Latest Washington, Oregon and Alaska sports

WILSON-COMMENCEMENT REMARKS

Russell Wilson takes jab at NC State on lesson learned

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson’s quip about a personal lesson learned has gone over well at the University of Wisconsin but ruffled some feathers where he began his college career in North Carolina.

Invited back to Wisconsin to deliver a graduation address, the 27-year-old Wilson devoted part of his speech to his departure from North Carolina State when Tom O’Brien was head coach. Wilson recounted a 2011 phone call where O’Brien told Wilson he wouldn’t be back for NC State. Wilson says O’Brien also told him he was too small for the NFL.

Wilson departed for Wisconsin and guided the Badgers to a Rose Bowl appearance. Seattle then picked him on the third round — the 75th pick of the 2012 NFL draft — and he went to the Pro Bowl as a rookie. Two years later the Seahawks won the Super Bowl.

ANGELS-MARINERS

Santiago, Angels complete sweep of Mariners with 3-0 win

SEATTLE (AP) — Hector Santiago pitched eight innings of two-hit ball and Daniel Nava’s two-run, two-out single in the eighth inning gave the Los Angeles Angels the cushion they needed to beat the Seattle Mariners 3-0 Sunday to complete a three-game sweep.

The Angels were reeling when they arrived in Seattle, having lost six straight, but leave town rolling after sweeping the AL West leaders.

Santiago was dominant, outpitching Seattle ace Felix Hernandez (3-3). Santiago allowed just two hits overall, the first not coming until the sixth inning when Shawn O’Malley led off with a bunt single that Santiago mishandled on the transfer. Chris Iannetta had Seattle’s only other hit with a line drive single in the seventh.

Santiago (3-2) struck out five, allowed only one base runner to reach second base and matched a career high in innings pitched.

Joe Smith pitched the ninth for his fourth save of the season.

MARINERS MOVES

Seattle recalls O’Malley, options Sardinas to Triple-A

SEATTLE (AP) — Looking for more versatility in its lineup, the Seattle Mariners have recalled utility player Shawn O’Malley from Triple-A Tacoma and optioned backup infielder Luis Sardinas.

Seattle made the move before its series finale against the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday. O’Malley was put into the starting lineup in center field.

It’s O’Malley’s experience playing in the outfield that led to Seattle making the move. O’Malley has played multiple positions in the infield but his experience is mostly as an outfielder. Sardinas could play the outfield but most of his experience is as an infielder.

O’Malley was hitting .317 at Tacoma and played third base, shortstop, second base, right field and left field. O’Malley appeared in 25 games last year with Seattle. Sardinas had appeared in just 12 games and Seattle manager Scott Servais says Sardinas needs to get some game action he wasn’t receiving with the Mariners.

STORM-SPARKS

Parker scores 34 points, Sparks beat Storm 96-66

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Candace Parker scored 34 points to spoil Number 1 overall pick Breanna Stewart’s pro debut and the Los Angeles Sparks beat the Seattle Storm 96-66 in the WNBA opener for both teams Sunday.

Parker was 12 of 20 from the field with three 3-pointers, grabbed five rebounds and had four assists and three steals.

The Sparks, ranked sixth in the AP WNBA power poll, scored the first eight points and were rarely challenged.

Midway through the first, Stewart had her first WNBA basket on a driving layup, but the Sparks led 26-15 after the first. The former UConn star finished with 23 points to lead the Storm.

Seattle, Number 9 in the AP WNBA power rankings, cut it to seven with 5:35 left in the half on Jewell Loyd’s pull-up jumper, but the Sparks closed the half on a 19-3 run to take a 51-26 lead.

MLS-NYCFC-TIMBERS

McNamara scores to give NYCFC a 2-1 victory over Timbers

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Thomas McNamara scored in the 65th minute to give New York City FC a 2-1 victory over the Portland Timbers on Sunday.

McNamara’s 20-yard shot curled around goalkeeper Jake Gleeson and into the upper corner of the net for his third goal of the season.

NYCFC (4-3-4) took the lead in the 12th minute under controversial circumstances. Defender RJ Allen appeared to use his hands to knock the ball away from Darlington Nagbe, but no foul was called. Instead, Allen sent an inch-perfect 30-yard rolling pass into the path of David Villa, who calmly shot the ball past Gleeson for his eighth goal of the season.

Portland (3-6-3) tied it in the 55th minute. Fanendo Adi fended off a defender and muscled his way in to NYCFC penalty area, where his shot deflected off a New York defender and beat goalkeeper Josh Saunders. It was Adi’s 8th goal of the season, tying him for the league lead with Villa and Sebastian Giovinco of Toronto.

Portland, the defending MLS Cup champions, continues to struggle early in the season. The Timbers have lost three in a row and sit second from the bottom in the Western Conference with 12 points.

OBIT-GELLERMANN

Former Washington rower, announcer Gellermann dies at 79

SEATTLE (AP) — Former Washington rower and public address announcer Lou Gellermann has died. He was 79.

Washington announced Gellermann’s death on Sunday. The school said Gellermann died Friday.

Gellermann was part of the Washington varsity eight rowing team that beat the Leningrad Trud Club in Moscow in 1958. It was the first sporting event broadcast back to the United States from the Soviet Union. Gellermann also was an alternate for the 1960 Olympics in Rome.

After his rowing career ended, Gellermann worked for Washington and became the public address announcer at Husky Stadium in 1986, his baritone voice greeting the crowd with “Hello, Dawg fans,” at the start of every game. He retired from that position in 2007.