Date: 09/04/2013 04:59 AM
AP-NW–SportsMinute/319
Here is the latest Washington, Oregon and Alaska sports news from The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Salvador Perez drove in Mike Moustakas with two outs in the eighth inning, and the Kansas City Royals survived after blowing a three-run lead to beat the Seattle Mariners 4-3 last night. Billy Butler had just grounded into a double play against Seattle reliever Yoervis Medina when Moustakas legged out a double to center in the eighth. Perez followed with a single to left, and Moustakas had just enough time for a headfirst slide ahead of Endy Chavez’s throw to home.
NEW YORK (AP) – Clemson has surged to its highest ranking in The Associated Press poll in 25 years after the Tigers won the biggest game of the opening weekend of the college football season. Clemson is No. 4 in the first regular season Top 25, following its 38-35 victory over Georgia. Alabama remains No. 1 and receives 58 of 60 first-place votes from the media panel. No. 2 Oregon and No. 3 Ohio State flip-flop spots from the preseason rankings. Stanford is No. 5. Washington is No. 20.
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) – The No. 2 Ducks had possession of the ball fewer than 20 minutes in their opener against Nicholls State, meaning the defense shouldered its share of the work. That gave the coaching staff plenty to look at in assessing the side of the ball that often gets overlooked at speedy Oregon. The lower-tier Colonels managed only a field goal against a defense that held opponents to an average of 21.6 points last season.
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) – Washington State’s narrow loss at Auburn has given the Cougars confidence they can win their Pac-12 conference opener on Saturday at No. 25 Southern California. Washington State produced 464 yards of offense in losing its season opener 31-24. Quarterback Connor Halliday was 35 of 65 for 344 yards and one touchdown, connecting with 10 different receivers.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.