and claim that the next year's draft will be super-awesome. Next, there is no such thing as a weak class. Every draft class has solid NBA players. There is no reason that a team at the top of the draft should not get a quality basketball player. Sometimes teams fail to do so, but that is a greater indication of a poor front office than a weak draft class. *Ends Rant*)

The question now is what should the Cavs do with the first overall selection. The initial reaction is that the decision boils down to Nerlens Noel or Otto Porter, the classic best player available vs. biggest need argument.

Kentucky freshman Nerlens Noel was rated by most services as the best high school prospect in the country. Unfortunately, he suffered a gruesome ACL tear in February against Florida. Noel is expected to make a full recovery and is still largely considered the best overall player in the draft class.

Otto Porter had a breakout season for Georgetown, averaging 16.2 points and 7.5 boards per game for the Hoyas. Porter will probably never be a superstar in the NBA, but seems to be a safe pick as he was arguably the most well-rounded player in college basketball last season. Additionally, he would fill the glaring hole at the SF spot for the Wine and Gold.

So, we now know the picks the Cavs possess looking ahead to the draft. For the next month, while most fans bite their nails watching playoff basketball, Cleveland fans get to do the same discussing the number one pick.

For now, all that Cavaliers faithful can say is: In Grant We Trust.

Nick Gilbert does it again! Cavs win NBA Lottery

NEW YORK (AP)

What's not to like? Being in the lottery every year.

Nick Gilbert expects the Cleveland Cavaliers are through with it, and if so he sent them out a winner again.

The Cavaliers and their owner's son beat the odds for the second time in three years, winning the lottery Tuesday night to give them the No. 1 pick for the June 27 NBA draft.

Two years after charming viewers by responding to a question about being on stage by saying: ''What's not to like?'' the bowtie-wearing son of Dan Gilbert wore a stern look before this one. He said he expected he was done coming here and that he believed the Cavs would be in the playoffs next season.

Then they got a great jump on that goal, earning the first pick even though they had only the third-best odds to do so.

And 16-year-old Nick Gilbert delivered it, just as he did in 2011, when the Cavs used the pick to take eventual Rookie of the Year Kyrie Irving.

''Kyrie is a hell of a player ... but this also felt almost as good,'' Nick Gilbert said. ''That was the first time. This is the second time, but man does it feel good to get the first pick this last time. Get that last player to give us a push.''

The Orlando Magic fell back one spot to No. 2, while the Washington Wizards vaulted from the No. 8 spot to third.

Ten years after winning the lottery that landed them LeBron James, the Cavaliers picked up another opportunity to help speed up the rebuilding process since his departure to Miami in 2010.

James' exit shook a franchise that had become a perennial contender with the Ohio native, but the Cavs aren't thinking about that now.

''It's so long ago already. I knew it is only three years but in NBA years it's like dog years. It seems like it is 15 or 20 years,'' Dan Gilbert said. ''We've been just so focused on building the team the last few years, I can't look back. There is nothing you can do. I am just happy about today.''

The potential No. 1 pick this year, Kentucky freshman Nerlens Noel, is no James. But he could be a nice addition for the Cavs once he's recovered from a torn ACL - if they keep the pick. They also have Nos. 19, 31 and 33 for new coach Mike Brown, who they rehired after firing Byron Scott following a 24-58 season.

''We were hoping regardless of what pick we got that this would be our last lottery,'' Dan Gilbert said. ''We thought originally after everything had to be reset that it would be a three-year process. You never know. It could be four. We thought three years, but having No. 1 and 19, we've got a pretty good chance of this being the last one for a while.''

Dan Gilbert and the rest of the Cavs entourage - all wearing wine-colored bowties as well - celebrated their latest victory, which came with 15.6 percent odds after they finished with the NBA's third-worst record at 24-58.

When they won the lottery in 2011, the Cavs had the eighth best odds.

''For everyone in Cleveland who has supported us through these three years, I think this is for them,'' Dan Gilbert said. ''Is that right, Nick?''

