AP-NW–Sports Right Now/592
MARINERS-ROYALS
Salvador Perez sends Royals to 4-3 win over Mariners
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Salvador Perez ripped a double off the wall in the ninth inning, scoring Whit Merrifield and Jarrod Dyson and giving the Kansas City Royals a 4-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners Thursday night.
Merrifield doubled off Steve Cishek (2-5) leading off the inning, then Kendrys Morales got plunked on the foot. Dyson came in to pinch run and Eric Hosmer struck out before Perez dug in to face the Mariners’ closer
He lined a shot off the wall in center for his second career game-ending hit.
Brooks Pounders (1-0) tossed a scoreless inning for his first big league win, helping Kansas City bounce back after a dismal road trip, during which they were swept in Toronto and lost five of their last six games.
TRAIL BLAZERS-MOVES
AP source: Blazers sign center Festus Ezeli to 2-year deal.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A person familiar with the deal confirms that the Portland Trail Blazers have agreed to a two-year contract with free agent center Festus Ezeli worth $15 million.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday night because the deal hadn’t been announced by the team. It was first reported by Yahoo Sports.
His agent, David Mondress, did not immediately respond to messages left by the AP seeking comment.
Ezeli, a 6-foot-11 native of Nigeria, was drafted with the 30th pick in the 2012 draft by the Golden State Warriors. Last season he averaged 7.0 points and 5.6 rebounds in 64 games, including 13 starts.
Ezeli missed 31 games this season after having arthroscopic surgery in February to remove debris from his left knee.
The Blazers announced earlier Thursday they had acquired guard Shabazz Napier in a trade with the Orlando Magic for cash considerations.
SUNS-DRAFT PICKS
Suns sign all 3 draft picks; trio will play in Summer League
PHOENIX (AP) — The Phoenix Suns say they have signed all three of their draft picks and the trio will participate in the Las Vegas Summer League.
The three are No. 4 overall pick Dragan Bender of Croatia, No. 8 overall pick Marquese Chriss of Washington and second-round pick Tyler Ulis of Kentucky, the 34th choice overall.
The 7-foot-1 Bender and 6-10 Chriss are just 18 years old. Both will be groomed to play the “stretch-forward” role, a power forward who can shoot from the perimeter.
The 5-10 Ulis has a shot at being the Suns’ third point guard behind Eric Bledsoe and Brandon Knight.
ATH-US TRACK TRIALS
Double the fun? Merritt moves on in quest for Olympic double
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Justin Gatlin breezed through his 200-meter first-round race in the rain at U.S. Track and Field Trials, and LaShawn Merritt kept his chances alive for a 200-400 Olympics double with an easy win in his heat.
Gatlin’s time of 20.32 was good for second in his heat, behind Ameer Webb. Merritt ran the 200, a race he says he’s doing just for fun, in 20.09 — third-fastest time of the night on the rain-soaked track.
American Michael Johnson won the 200-400 double at the Olympics in 1996. Allyson Felix is going for the double on the women’s side. She starts 200 qualifying Friday.
Also making it through in Thursday’s men’s heats were Tyson Gay, Michael Rodgers, Wallace Spearmon and Walter Dix.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.
