AP-NW–Sports Right Now/1310
TIGERS-MARINERS
Iwakuma tosses gem; Mariners beat Fulmer, Tigers 3-0
SEATTLE (AP) — Hisashi Iwakuma threw seven shutout innings for his seventh win in his last eight starts, Mike Zunino and Kyle Seager both had RBI singles off Michael Fulmer in the second inning and the Seattle Mariners beat the Detroit Tigers 3-0 on Monday night in the opener of a key three-game series.
Seattle won its fourth straight and moved within 2 1/2 games of Detroit and Boston for the second wild card in the American League thanks to another gem from Iwakuma. The right-hander allowed five hits and struck out eight, running his streak of scoreless innings at Safeco Field to 21 1/3.
In his only other start this season against Detroit in June, Iwakuma (13-7) failed to make it through the fifth inning, giving up five runs on 11 hits.
Fulmer (9-3) suffered his first loss since June 17 — also the last time the Tigers lost when he started.
Rookie Edwin Diaz pitched the ninth for his fifth save.
MARINERS MOVES
Seattle options struggling starter Taijuan Walker to minors
SEATTLE (AP) — Struggling starter Taijuan Walker has been optioned to the minors by the Seattle Mariners in a move the club hopes will jump start his sluggish performances on the mound.
The Mariners made the surprising move Monday to open a spot on the 25-man roster for recently acquired reliever Arquimedes Caminero.
Walker made his first start in a month last Saturday but allowed six runs in four innings against the Angels. Walker missed most of July because of tendinitis in his right foot and made only one rehab start in the minors before rejoining the Mariners. He is 4-7 with a 4.10 ERA.
Seattle manager Scott Servais said the club is sending a message to Walker with the move, saying that with the Mariners in the wild card chase they need more consistency from the young right-hander. Servais said Ariel Miranda will take Walker’s spot in the rotation and pitch this weekend in Oakland.
PAC-12 PREVIEW
With no clear favorite, Pac-12 promises memorable fall race
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Stanford coach David Shaw only needed a few words to epitomize why his Cardinal are the Pac-12 football favorites this fall — and also why that distinction doesn’t mean much.
He told reporters the team has a chance to be good but is also “in flux”
The West Coast’s top league is wide open heading into the fall, with a half-dozen legitimate title contenders and no overwhelming favorite. Every team has major questions at key positions, but nobody seems better prepared to answer them than the ever-resourceful Cardinal.
Stanford is the defending champion of the conference and the Rose Bowl, led by running back Christian McCaffrey.
The Cardinal also must fight through a brutal schedule while fending off challenges from Oregon and Washington, who both could contend with just a few breaks. The Huskies are the popular pick to surge in their third season under Chris Petersen, while the Ducks always have enough talent despite no clear starting quarterback.
ICHIRO-3000
Ichiro Suzuki donates 3,000-hit souvenirs to Hall of Fame
MIAMI (AP) — Ichiro Suzuki has donated to the Hall of Fame some of the gear he wore when he collected his 3,000th career hit, including his Miami Marlins jersey, a pair of cleats, his arm guard and batting gloves.
The Suzuki collection at the Hall of Fame numbered more than two dozen items even before Sunday’s triple at Colorado, which made him the first Japanese player to reach 3,000 hits. When he and his Miami Marlins teammates returned to Marlins Park to begin a homestand last night, Hall of Fame president Jeff Idelson was there to collect additional Suzuki souvenirs.
The former Seattle Mariners star, a baseball history buff, has visited Cooperstown six times.
RIVER CATS-RAINIERS
Gaviglio carries Tacoma to 4-0 win over Sacramento
TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — Sam Gaviglio tossed a four-hit shutout, leading the Tacoma Rainiers to a 4-0 win over the Sacramento River Cats on Monday.
Tacoma starter Gaviglio (2-0) picked up the win after allowing just four hits over nine scoreless innings. Opposing starter Joan Gregorio (3-7) took the tough loss in the Pacific Coast League game after allowing two runs and four hits over 5 2/3 innings.
SPOKANE INDIANS-VOLCANOES
Perez’s home run leads Spokane over Salem-Keizer in 11 innings
KEIZER, Ore. (AP) — Brallan Perez hit a solo home run in the top of the 11th inning to lead the Spokane Indians to a 5-4 win over the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes on Monday.
Salem-Keizer had a runner on first in the bottom of the 11th, but Zack Bowers struck out to end the game.
Steven Bruce (1-0) got the win with three innings of scoreless, one-hit relief while Rayan Hernandez (0-3) took the loss in the Northwest League game.
CANADIANS-EMERALDS
Payne hits walk-off double, Eugene beats Vancouver 4-3
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Tyler Payne had a walk-off double with two outs in the ninth inning, as the Eugene Emeralds defeated the Vancouver Canadians 4-3 on Monday.
Sam Tidaback scored the game-winning run after he hit a single with two outs.
The Canadians tied the game 3-3 in the top of the ninth when Cavan Biggio and Nash Knight scored on an error.
Reliever Dakota Mekkes (1-1) went two innings, allowing two runs and two hits while striking out four to get the win. Nick Hartman (2-2) allowed one run and got two outs in the Northwest League game.
Robert Garcia doubled and singled twice in the win. Yeiler Peguero doubled and singled twice, driving home two runs.
The five extra-base hits for Eugene included a season-high five doubles.
HOPS-AQUASOX
Morales, Filia lead the way for Everett
EVERETT, Wash. (AP) — Johmbeyker Morales singled three times, driving home two runs as the Everett AquaSox defeated the Hillsboro Hops 7-3 on Monday.
Eric Filia doubled and singled with two runs for Everett.
Hillsboro grabbed a 3-1 lead in the third after Jason Morozowski hit a three-run home run.
The AquaSox tied the game in the fourth inning when Austin Grebeck hit a two-run single.
The AquaSox took the lead for good in the fifth when Morales hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Filia.
Hillsboro missed a scoring opportunity in the seventh, when Josh Anderson struck out with the bases loaded to end the inning.
Jeffeson Medina (1-0) got the win with three innings of scoreless, three-hit relief while Hillsboro starter Tyler Mark (4-3) took the loss in the Northwest League game. Michael Koval pitched two scoreless innings for his second save of the season.
Morozowski homered and singled twice, driving in three runs for the Hops.
HAWKS-DUST DEVILS
Orris’ single leads Boise to 4-1 win over Tri-City
PASCO, Wash. (AP) — Tyler Orris hit a run-scoring single in the sixth inning, leading the Boise Hawks to a 4-1 win over the Tri-City Dust Devils on Monday.
The single by Orris, part of a two-run inning, gave the Hawks a 2-1 lead before Garrett Hampson hit an RBI single later in the inning.
The Hawks tacked on another run in the ninth when Willie Abreu scored on a wild pitch.
Tri-City missed a scoring opportunity in the sixth, when Luis Asuncion grounded out with the bases loaded to end the inning.
Starter Breiling Eusebio (1-4) got the win while Evan Miller (1-3) took the loss in relief in the Northwest League game. Justin Lawrence pitched two scoreless innings for his fifth save of the season.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.