AP-NW–Sports Right Now/668
INDIANS-MARINERS
Naquin’s 2-run HR lifts Indians past M’s 5-3
SEATTLE (AP) — Tyler Naquin golfed a two-run home run off reliever Joaquin Benoit in the eighth inning to lift the Cleveland Indians to a 5-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Thursday night.
Naquin managed to coax just enough carry out of a changeup low and out of the strike zone from Benoit to carry the wall in right field and give the Indians a 4-2 lead.
Dan Otero (1-0) picked up the victory in relief of starter Josh Tomlin. Cody Allen worked out of two jams to earn his 13th save of the season.
Benoit (1-1) walked Rajai Davis with one out in the eighth inning before Naquin’s blast gave Cleveland the lead. A throwing error by Benoit allowed Chris Gimenez to reach base and ultimately score on a single by Jason Kipnis to increase the lead to 5-2.
MEXICO-JAMAICA
Mexico defeats Jamaica 2-0 in front of Pasadena crowd
PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — Javier Hernandez scored on a first-half header, and Mexico survived a tense second half to advance to the Copa America quarterfinals Thursday night with a 2-0 victory over Jamaica.
Substitute Oribe Peralta scored in the 81st minute and goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa made several big stops in El Tri’s 11th consecutive win in international play, including its first two Copa America games.
Mexico advanced from its group along with surprising Venezuela, which beat Uruguay earlier. Mexico and Venezuela will meet Monday in Houston to determine the higher seed in knockout play.
Chicharito put Mexico ahead in the 18th minute with an exceptional header, outjumping Wes Morgan and setting off a seismic celebration at a Rose Bowl packed with Mexican fans for the rematch of last year’s Gold Cup final.
WOMEN’S PGA
Park becomes Hall of Fame eligible, shoots 72 in Women’s PGA
SAMMAMISH, Wash. (AP) — Inbee Park became eligible for the LPGA Hall of Fame on Thursday, completing the final requirement of 10 years on the tour in the first round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
The 27-year-old South Korean player is the youngest women to reach eligibility for the Hall of Fame, accomplishing the feat with the first round of her 10th event of the season. She has won seven major titles — including the last three Women’s PGAs — and has 17 LPGA Tour victories.
Dealing with inflammation in the tendon and ligaments of her left thumb, Park closed with a bogey for a 1-over 72. She celebrated with family, Hall of Famers, fellow player and tour officials as she walked off the green.
Park trailed first-round leader Brooke Henderson by five shots. Playing early Thursday, the 18-year-old Henderson made a hole-in-one on her fourth hole and birdied the final two holes for a 4-under 67.
NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
Arkansas women take the team lead at the NCAA championships
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Alexis Weeks and Dominique Scott helped the Arkansas women make a big statement Thursday as the Razorbacks chase an NCAA outdoor track and field team title at Hayward Field.
Weeks won the pole vault at 14 feet, 9 inches after also taking the NCAA indoor title. The freshman cleared more heights than any other competitor. Louisiana-Lafayette’s Morgann Leleux, the 2012 runner-up, and Miami’s Alysha Newman tied for second at 14-1¼.
Scott, a senior, won the 10,000 meters in 32 minutes, 35.69 seconds. The runner-up in 2015, Scott pulled away from the field with about three laps remaining to win.
Those victories helped Arkansas to 26 first-day points. Texas A and M is second at 16 and Georgia third at 13.
Texas A and M’s Maggie Malone set an NCAA record in the javelin with a fifth-round toss of 204-9, besting the mark of 202-10 by Indiana’s Irina Kharun in 2004.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.