''It feels good,'' said Nick, who was born with Neurofibromatosis (NF), a nerve disorder that causes tumors to grow anywhere in the body at any time.

Not even having four-time winner Pat Williams on stage and 25 percent odds could get the No. 1 pick for the Magic. The team with the best odds hasn't won since 2004, when Orlando won for the third time with Williams representing them and drafted Dwight Howard. The franchise hadn't been back since 2006.

''We had such a nice run up here, over the years. Yeah, we came to win, so when they turned Cleveland over it was like ''How did that happen? Absolutely! How did that happen?'' Williams said.

''We had a better shot, a better percentage. ... I think the Lord was looking out for that little guy from Cleveland.''

Even heading back to their Hornets name couldn't change the luck of the Bobcats, who were lottery losers for the second straight year. Hours after owner Michael Jordan announced they were planning to get back the original nickname of the Charlotte franchise, the Bobcats fell from No. 2 to the fourth spot.

Last year, Charlotte had the best odds of winning after the worst season in NBA history but fell back one spot to second.

The lottery sets the top three teams, and the remainder of the 14 teams finish in inverse order of their record.

Phoenix will pick fifth, followed by New Orleans, Sacramento, Detroit, Minnesota, Portland, Philadelphia, Oklahoma City, Dallas, and Utah.

The Thunder got the Raptors' pick as payment of a previous trade because it didn't move into the top three. Bryan Colangelo represented the team on stage on the day the Raptors announced he would stay on as team president but they would hire a general manager.

Guards Ben McLemore of Kansas and Trey Burke of Michigan, the college player of the year, and Georgetown forward Otto Porter Jr. are considered other top available players.

With uncertainty at the top, this is another year when the No. 1 pick could've been a high school player if eligible. Kansas-bound prep star Andrew Wiggins may have been the choice, but the age limit requiring players to be 19 years old and a year out of high school will remain unchanged at least until the players' association has a new executive director to replace the ousted Billy Hunter.

The union would like the limit to be lowered or scrapped entirely, while the NBA has expressed interest in raising it to 20. It's on a list of ''B-list'' items from the 2011 collective bargaining negotiations that the sides still plan to discuss.

Here is the entire order of the lottery portion of the first round, as determined by Tuesday night's selections:



1. Cleveland Cavaliers

2. Orlando Magic

3. Washington Wizards

4. Charlotte Bobcats

5. Phoenix Suns

6. New Orleans Pelicans

7. Sacramento Kings

8. Detroit Pistons

9. Minnesota Timberwolves

10. Portland Trail Blazers

11. Philadelphia 76ers

12. Toronto Raptors (will go to Oklahoma City Thunder)

13. Dallas Mavericks

14. Utah Jazz

Return of the Charlotte Hornets

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Michael Jordan wants to ''bring the buzz back'' to Charlotte.

The Bobcats owner said at a press conference Tuesday evening he's changing his team's name to the Charlotte Hornets beginning in 2014-15.

Jordan said he submitted an application to the NBA board of governors earlier Tuesday informing them of his decision and is optimistic the board will approve the name change when they convene in July.

''Let's bring the buzz back, and bring that energy back on the basketball court and make this city proud again,'' Jordan said.

Charlotte will remain the Bobcats next season, but if all goes as planned Jordan anticipates his team will become the Hornets the following season.

Jordan said his organization is giving the fans what they want.

''We spoke to our season ticket holders and fans, and overwhelmingly you guys wanted the Hornets name back,'' Jordan said. ''And we went out and brought the name back.''

NBA deputy commissioner and COO Adam Silver previously said it would take about 18 months for the Bobcats to change their name, but pointed out the fact that the league owns the rights to the name Hornets could help speed up the transition process.

Silver said in the April interview the name change would be ''an enormously complex process and a very expensive process for the team. From everything to the uniforms, to the building, to the letterhead to the signs on the offices - ''all of that has to be taken into account.''

