AP-NW–Sports Right Now/918
SEAHAWKS-CARROLL
Seattle agrees to contract extension with coach Pete Carroll
RENTON, Wash. (AP) — The Seattle Seahawks and coach Pete Carroll have agreed on a contract extension, keeping the oldest head coach in the NFL locked up beyond the 2016 season.
Team owner Paul Allen tweeted confirmation of Carroll’s deal on Tuesday.
The move with the 64-year-old Carroll came just two days after the team locked up general manager John Schneider to a contract extension.
Both Carroll’s and Schneider’s current deals were set to expire after the 2016 season, but the tandem pairing that has brought the Seahawks unrivaled success in their franchise history will be teamed together for another few seasons.
Carroll is 60-36 in the regular season since becoming Seattle’s head coach in 2010. He’s taken the Seahawks to the playoffs in five of six seasons, including two Super Bowl appearances and the only title in franchise history.
Carroll’s deal was first reported by ESPN and said the extension goes through the 2019 season.
MARINERS-PIRATES
Hernandez overcomes shaky start, Mariners top Pirates 7-4
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Felix Hernandez settled down after a shaky start and picked up his first victory in more than two months when the Seattle Mariners topped the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-4 on Tuesday night.
Hernandez (5-4) gave up four runs — all in the first two innings — and struck out three in six innings in his first win since May 21. Steve Cishek worked a perfect ninth for his 24th save.
Kyle Seager’s three hits for Seattle included his 20th home run, and Franklin Gutierrez added his 10th off Francisco Liriano (6-10).
Liriano hit his second career home run, a 416-foot shot to center off Hernandez in the second inning, but saw his mild resurgence this month take a significant step back. Liriano surrendered seven runs in just 3 1/3 innings as his ERA jumped to 5.38.
BLUE JAYS-MARINERS TRADE
Bullpen swap: Blue Jays send Storen to Mariners for Benoit
TORONTO (AP) — Looking to better their bullpen, the Toronto Blue Jays have acquired Joaquin Benoit from the Seattle Mariners for fellow right-hander Drew Storen and cash in a swap of struggling relievers.
The busy Blue Jays announced the trade Tuesday night, minutes after rallying to beat San Diego 7-6 in 12 innings. It was their second deal of the day: Hours earlier, Toronto obtained outfielder Melvin Upton Jr. and cash from the Padres for minor league right-hander Hansel Rodriguez.
Benoit, who turned 39 on Tuesday, is 1-1 with a 5.18 ERA in 26 games this season.
The 28-year-old Storen was designated for assignment Sunday by Toronto after going 1-3 with three saves and a 6.21 ERA in 38 appearances.
Toronto is two games behind first-place Baltimore in the AL East and holds the league’s top wild-card spot.
TRAIL BLAZERS-HARKLESS
Blazers and forward Harkless agree to four-year deal
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The Portland Trail Blazers have agreed to a four-year deal with restricted free agent Maurice Harkless.
The $40 million deal was first reported by Yahoo Sports. Harkless confirmed it on Twitter, posting: “4moe’ ….. God is so good. Thank you (hashtag) ripcity.”
The Blazers acquired Harkless in a trade with the Orlando Magic and he averaged 6.3 points and 3.6 rebounds in 78 games overall last season. He filled a key role late in the regular season when Meyers Leonard injured his shoulder, and averaged 12 points and 6.5 rebounds over the final 11 games.
Harkless, who played one season at St. Johns, was the 15th overall pick in the 2012 draft by Philadelphia. He was traded to Orlando before the 2012-13 season in the same deal that sent Dwight Howard to the Lakers.
MLS-SOUNDERS-SCHMID
Seattle Sounders part ways with coach Sigi Schmid
SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Sounders and coach Sigi Schmid are parting ways after eight years.
The team announced Tuesday that Schmid’s run as the only coach in the franchise’s MLS era has come to an end. Longtime Sounders assistant Brian Schmetzer is immediately taking over as interim head coach.
Schmid joined the Sounders in 2008 after winning an MLS Cup title with the Columbus Crew. He also won an MLS title with the LA Galaxy in 2002.
A two-time MLS Coach of the Year and a National Soccer Hall of Fame inductee, Schmid has amassed 228 regular-season victories to rank first in MLS history. Schmid’s 26 postseason wins in MLS put him behind only LA’s Bruce Arena (30).
He was 115-79-56 with the Sounders and led Seattle to seven consecutive MLS Cup playoff appearances.
CHIHUAHUAS-RAINIERS
Pimentel leads El Paso to 6-0 win over Tacoma
TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — Carlos Pimentel allowed just one hit over six innings, leading the El Paso Chihuahuas over the Tacoma Rainiers in a 6-0 win on Tuesday.
Pimentel (10-5) struck out four and walked two to pick up the win.
El Paso scored four runs in the second, including a two-run home run by Diego Goris. The Chihuahuas scored again in the eighth inning, when Hector Sanchez hit a two-run double.
Jarrett Grube (1-2) went six innings, allowing four runs and five hits. He also struck out six and walked two. Michael Dimock pitched three scoreless innings for his third save of the season.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.
