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AP-NW–Sports Right Now UPDATE/1268

MARINERS-ASTROS

Gomez, Valbuena help Astros to 9-8 win to sweep Mariners

HOUSTON (AP) — Carlos Gomez had three RBIs and finished a home run shy of the cycle and Luis Valbuena hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the eighth inning to help the Houston Astros sweep the Seattle Mariners with a 9-8 victory Wednesday night.

The game was tied at 7 with one on and one out when Valbuena launched a towering shot off Edwin Diaz (0-2) to the second deck in right field for his second straight game with a homer.

Ken Giles (1-3) struck out two in a scoreless eighth for the win. Luke Gregerson allowed an RBI double to Robinson Cano with one out in the ninth before striking out Dae-Ho Lee with the bases loaded for his 14th save.

Houston led by five runs early before Cano, Kyle Seager and Lee all homered in the fourth inning to cut the lead 5-4. The Astros stretched the lead to 7-4 with a two-run sixth before a three-run homer by Seth Smith tied it in the seventh.

MARINERS-INJURIES

Hernandez nears return, Walker goes to DL for Seattle

HOUSTON (AP) — The Seattle Mariners placed right-hander Taijuan Walker on the disabled list with a lingering problem in his right foot Wednesday, the same day injured ace Felix Hernandez took a big step toward his return from the DL.

Walker left his start on Tuesday night with tendinitis his right foot. It was the third start Walker exited early with the same problem. Manager Scott Servais said the Mariners aren’t sure exactly what the plan will be for Walker’s recovery, but that he will be visiting a specialist soon.

Hernandez, meanwhile, pitched a simulated game and will soon leave for a rehabilitation assignment. Hernandez has been on the disabled list since June 1 with a strained right calf. He threw 45 pitches to Shawn O’Malley before Wednesday night’s game.

STORM-LIBERTY

Charles helps Liberty beat Storm 78-74

NEW YORK (AP) — Tina Charles scored 18 points to help the New York Liberty beat the Seattle Storm 78-74 on Wednesday night, overcoming a strong effort by Breanna Stewart.

Tanisha Wright added a season-high 18 points for the Liberty (13-6), who have won three of their past four games.

New York led for the entire game, building their advantage to 18 in the first half before Seattle rallied behind Stewart, the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft this past April. She finished with 24 points and 16 rebounds.

The Storm (6-12) trailed by seven midway through the fourth before Stewart scored five straight to get them within 75-73 with 8.8 seconds left.

Sue Bird was fouled 4 seconds later and hit the first of two free throws. Her second bounced off the rim and New York grabbed the rebound.

Wright hit two free throws with 1.9 seconds remaining and Seattle turned the ball over on its last possession to seal the game.

SEAHAWKS-BROWNER-INVESTIGATION

Seahawks’ Browner under investigation in alleged assault

SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle Seahawks cornerback Brandon Browner is under investigation after being accused of punching his girlfriend’s father at a California home.

Pomona police Lieutenant Ron McDonald says officers were sent around 8 p.m. Tuesday to a home where the girlfriend — who has two children with Browner — was living.

McDonald says the woman’s 59-year-old father told police that Browner and his daughter argued by telephone and the father walked over to Browner’s house, about a block away.

The man said Browner met him in the driveway, they argued and the two-time Super Bowl champion punched him. He reportedly fell down and hurt his thumb but declined medical treatment.

McDonald says Browner drove away and police haven’t talked to him. Detectives will review the case and decide whether to send it to prosecutors.

Browner’s agent, Peter Schaffer, declined to comment Wednesday.

CFL-BC LIONS

CFL’s B.C. Lions off to best start since 2007

VANCOUVER – A willingness to work a little unpaid overtime is among the reasons why the B.C. Lions are a surprise early-season success, according to team veteran Ryan Phillips.

B.C. looks to start a season with three straight wins for the first time since 2007 when it hosts to the Toronto Argonauts Thursday. The Lions (2-0) throttled the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 28-3 on Friday, marking the 256th career victory for returning coach Wally Buono.

Upon landing in back Vancouver at 2:45 a.m. Pacific time on Saturday, Phillips and co-captain Rolly Lumbala told their teammates they were required to attend film study at noon, even though Buono had given them the day off.

All were present hours later, according to the two veterans, a sign the club is serious about ending the trend that has resulted in four straight seasons without a playoff triumph.

ATH-US TRACK TRIALS-HAMMER THROW

Campbell sets trials record, makes Olympics in hammer throw

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Amber Campbell qualified for the Olympics in hammer throw after a throw of 242 feet, 10 inches that set the record for the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials.

Joining her will be Gwen Berry and Deanna Price. Berry recently served a three-month doping ban for using a barred asthma medication.

Rudy Winkler won the men’s competition but neither he nor anyone else in the field reached an Olympic qualifying standard.

Hammer throw was held at Hayward Field for the first time — instead of a location outside the stadium — and was the only action going on Wednesday at trials.

The trials resume in full force Thursday, with Justin Gatlin running in 200-meter qualifying along with three women’s finals — in shot put, triple jump and steeplechase.

ATH-US TRACK TRIALS

Nothing new: Youth served at US Olympic track trials

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — The headlines say youth is being served on the U.S. Olympic track and field team.

The numbers say that’s nothing new.

With the second half of Olympic track trials set to start Thursday, 35 of the 50 athletes who already have guaranteed themselves trips to Rio de Janeiro will be going to their first Olympics. That sort of turnover is pretty much the norm.

Data supplied by USA Track and Field shows an average of 53 percent turnover from year to year on the most recent world championship and Olympic teams, which award the same number of spots through the same qualifying process. When the gap is two years, the turnover rate is 60 percent.

INTRUDER SHOT-FOOTBALL PLAYER

District Attorney: Ex-NFL player shot by homeowner justified

(Information in the following story is from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com)

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Officials say the shooting of a former Detroit Lions cornerback at a multimillion-dollar home in Portland, Oregon, was justified.

The Oregonian/OregonLive reports the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office said Wednesday a grand jury found homeowner Robert McCall’s use of force was justified.

Oregon law allows a person to use deadly physical force against someone trying to burglarize their home.

Authorities say Stanley Wilson the Second was found naked and wounded in a water fountain in a backyard June 22nd. The homeowner had shot him in the abdomen.

Wilson has been arraigned on burglary and trespassing charges and says he’s happy to be alive. He posted bail and his next court appearance was set for July 15th.

 

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.