Date: 04/03/2013 05:29 AM
NW–SportsMinute/434
Here is the latest Washington, Oregon and Alaska sports news from The Associated Press
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) – Michael Morse hit a three-run homer and a solo shot, Hisashi Iwakuma followed up Felix Hernandez’s gem with an impressive outing of his own, and the Seattle Mariners beat the Oakland Athletics for the second straight game to start the season, 7-1 last night. Iwakuma struck out seven and didn’t walk a batter. He gave up a leadoff homer by Yoenis Cespedes (yoh-EHN’-ehs SEHS’-peh-dehs) to the deepest part of center field leading off the second, then quickly regrouped and retired 15 of the final 16 hitters he faced.
SEATTLE (AP) – The man who’s trying to bring the NBA’s Sacramento Kings to Seattle says fans have requested 44,000 season tickets in the event the team actually relocates. Hedge fund manager Chris Hansen had urged Seattle fans to join a “priority ticket waitlist” to show the NBA how strong support is for bringing professional men’s basketball back to the city and calls the result “nothing short of stunning.” Seattle has been without an NBA franchise since the Sonics moved to Oklahoma City in 2008. Owners are meeting today to discuss the sale and a counter-offer to keep the Kings in Sacramento. A decision is expected this month.
SEATTLE (AP) – Herculez Gomez scored off of a rebound in the 54th minute, lifting Santos Laguna past the Seattle Sounders 1-0 in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League semifinals last night. Santos Laguna, which reached the finals last year before losing to Mexican rival Monterrey, will host the second leg next Tuesday.
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) – The Oregon Ducks have begun spring practice under new coach Mark Helfrich. The team’s former offensive coordinator was promoted to head coach in January after Chip Kelly left for the Philadelphia Eagles. The Ducks were without pads for their first day of practice at the Moshofsky Center. The annual Spring Game is set for April 27 at Autzen Stadium. Oregon finished 12-1 last season, capped with a victory over Kansas State in the Fiesta Bowl. The Ducks were ranked No. 2 in the season’s final Associated Press poll.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) – The Vancouver Canucks have acquired center Derek Roy from the Dallas Stars to add some much-needed depth at forward. The Canucks sent defenseman Kevin Connauton and a second-round pick to Dallas. The team confirmed the trade on its website yesterday. Vancouver needs scoring with its second line hit hard by injuries. Mason Raymond recently joined Ryan Kesler and David Booth on the injured list with a sore shoulder.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.
