Date: 10/03/2012 05:29 AM
NW–SportsMinute/368
Here is the latest Washington, Oregon and Alaska sports news from The Associated Press
SEATTLE (AP) – Kyle Seager became the first Seattle batter to hit 20 home runs in a season since 2009 with a solo shot in the first and the Mariners beat Mike Trout and the Los Angeles Angels 6-1 last night. The penultimate game of the season came a night after the Angels were eliminated from the AL wild card chase. And they played like a team with nothing tangible left to play for, tying their season high with three errors, including a pair in the sixth by right fielder Mark Trumbo that helped two runs score.
SEATTLE (AP) – The fences at Safeco Field are coming in. The Seattle Mariners announced plans yesterday to move in the outfield fences at their spacious ballpark for the 2013 season after years of debate on the impact that having one of the more vast outfields in baseball was having on their offense. The biggest change will come in the left-center field alley, where the fence will move in as much as 17 feet from its current dimension. The left-center power alley is now 390 feet; it’ll be at 378 feet next season.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Seimone Augustus scored 21 points, Maya Moore had 20 and the Minnesota Lynx held off the Seattle Storm 73-72 last night to advance to the Western Conference finals. Rebekkah Brunson scored 16 points to help the defending champion Lynx bounce back from a double-overtime loss in Game 2 and win the best-of-3 opening round series. Minnesota will host Los Angeles in the opener of the West finals tomorrow night. The Sparks swept San Antonio in their series.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – The whispers about job security aren’t an issue for Oregon State coach Mike Riley any more. The amiable Beavers coach has led his team to a 3-0 start and the No. 14 spot in the AP rankings. It’s a dramatic turnaround for a team that won only three games all of last season. After consecutive wins over ranked teams, Oregon State is coming off a 38-35 victory over Arizona in Tucson last Saturday. Oregon State hasn’t opened with a three-game winning streak since 2002.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
