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This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 12 SEATTLE (AP) — Julio Rodríguez homered for the second day in a row, Cal Raleigh had a two-run triple in the fifth inning and the Seattle Mariners beat the Oakland Athletics 8-6 Thursday night. Seattle has won 17 of 19 games against Oakland and earned its third straight victory overall to improve to 37-41. Seattle has also won 8 of 10. “A good way to start the series,” Seattle manager Scott Servais said. “Need to keep it rolling. We’re not used to giving up six runs and winning.” Oakland finished the month of June with the worst record in baseball at 5-21. The A’s recalled Adrian Martinez from Triple-A Las Vegas for his second career start, and he allowed seven runs and seven hits over 4 2/3 innings. “Overall I thought he threw strikes, you know, it was just one pitch away from getting out of that fifth inning,” … [Read more...] about Rodriguez homers, Mariners beat Athletics 8-6

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 6 A look at what's happening around baseball Tuesday: ___ PITCH OUT Twins pitching coach Wes Johnson is serving his final days with Minnesota before leaving for the same job with LSU. His departure, first reported Sunday night, blindsided Twins fans, and Johnson called it “the toughest thing I’ve ever done.” He’ll stay with the AL Central-leading Twins through the end of a series at Cleveland on Thursday, then return to his college roots — he previously worked at Arkansas, Mississippi State, Dallas Baptist and Central Arkansas Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said the team is having ongoing discussions about how to replace Johnson for the remainder of this season — and beyond. Johnson joined the Twins in 2019 after coaching at Arkansas, and he is believed to be the first college pitching coach to jump directly to the major leagues. “Knowing … [Read more...] about LEADING OFF: Twins lose pitching coach, brawl bans announced

Los Angeles Lakers guard Russell Westbrook is exercising his option to play for $47.1 million next season, a person with direct knowledge of the decision said Tuesday. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because neither Westbrook — a past NBA MVP and one of the league’s top 75 all-time players — nor the Lakers revealed the decision publicly. ESPN first reported Westbrook’s decision. It certainly was not a surprise, considering Westbrook would not have commanded anywhere near $47.1 million for this coming season had he chosen to become a free agent. He’ll turn 34 next season, his 15th in the NBA. Westbrook had until Wednesday to make up his mind on the option, which will make this the fifth and final season of a $207 million contract he signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder. The nine-time All-Star has been well-traveled since — he was traded to Houston in 2019, traded to Washington in 2020 and was moved to the Lakers in 2021. That created what … [Read more...] about AP source: Westbrook exercises $47M option with Lakers

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 9 SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Gary Payton II is returning to his Pacific Northwest roots, agreeing to a $28 million, three-year contract with the Portland Trail Blazers. A person with direct knowledge of the deal confirmed on Friday that Payton would depart the NBA champion Golden State Warriors to join a backcourt alongside Damian Lillard and lottery pick Shaedon Sharpe, selected with the seventh overall pick in last Thursday's draft. When the season ended, longtime journeyman Payton acknowledged he couldn't wait to finally get his payday in free agency. A G Leaguer for so long, Payton was cut before the season began and he was ready to take a video job with the organization before being re-signed. Payton said he couldn't wait “to just relax and take a breath.” “It's just relief just after everything on the journey, just everything I've been … [Read more...] about AP source: Payton II to join Blazers on $28M, 3-year deal

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 5 Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf is getting a chilly reception in Oregon, its first stop in the United States. This coming week, the series, which is paying enormous signing fees for players like Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson, descends on Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in tiny North Plains, nestled in the rolling hills west of Portland. But the North Plains mayor, as well as officials from surrounding cities, have written the club's owner, Escalante Golf, with concerns. Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden is speaking out against the tournament, and some members of the pricy club also are uncomfortable with the situation. Opponents point to Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses, including the murder of U.S.-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi. But in Oregon, there also is anger over the hit-and-run death of 15-year-old Fallon Smart in 2016. Saudi student Abdulrahman Sameer Noorah was facing a … [Read more...] about LIV Golf heads to Oregon, where local officials aren’t happy

