BOSTON - Rick Porcello didnt hesitate when asked to recall memories of pitching in Fenway Park.In his rookie season, he hit Bostons Kevin Youkilis in the back with the first pitch of the second inning.There it is, said Porcello, smiling about the question. Getting thrown out in the second inning my rookie year. Getting charged by Kevin Youkilis. That was definitely one of them.Youkilis charged the mound during the confrontation in 2009, threw his helmet at the right-hander and tackled him. Both were ejected.Porcello, who turns 26 on Dec. 27, was introduced Friday after the Red Sox acquired him from the Detroit Tigers last week for outfielder Yoenis Cespedes and two minor league pitchers.Porcello had other Fenway memories, too.During a September start in Bostons run to the 2013 World Series title, he lasted just five-plus innings, getting tagged for nine runs and seven hits — three homers — during a 20-4 loss. He fared much better last season, going eight solid innings in a victory over the Red Sox.For whatever reason, I had a couple of rough starts here and last year I broke through in this ballpark and had a quality start, he said. That was a nice game for me. I had a lot of my family here. I just remember that one for some reason. Its funny, my first year and my last year were my two most memorable moments Ive had in this ballpark to this point.During his 2013 outing, David Ortiz homered to collect his 1,999th career hit. Ortiz hit No. 2,000 off a reliever two innings later.Im definitely happy that I dont have to worry about balls sailing over my head off Ortizs bat, thats for sure, Porcello said. Its going to be a lot of fun. Watching these guys in 2013, when we were competing against them in the playoffs and the fire that they had and everything they had going on in this clubhouse, Im thrilled to be a part of it.Porcello is coming off his best season when he went 15-13 with a 3.43 ERA in 32 starts. He was picked up to help bolster Bostons staff after Jon Lester passed on returning to the Red Sox, signing a $155-millon, six-year deal with the Chicago Cubs.Porcello will be part of a new rotation after Boston also acquired left-hander Wade Miley from Arizona for Rubby De La Rosa and Allen Webster and infielder Raymel Flores. The Red Sox also signed free agent right-hander Justin Masterson.The three likely will join Joe Kelly and Clay Buchholz in a rotation that seems without a true No. 1 starter.I think you have to have five aces, Porcello said. Each one of us has to have pride in their job.Porcello was part of loaded rotation in Detroit last season that included Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, David Price and Anibal Sanchez.I think watching each of them go about their business, theres something you can learn from everybody, he said. Max is a very analytical guy that talks a lot about pitch selection. Justin is a bulldog, a competitor on the mound. You learn a lot watching his competitiveness. Theres definitely things you can learn from everybody. Reggie McClain Mariners Jersey . -- The Chicago Bears have agreed to a one-year contract with cornerback Kelvin Hayden. Richie Zisk Mariners Jersey . The 26-year-old Sobotka injured his left leg playing for the St. Louis Blues in a 3-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday. The Blues said he would not recover from the injury in time for the Olympic tournament. https://www.cheapmariners.com/2625k-aust...y-mariners.html. The Brad Jacobs team from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., advanced to Fridays championship game with a 10-6 win over Chinas Rui Liu in the semifinal. Donnie Walton Jersey . -- Andrew Wiggins is from Canada, Wayne Selden from Massachusetts and Joel Embiid from the African nation of Cameroon. Freddy Garcia Jersey . In the Brewers six games this season, no starter has allowed more than three runs. "We see the guy in front of us do a great job and we want to do even better," Gallardo said after the Brewers beat the Red Sox 4-0 on Sunday, his second straight scoreless start.SACRAMENTO, Calif. - DeMarcus Cousins has the statistics. He has the stature. And he has the support of several high-profile peers calling for him to get his first All-Star nod.What he doesnt have is a winning team.Just about everybody around the NBA agrees that the Sacramento Kings franchise centre has blossomed into one of the leagues best big men. Based on ballot returns the past few years, though, many still dont believe hes done enough with the Kings to earn All-Star status in the deep Western Conference.Fans left Cousins out of the mix again when the starters were announced last week. The reserves, voted on by the coaches, will be revealed Thursday night, and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will select any injury replacements before the marquee game at New Yorks Madison Square Garden on Feb. 15.Count Cousins among those wondering if he finally has the right resume — and reputation — in his fifth season to trump Sacramentos shortcomings.To be totally honest, it is what it is, Cousins said. If I make it, I make it. If I dont, I dont.Coaches must vote for three frontcourt players, two guards and two wild cards. Cousins main competition in the frontcourt is Portlands LaMarcus Aldridge, Oklahoma Citys Kevin Durant, San Antonios Tim Duncan, Dallas Dirk Nowitzki and Houstons Dwight Howard.The biggest thing hurting Cousins campaign — besides the competition — is his teams worsening record.After starting 9-5 this season, the Kings (16-27) have collapsed since Cousins came down with viral meningitis in late November. They went 2-8 during his sick leave — which coincided with Michael Malones stunning firing as coach — and have failed to pick up the pieces under short-term replacement Tyrone Corbin.Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own players, but Corbin believes Cousins shouldnt be penalized because of all the chaos around him.Its the All-Star game. Its about individual performances, Corbin said. You look at (team records) sometimes, but I think most cases on the All-Star performance they look at the guy and his numbers and what hes doing for this year. Hes certainly having a great year where we havent won the number of games that we would like to win.Cousins began to reepair his volatile image when he helped Team USA win gold at the FIBA World Cup in Spain over the summer, and his game has continued to rise during another disappointing season in Californias capital city.dddddddddddde entered Wednesday averaging career highs of 24.2 points, 12.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.6 blocks per game, staggering statistics by most traditional metrics. He was also eighth in the NBA in player efficiency rating at 25.78.Perhaps most importantly, his emotional and often unpredictable behaviour has improved — at least by his standards. After compiling a league-most 33 technical fouls the last two years, Cousins has just four this season.You can tell theres been a lot of growing on his side as a player, Bulls centre Joakim Noah said. He is playing more efficiently. I feel sometimes he gets frustrated and that works in our favour. I feel this year hes the one getting guys frustrated and its worked for them.Clippers coach Doc Rivers said hes noticed a difference, too.Hes grown up emotionally, Rivers said. His game has grown up. I think hes the best low-post player in the league, and hes doing it every night. Hes doing more than just scoring. Hes doing everything. Im just very proud of him.Rivers later said Cousins is an All-Star in his mind, and so have most coaches this season. Of course, many have said such things publicly in the past.How they vote will be the true test of their resolve.Golden States Steve Kerr, who is coaching the Western Conference in the All-Star game, said most coaches will side with the player on the better team when making a close call. The same reasoning is why Kerr is confident Klay Thompson will join Stephen Curry on the West team and represent the NBA-leading Warriors (36-7).Asked specifically about Cousins, Kerr said hes one of the few players in the league that his staff centres its game plan around. But he stopped short of saying whether hed select Cousins on the crowded ballot.There is no doubt that he is an All-Star-calibre player, but its musical chairs in the West, Kerr said. There are only so many spots. I dont know how it will play out.___Antonio Gonzalez can be reached at: www.twitter.com/agonzalezAP ' ' '