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SEAHAWKS-ROOKIE CAMP
Seahawks trio of rookie RBs get long look during minicamp
RENTON, Wash. (AP) — When it came time to revamping the depth in the Seattle Seahawks offensive backfield, finding a wide array of options was the priority.
The Seahawks weren’t looking for an updated version of Marshawn Lynch when they selected three running backs among their 10 picks in the NFL draft. They were seeking a variety of individual skills that pooled together will create a number of options for Seattle’s offense going forward.
The trio of drafted rookies — C.J. Prosise, Alex Collins and Zac Brooks — received plenty of attention during the Seahawks rookie minicamp that wrapped on Sunday largely because of their different styles. Prosise and Brooks both have backgrounds as wide receivers, while Collins fits the mold of a traditional running back.
Combined with Thomas Rawls — the presumptive starter headed into the season — and backup Christine Michael, the Seahawks are flush with a number of young running backs to maintain their priority of being an offense that runs the ball.
MARINERS-ASTROS
McHugh, White help Astros over Mariners 5-1
HOUSTON (AP) — Rookie Tyler White hit two doubles and drove in a run to back up seven solid innings by Collin McHugh, and the Houston Astros got a 5-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners Sunday.
White, who snapped an 0-for-16 skid on Thursday, had two hits for the second straight game. He put Houston up 1-0 with his double in the second and added a double in the fourth. The Astros added two runs in the third and tacked on two more in the seventh.
McHugh (4-3) allowed five hits and one run for his third straight win.
Jose Altuve had two hits and tied a career-high with three stolen bases on a day the Astros finished with five.
Robinson Cano continued his tear against the Astros with a solo homer in the fourth that gave him five homers and 17 RBIs in seven games against Houston this season.
NBA PLAYOFFS-PORTLAND
Portland, Heat trying to avoid elimination games
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) —Down 2-1 in their respective series, the last thing either the Trail Blazers or the Heat will want is to head out on the road later this week facing elimination. So in a pair of Game 4s on Monday — Portland plays host to Golden State as their Western Conference semifinal resumes, while Miami will entertain the Toronto Raptors in their back-and-forth East semis matchup — the home teams will face plenty of pressure.
The Miami-Toronto series has been extremely tight, with the Raptors outscoring the Heat so far 287-285. But it will have a much different look now, after a pair of MRI exams on Sunday sent both starting centers to the sidelines.
The Blazers got back into their matchup by taking Game 3 behind a 40-point effort from Damian Lillard. Portland became the first team to beat Golden State twice this season, and it’s unknown if the Warriors will have MVP Stephen Curry back from his knee injury in time for Game 4.
NASCAR-JOE GIBBS RACING
Joe Gibbs Racing drivers have won 6 of 11 NASCAR races
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — At the season-opening Daytona 500, Joe Gibbs Racing proved it was unquestionably the fastest, from Denny Hamlin taking the checkered flag to its quartet of cars leading more than three-quarters of the race. It turned out to be a harbinger of things to come.
After watching Kyle Busch drive away from Kevin Harvick to win Saturday night’s Sprint Cup race at Kansas Speedway, Gibbs drivers have won six times in the first 11 races. Everybody on the team has a win except Matt Kenseth, and the former series champion finished a season-best fourth at Kansas.
“The hardest thing in pro sports is to stay up there every week and right now it’s been a thrill,” Gibbs said after celebrating Busch’s first Sprint Cup win at a track that’s caused him so much trouble.
In fact, things have been so good for Gibbs that Martin Truex Junior, whose Furniture Row team has a technical alliance with JGR, may have been the fastest of anybody at Kansas. If it wasn’t for a fluke tire-change issue, he might have been the one celebrating the end of his misfortune there.
That was just about the only lament Gibbs had Saturday night.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.