NW–SportsMinute/450
Here is the latest Washington, Oregon and Alaska sports news from The Associated Press
SEATTLE (AP) – Justin Verlander won his 12th straight decision on the road, Prince Fielder homered and the Detroit Tigers raced to an early lead before holding on for a 6-4 win over the Seattle Mariners last night. Verlander wasn’t his sharpest, giving up three runs and seven hits. But Verlander retired nine of his final 10 batters, struck out six and went at least six innings for the 49th straight start. Andy Dirks had a single, double and drove in three runs in his first two at-bats, helping give Verlander a 5-0 lead.
SEATTLE (AP) – Blake Beavan still could miss his next start, though the Seattle Mariners right-hander is feeling better a day after being forced to leave his start in the third inning after taking a line drive off his right arm. Manager Eric Wedge said yesterday that Beavan had increased range of motion in his arm, but it was still too early to determine if Beavan will make his next scheduled start on Sunday in New York. Beavan was forced out of Monday’s game after being hit by the liner off the bat of Miguel Cabrera.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) – Belmont, which has been to the NCAA tournament five of the last seven years, will face host Alaska-Anchorage in the opening round of the Great Alaska Shootout. UC Riverside will play Northeastern, Loyola Marymount faces Oral Roberts and Texas State meets Charlotte in the other first-round games of the tournament running Nov. 21-24. Murray State, which went on to be ranked in the top 10, beat Southern Mississippi 90-81 in double overtime to win last season’s Shootout.
NEW YORK (AP) – Seattle Sounders defender Leo Gonzalez has been suspended one game and fined for stomping on the leg of Philadelphia’s Sheanon Williams late in last Saturday’s game. The discipline from Major League Soccer was handed down yesterday. Gonzalez will miss Seattle’s game tonight at FC Dallas. The incident happened in the 88th minute of Seattle’s 1-0 win on Saturday. Gonzalez stomped on the right leg of Williams after he slid to pass the ball upfield.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – The Portland Timbers have announced that Bright Dike (DEE’-kay) will join the lower-division L.A. Blues on a season-long loan. The 25-year-old forward played in 11 matches for the Timbers last season after missing the first five months because of an Achilles injury. Timbers coach John Spencer says coming off the injury, it’s important for Dike to play regularly – something he hasn’t been doing in Portland this season. The Timbers can recall Dike from the loan at any time.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
