SAN DIEGO -- This week was full of big moments for former Aztecs in professional sports.
In the NBA, Kawhi Leonard (2010-11) carried the Los Angeles Clippers to a first round series victory over Dallas to advance to the second round of the playoffs. In the final three games of the series, Leonard averaged 31.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 2.3 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game. After dropping game No. 5 to fall behind 3-2 and being on the brink of elimination, Leonard revived the Clippers in the sixth and seventh games. He scored 42 points in Game No. 6 to force a winner-take-all Game No. 7 in which he had a double-double with 28 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists. The Clippers' series with Utah kicks off on Tuesday night.
In the MLB, Ty France (2013-15) started all six games at first base for Seattle this week. On the week, France batted .240 with a .269 on base percentage, driving in one and scoring once. Last Tuesday against Oakland, France was 3-for-5 and drove in Kyle Seager on a third inning double off Athletics ace Chris Bassitt to give the Mariners a 3-1 lead in a game they eventually lost 12-6. On the season, France is batting .249 with a .333 on base percentage, 21 RBIs, three home runs, and 24 runs scored. The Mariners are in third and trail the Athletics by five games in the AL West. Washington's Stephen Strasburg (2007-09) started last Tuesday in Atlanta, but had reduced velocity and was pulled after 1.1 innings, in which he allowed a hit and a run, striking out one. The next day, he was placed on the IR with a neck strain. On the season, Strasburg is 1-2 with a 4.57 ERA, a 1.39 WHIP and 21 strikeouts in 21.2 innings. The Nationals are in fourth place, seven games behind New York in the NL East. Colorado called Alan Trejo (2015-17) back up to the majors last Tuesday. He entered their games on Thursday, Friday and Saturday as a pinch hitter and shortstop. On Friday, Trejo led off the seventh inning against Oakland reliever Burch Smith and hit his first career home run, which went 425 feet out to left-center, one of the deepest parts of Coors Field, cutting the deficit to 8-4. The next night in his lone at bat, Trejo singled off Athletics starter Cole Irvin to lead off the fifth inning. This season, Trejo is batting .244, with a .289 on base percentage, three RBIs, a home run, and seven runs scored. The Rockies are in fourth place in the NL West, 13 1/2 games behind San Francisco.
On the PGA Tour, Xander Schauffle (2013-15) tied for 11th at the Memorial Tournament at 4-under-par. Next weekend, Scott Piercy (1999-01) and J.J. Spaun (2009-12) will compete in the Palmetto Championship at Congaree in Ridgeland, S.C. Schauffele is ranked sixth in the world and seventh in the FedEx Cup.
Aztecs in the Pros
