NW Sports from the AP

NW–SportsMinute/269
Here is the latest Washington, Oregon and Alaska sports news from The Associated Press

 

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) – Elliot Johnson hit an RBI single with one out in the 12th inning, giving the Tampa Bay Rays a 3-2, comeback victory over the Seattle Mariners last night. Playing before a crowd of just 9,458 – the smallest at Tropicana Field since September 2007 – the Rays twice rallied from one-run deficits before winning it against Brandon League, who failed to hold a 2-1 lead the Mariners took on Jesus Montero’s homer in the 11th. J.P. Howell pitched one scoreless inning for the win.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) – Tampa Bay’s Evan Longoria left last night’s game against Seattle after getting up slowly following a slide into second base on an attempted steal that ended the third inning. Longoria remained on the ground for a moment after being tagged out, then climbed to his feet and walked off the field without assistance. The third baseman, who fouled a pitch off his left foot in the first inning, was replaced on defense by Elliot Johnson.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) – The Seattle Mariners are struggling at the plate with runners in scoring position. They are 0 for their last 25 in those situations, including 0 for 3 last night. Meantime, the Tampa Bay Rays had a successful April despite not getting any wins from heralded rookie left-hander Matt Moore. He’s 0-1 with a 4.68 ERA, and will look for his first win of the season when he starts the second game of the Mariners series today. Seattle will counter with right-hander Hector Noesi, who is 1-2.

 

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.