Pete Guelli, Charlotte's executive vice president and chief sales marketing officer, estimated the cost of changing the name to the Hornets at about $4 million. He added, however, that the decision wasn't based on money and that ''nothing was going to keep us from going down this road because this is what the fans wanted.''

Jordan knows that it will take more than just changing the name of the front of the jersey to turn his struggling franchise around - it will take talent. The Bobcats are 28-120 over the past two seasons, the worst record in the league.

''Ultimately we still have to play the game at a high level, which is what the Hornets did for a long period of time,'' Jordan said. ''Changing the name does not guarantee that we're going to be a playoff-contending team. We still have a lot of work to do to build that. I'm not walking away from that. It is what it is.''

He said it's too early in the process to know if the team will keep the Hornets' teal and purple colors.

The NBA's Hornets resided in Charlotte from 1988-2002 before then-owner George Shinn moved the team to New Orleans following a financial dispute with city officials over replacing the Charlotte Coliseum. Shinn wanted a new arena with additional luxury suites.

The New Orleans Hornets, now owned by Tom Benson, recently changed their name to the Pelicans.

Charlotte was awarded an expansion team in 2003 and then-owner Bob Johnson named the team the Bobcats. The venture was a financial disaster for Johnson, who lost millions before selling majority ownership to Jordan in 2010.

Even with Jordan at the helm, the Bobcats have never come close to matching the popularity of the Hornets, a team which sold out 364 straight home games, a streak that stretched nearly nine full seasons.

Since 2010 three Charlotte area residents have been leading a grass roots movement to persuade Jordan to bring back the popular Hornets nickname.

John Morgan, an elementary art teacher in Monroe, N.C., started a campaign on Facebook three years ago called ''We Beelieve'' after watching the Bobcats lose to the Orlando Magic in the franchise's only postseason appearance. Disappointed over the lack of energy in the arena, Morgan began longing for the days of Larry Johnson, Alonzo Mourning and Muggsy Bogues.

He wanted the Hornets name back and began gathering signatures to support his cause.

Shortly thereafter, brothers Scotty and Evan Kent took the effort a step further and created a website called ''Bring Back the Buzz.''

Eventually the three men pooled their resources for one common goal.

''It's amazing,'' Morgan said earlier Tuesday after reading reports of the pending name change. ''It feels like I'm walking on a cloud.''

While the Hornets name had no meaning for the city of New Orleans, it does have significance to native Charlotteans.

According to the Mecklenburg Historical Association, British general Lord Charles Cornwallis called Charlotte ''a hornet's nest of rebellion'' after city residents drove the British out of the area in 1780.

The tenacious moniker has become a source of pride for the city for more than two centuries. Charlotte Mecklenburg County police officers still wear a patch with a beehive stitched on their uniforms.

Browns waive Eric Hagg

League sources are now confirming an Adam Caplan report that the Browns have waived safety Eric Hagg.

Hagg was drafted in the 7th round of the 2011 NFL Draft out of the Nebraska where he garnered all Big-12 accolades. He started four games last season, including a career-best day in Oakland where he was credited with 7 solo tackles. Hagg appeared in 22 contests for the Browns, compiling 30 tackles and one fumble recovery.

Looking ahead at the Indians' schedule

Today the Indians wrapped up a 4-game series sweep of the Seattle Mariners. The red-hot Tribe have won 18 of their last 22 games and are 21-7 since April 20th. The Indians are currently first place in the AL Central, holding a 2.5 game lead over the Detroit Tigers.

So, what does the schedule look like for Cleveland moving forward?

Well, the schedule gets a little bit more difficult for this next stretch of the season. Over the next 25 games, the Indians are facing series against the Tigers, Red Sox, Reds, Rays, Yankees, Rangers and Nationals. Yikes.