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 9 SEATTLE (AP) — Tyler Wells pitched five nearly perfect innings, Adley Rutschman drove one of Baltimore’s five home runs and the Orioles three-hit the Seattle Mariners in a 9-2 victory Monday night. Wells (6-4) was perfect until allowing Cal Raleigh’s homer with two outs in the fifth inning. He retired the next batter before handing off to the bullpen, finishing with three strikeouts on 63 pitches. Joey Krehbiel and Keegan Akin combined to close out Baltimore’s gem. Akin got his first save with 3 1/3 scoreless innings. “Just the ability to hit spots, just trying to attack the zone, it kind of worked out for me” Wells said. “It felt like I had a good fastball tonight, it’s the best that it’s felt in a while." Mariners starter George Kirby (2-3) allowed seven runs on nine hits, including four homers, over four innings. Rutschman, a touted … [Read more...] about Wells, Rutschman help Orioles dominate Mariners 9-2

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 6 A look at what's happening around baseball today: ___ PITCH OUT Twins pitching coach Wes Johnson is serving his final days with Minnesota before leaving for the same job with LSU. His departure, first reported Sunday night, blindsided Twins fans, and Johnson called it “the toughest thing I’ve ever done.” He’ll stay with the AL Central-leading Twins through the end of a series at Cleveland on Thursday, then return to his college roots — he previously worked at Arkansas, Mississippi State, Dallas Baptist and Central Arkansas Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said the team is having ongoing discussions about how to replace Johnson for the remainder of this season — and beyond. Johnson joined the Twins in 2019 after coaching at Arkansas, and he is believed to be the first college pitching coach to jump directly to the major leagues. “Knowing … [Read more...] about LEADING OFF: Twins in Cleveland for 2, brawl bans announced

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 5 NORTH PLAINS, Ore. (AP) — The Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf tour's second event teed off Thursday, angering a group of families who lost loved ones on Sept. 11 and want the Saudi government held to account for the terrorist attacks. About 10 family members and survivors spoke at a small park honoring veterans in tiny North Plains, home to Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club. “This event is nothing more than a group of very talented athletes who appear to have turned their backs on the crime of murder,” said survivor Tim Frolich, who was injured in the collapse of the World Trade Center towers. The LIV Golf series, funded by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, was making its first stop on American soil this week after a debut this month outside of London. Carlos Ortiz took the lead Thursday with a 5-under 67. Dustin Johnson, the 2020 Masters winner, was a shot back. Pat Perez, … [Read more...] about LIV tees off in Oregon amid criticism over Saudi funding

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 6 TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — If this is Ondrej Palat’s final playoff run with the Tampa Bay Lightning, he’s certainly making it count. Soon he could be counting in the tens of millions of dollars on a new contract. A pending free agent with a knack for scoring big goals to go along with elite defensive prowess, Palat scored another big goal Friday night to keep the two-time defending champion Lightning alive in the Stanley Cup Final against the Colorado Avalanche. He leads the NHL with eight game-winning goals sine the start of the 2020 playoffs. “He’s a special kid and a special player,” coach Jon Cooper said. “He’s a great complement to skill players, to checkers — wherever you need him. He just does his job, and he gets rewarded for it because of his effort. And everybody in that room knows how much Palat has brought to this organization.” Cooper basically wrote the … [Read more...] about Palat is money for Lightning, could cash in as free agent

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 23 TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Lightning didn’t relinquish their grip on the Stanley Cup without a fight. Andrei Vasilevskiy rejected shot after shot, keeping the two-time defending champions’ quest for a threepeat alive. In the end, another superb performance by the star goaltender wasn’t enough to keep the Colorado Avalanche from wresting the title away. “It definitely stings," defenseman Ryan MacDonagh said. The Lightning were 3-0 when facing possible elimination before Sunday night’s 2-1 loss in Game 6 stopped their bid to become the first team to win three consecutive Stanley Cup championships since the New York Islanders captured four in a row from 1980-83. Steven Stamkos got them off to a fast start, scoring from in front of Darcy Kuemper less than … [Read more...] about Defending champion Lightning’s bid for 3-peat falls short