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Written by Sports Know It Alls Staff
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There were two major trades in the National Basketball Association last Tuesday, which could affect season and playoff outcomes in 2009-2010.
The San Antonio Spurs made the biggest move by acquiring small forward Richard Jefferson from the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Kurt Thomas, Bruce Bowen, and Fabricio Oberto. The Bucks immediately traded Oberto to the Detroit Pistons for Amir Johnson.
The other trade came between the Washington Wizards and the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Wizards exchanged the number five pick in this year’s draft and Etan Thomas, Darius Songaila, and Oleksiy Pecherov for Mike Miller and Randy Foye.
San Antonio, which has been one of the most dominant teams of the decade, was not a major title contender in the past two seasons. Many attribute this to an aging supporting cast. With the addition of Jefferson, who averaged 17.7 points and 5.3 rebounds in his eight-year career, the team looks to go back to the NBA finals. RJ will join a formidable starting line-up with all-stars Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, and Tim Duncan.
The Spurs gave up very little in the trade. Bowen and Oberto were exchanged with only partly guaranteed contracts and they were likely to be waived this summer. On the other hand, the Bucks gave away Jefferson for purely financial reasons—it freed up two years and $29.2 million.
The Wizards are looking to enter the playoffs in the next season. With the return of all-star guard Gilbert Arenas, the team is looks like it can make a good run with its new recruits, Foye and Miller.
The Timberwolves have four first round draft picks this season, including the fifth and the sixth selection. This year is an opportunity for the team to rebuild their roster.
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Written by Associated Press
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Bobby Abreu drove in the tying and go-ahead runs with a bases-loaded single in the eighth inning after Colorado third baseman Ian Stewart messed up two bunt plays, and the Los Angeles Angels won 4-3 Tuesday night to hand the Rockies their second loss in 19 games.
Colorado had won six straight overall and a club-record nine in a row on the road.
Troy Tulowizki's two home runs and three RBIs helped Ubaldo Jimenez (6-7) take a 3-2 lead into the eighth. But the right-hander walked Jeff Mathis leading off the inning, and Erick Aybar was awarded a bunt single after Stewart fielded the ball up the line and looked toward second before throwing late to first.
Chone Figgins followed with a bunt toward the mound and Jimenez got it to third in time for an apparent force, but Stewart didn't have his foot on the bag when he took the throw. Abreu worked the count to 3-1 before singling to right field.
Juan Rivera homered for the Angels and Kevin Jepsen (2-2) pitched a perfect eighth for the victory. Former Rockies closer Brian Fuentes got three outs for his major league-leading 20th save in 23 chances.
Colorado is 19-6 since Jim Tracy replaced Clint Hurdle as manager on May 29. Tracy, who guided the Los Angeles Dodgers to a division title in 2004, just missed becoming the third manager since 1900 to take over a team in midseason and win 20 of his first 25 games.
Jimenez allowed four runs and seven hits in seven-plus innings and struck out five. The critical eighth-inning walk was the right-hander's only one of the game.
Sean O'Sullivan gave up three runs and five hits in his second major league start. The 21-year-old right-hander was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake on Monday when Ervin Santana was placed on the 15-day disabled list because of soreness in his triceps.
O'Sullivan filled in for Santana last Tuesday at San Francisco, allowing a run and five hits over seven innings in an 8-1 victory his big league debut.
The Rockies were trailing 2-1 when Brad Hawpe led off the sixth with a single. Two pitches later, Tulowitzki hit a towering drive off the left field pole for his second homer of the game and 12th this season, the most among big league shortstops. The multihomer effort was the first of his career and the fifth this season by a Rockies player.
Colorado tied it 1-all in the fourth when Tulowitzki hit his 11th homer into the left field bullpen — one pitch after O'Sullivan got a spike caught on the rubber and buzzed a fastball just past Tulowitzki's head and to the backstop. The Angels regained the lead in the bottom half when Rivera drove a 3-2 pitch to left-center with two outs for his 11th homer.
Notes: Angels DH Vladimir Guerrero, who came in with only one homer in 128 at-bats this season, had his trademark dreadlocks cut off Tuesday before he got to the ballpark. ... The Rockies have homered in a season-high seven straight games. ... One night after six wild pitches got past Mike Napoli, tying an Angels club record, Mathis started behind the plate.
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Written by Sports Know It Alls Staff
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Brian Vickers ran his second consecutive pole with a strong finish last Friday ay Infineon Raceway.
Vickers recorded a 93.678 mph lap in a Toyota to win his fourth pole of the season. He also won the pole last weekend at Michigan, where he finished ninth.
Vickers barely edged out defending race winner Kyle Busch, who ran a lap at 93.415 mph to qualify for second. Busch was followed by Marcos Ambrose to give Toyota the top three pole positions.
Scott Speed was one of four players who failed to qualify for the grid. He ran off course in Turn 10, spoiling what would have been a great run for the Formula One driver.
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