Up to this point in the season, the Tribe has done a good job beating up on weaker opponents and holding their own against the top teams. So even if they cool off over the next stretch of games, as long as the Indians continue to hold serve against strong opponents, Cleveland will continue set the pace atop the AL Central standings.

Walkoff in Extra Innings gives Indians sweep over Mariners

(AP) CLEVELAND -- Yan Gomes hit a three-run homer in the 10th inning and the Cleveland Indians, twice revived by Seattle's fielding errors, beat the Mariners 10-8 on Monday to complete a four-game sweep.

Gomes, who also homered in the second, drove a 3-2 pitch from Charlie Furbush (0-3) over the wall in left, giving the Indians their fifth straight win, third walk-off over the Mariners in four days and most improbable victory of what is becoming a special season.

As Gomes reached the plate, he was mobbed by teammates following the comeback that became necessary after Cleveland's bullpen gave up homers in the eighth, ninth and 10th innings.

It was the Indians' first four-game sweep of Seattle since 1981, and the rally gave Cleveland its 18th win in 22 games.

Joe Smith (2-0) won despite giving up a go-ahead homer to Justin Smoak in the 10th.

Ryan Raburn hit a three-run homer for Cleveland, which opened a 2 1-2 game lead over Detroit in the AL Central.

The Mariners got a tying homer by Kyle Seager in the eighth and a go-ahead shot by pinch-hitter Endy Chavez in the ninth but couldn't close it out because of their own miscues.

The Indians were an out away from losing in the ninth when Seattle closer Tom Wilhelmsen dropped an underhanded toss while covering first, allowing the Indians to tie it 7-7.

After Smoak homered in the 10th, the Indians were three outs away from losing when the Mariners helped them again.

Michael Brantley singled and Drew Stubbs followed with a bunt that Furbush, seeking his first career save, fielded but bobbled. The left-hander rushed his throw to first and would have had Stubbs -- umpire Tim Timmons called him out -- but Smoak dropped the ball.

Gomes then delivered his game-winning homer as the Indians improved to 21-7 since April 20.

The final three innings bordered on the absurd as the Mariners took the lead only to give it away with their bone-headed plays.

Wilhelmsen's error in the ninth not only cost the Mariners a certain win, but it allowed Cleveland closer Chris Perez to escape a loss after he gave up the homer to Chavez in the ninth. It was another bad outing for Perez, who gave up back-to-back homers in the ninth on Saturday but wound up getting a win.

With Seattle trailing 6-5 in the eighth, Seager homered off Vinnie Pestano, who recently came off the disabled list, into the Mariners' bullpen for his fifth homer.

The Indians took a 6-5 lead in the seventh off Yoervis Medina without hitting the ball beyond the infield grass.

Seattle starter Hisashi Iwakuma was tagged by the Indians for five runs in four innings, but the right-hander settled in and retired the final seven hitters he faced and got a no-decision. He gave up seven hits and struck out six in six innings.

Iwakuma won his previous three starts and came in with the AL's second-lowest ERA.

Indians starter Scott Kazmir didn't get out of the fourth as the teams combined for 10 runs and 14 hits through four innings before the game slowed to a crawl.

Raburn and Gomes hit back-to-back, two-out homers in the second, when the Indians caught a break to take a 4-2 lead.

With Carlos Santana on with a one-out double, Mark Reynolds just missed a homer, flying out to the track in left. Brantley walked and Raburn fell into an 0-2 hole and appeared to take strike three, but plate umpire Laz Diaz called Iwakuma's pitch a ball to give Raburn new life.

He made the most of it, connecting for his fifth homer to make it 3-2. Gomes followed with a shot onto the pedestrian porch in left.

The Mariners scored two in the third to tie it, with Morales hitting an RBI single and Kyle Seager scoring Michael Morse grounded into a double play.

Seattle, which entered the game just 1 of 23 with runners in scoring position in the series, made the most of their first two chances and took a 2-0 lead in the first -- their first one of the four-game series -- on an RBI double by Kendrys Morales and Morse's run-scoring single.