SPORTS SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2016

Red Sox acquires All-Star Pomeranz

BOSTON: The Boston Red Sox acquired All-Star Drew Pomeranz from the San Diego Padres on Thursday night, adding a third left-hander to the rotation as they push to return to the playoffs after consecutive last-place finishes. Boston sent Anderson Espinoza to San Diego. The 18-year- old righty was ranked the No. 15 prospect in the country by Baseball America. “We think (Pomeranz) makes us bet- ter now,” president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said in a conference call with reporters. “We know there’s a sacrifice for the future.” Pomeranz, 27, who will make his Boston debut Wednesday, is 8-7 with a 2.47 ERA in 17 starts for San Diego this season. He pitched a scoreless inning in Tuesday night in the All-Star game. “He’s not an easy guy to deal,” Padres general manager A.J. Preller said. “Any time you have a left-handed starter who performs the way he has, resulting in an All-Star berth, you have to feel very good about the return that you’re getting. “I think it says a lot to Espinoza as far as what our guys thought about him. From that standpoint, we looked at it that it’s something where we’re getting a premium guy.” Pomeranz joins fellow lefties David Price and Eduardo Rodriguez in a Boston rotation that includes Rick Porcello and AL ERA leader Steven Wright. Except for Wright, all have been inconsistent this season, and injuries to closer Craig Kimbrel and setup man Junichi Tazawa threatened to further strain the rotation. “There are only a couple of pitchers we thought had a chance to be available that we thought would give us an upgrade on our pitching staff,” Dombrowski said. It’s the fourth trade in a week for Dombrowski, who also made a big splash in the offseason by signing Price to a seven-year, $217 million free-agent contract. The Red Sox acquired third baseman Aaron Hill from Milwaukee, sec- ond baseman Michael Martinez from Cleveland and righty Brad Ziegler over the last seven days without giving up any major leaguers. They have also managed to hang onto most of their top prospects. Espinoza was 5-8 with a 4.38 LAS VEGAS: ’ Rondae Hollis Jefferson, left, guards Philadelphia 76ers’ Brandon Paul during the second ERA in 17 starts for Single-A Greenville this season. — AP half of an NBA summer league game. — AP Kobe Bryant slimed after Quarterfinal matchs set winning Kids Choice prize

LOS ANGELES: Retired Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant at NBA Summer League was given the traditional golden sliming at the Kids Choice Sport awards on Thursday after picking up the “Legend” prize. LAS VEGAS: A look at play Thursday at shots and finished with 15 points and provide some of the only offense in The 37-year-old was presented with the award, an orange the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas: eight rebounds for the No. 2 seed. the Wizards’ ugly victory. Both teams blimp with a bushy mohawk, by American actress and singer had 13 points and six were 23 of 64 (36 percent), but the Zendaya in Los Angeles before four jets emerged from the CAVALIERS 88, LAKERS 80 assists, while college player of the year Wizards woke up in the second half stage to douse the 18-time All Star in slime. Jordan McRae had 36 points and added 11 points. The after scoring just 25 points in the first Bryant brought down the curtain on his standout 20-year nine rebounds, and the Cavaliers used Bulls face No 7 Washington next. Justin two quarters. Atlanta fell apart after career with a 60- showing in his final game against the a big second half to knock off the Anderson had 17 points for the halftime, managing just 23 points after in April. He won five NBA Championships with the third-seeded Lakers. added Mavericks. scoring 23 in the second quarter. The Lakers, two NBA Finals MVP awards and two Olympic gold 20 points for the No. 14 seed Cavaliers, No 7 Wizards will play No. 2 Chicago in medals for the United States. Former England soccer captain who outscored the Lakers 52-28 in the SUNS 77, HEAT 74 Saturday’s quarterfinals. Brandon David Beckham and ex New York Yankee shortstop Derek second half after trailing by 16 points scored 20 points as the Ashley scored 12 points for the Hawks Jeter are previous winners of the Kids Choice ‘Legend’ prize at halftime. They will face sixth-seeded fifth-seeded Suns moved into the and , had 10 points but that comes with a gold sliming. — Reuters Brooklyn in the quarterfinals. D’Angelo quarterfinals. , the No 4 shot just 2 for 10 for the No. 10 seed. Russell scored 19 points for the Lakers, overall pick, shot just 3 for 13 from the who had won their first three games. field but finished with 10 points and TIMBERWOLVES 89, GRIZZLIES 85 No. 2 pick was 4 of 12 nine rebounds. Victor Rudd led No 12 had 26 points and 10 from the field for 13 points. Miami with 24 points on 8-for-13 assists as the Timberwolves knocked shooting. Damion Lee missed a 3- off the No 8 seeds. Minnesota, seeded RAPTORS 75, WARRIORS 69 pointer that would have tied it with 0.2 No. 24, pulled out a game that fea- scored 17 points as seconds left. Phoenix meets No. 4 tured 13 ties and seven lead changes. the top-seeded Raptors improved to 4- Denver next. Levi Randolph had 26 points for 0 and advanced to Saturday’s quarter- Memphis, but his 3-pointer in the final finals. Toronto will face No. 24 NETS 87, 76ERS 84 seconds was the Grizzlies’ only basket Minnesota, which knocked off eighth- Sean Kilpatrick scored 24 points, and in the final three minutes. seeded Memphis earlier Thursday. Chris McCullough and Rondae Hollis- Second-round rookie Patrick McCaw Jefferson added 13 apiece for the Nets. NUGGETS 80, JAZZ 60 scored 28 points for the Warriors, mak- Brooklyn, the No. 6 seed, improved to scored 20 points and ing five 3-pointers. 3-1 and moves into Saturday’s quarter- the Nuggets broke open a close game finals to face No 14 Cleveland. No 1 with a big third quarter on their way to BULLS 86, MAVERICKS 73 pick didn’t play for the the quarterfinals. The fourth-seeded had 19 points and 76ers, seeded 22nd. They fell to 1-4. Nuggets outscored Utah 27-12 in the LOS ANGELES: Retired NBA basketball player and Legend eight rebounds as Chicago remained third quarter after leading by just four Award recipient Kobe Bryant poses after being “slimed” unbeaten and moved into the quarter- WIZARDS 71, HAWKS 60 points at halftime. Jimmer Fredette onstage during the 2016 Kids’ Choice Sports Awards at finals. Cristiano Felicio made all six Kelly Oubre Jr scored 22 points to added 12 points. — AP Pauley Pavilion. — AP