AP-NW–Sports Right Now/610
Cole pitches 3-hitter, Pirates rout Mariners 10-1
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Gerrit Cole pitched a three-hitter for his first career complete game and slumping Andrew McCutchen had a three-run home run among his three hits as the Pittsburgh Pirates rolled to a 10-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night.
Making the 88th start of his four-year career, Cole (6-6) struck six and walked one while winning for the first time since May 20. He had gone six starts without a victory while also spending nearly five weeks on the disabled list.
McCutchen and Jung Ho Kang each had four RBIs to help the Pirates win for the sixth time in nine games. Jordy Mercer also had three of the Pirates’ 14 hits.
Kang also hit a sacrifice fly off James Paxton (3-5) in to finish a three-run third inning that broke a scoreless tie.
Paxton gave up three runs and six hits in five innings.
MLS-SOUNDERS-LODEIRO
Sounders add Uruguay star Lodeiro as designated player
SEATTLE (AP) — Nicolas Lodeiro, the attacking midfielder who just helped Argentina powerhouse Boca Juniors reach the semifinals of the prestigious Copa Libertadores club championship in South America, has signed with the Seattle Sounders as a designated player.
The 27-year-old Lodeiro also has 48 caps for the Uruguay national team, including this summer’s Copa America Centenario in the United States.
Success has been elusive for the Sounders this season, as they lag near the bottom of the standings with a 6-12-2 record. Wednesday’s move was their second major one in 24 hours.
On Tuesday, the team announced it had parted ways with coach Sigi Schmid, who had been in charge since Seattle joined MLS in 2009. Longtime assistant Brian Schmetzer was named the interim head coach and was delighted to add Lodeiro to the roster in just his second day on the job.
TRAIL BLAZERS-MCCOLLUM
Blazers formally sign CJ McCollum to contract extension
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The Portland Trail Blazers formally signed guard CJ McCollum to a four-year contract extension Wednesday.
The terms of the deal were not disclosed by the team, but a person familiar with it told The Associated Press on Monday that it is worth $106 million.
The extension, which takes effect after the upcoming season, will keep McCollum in Portland through the 2020-21 season.
McCollum was named the NBA’s 2016 Most Improved Player after averaging 20.8 points, 3.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists during the regular season. He raised his scoring average by more than 14 points over the previous season.
The 24-year-old guard became a starter in the Blazers’ backcourt with Damian Lillard last season after four of the team’s starters left in the offseason.
VIKINGS-WILLIAMS
5-time All-Pro Kevin Williams to retire with Vikings
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings have signed five-time All-Pro defensive tackle Kevin Williams to a one-day contract so he can formally retire as a member of the team.
The Vikings announced the news Wednesday. Williams will finalize his retirement Thursday after 13 seasons, including 11 with Minnesota.
Taken with the ninth pick in the 2003 draft by the Vikings from Oklahoma State, Williams is eighth in team history with 60 sacks. His 171 regular-season starts are the most all time by a Vikings defensive tackle, and his five interceptions are tied for the most by a defensive tackle in NFL history.
Williams played for NFC champion Seattle in 2014 and New Orleans in 2015. He was picked for six Pro Bowls.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.
