Mariners News
The Mariners are looking to close out their homestand on a high note this weekend.
They’re opening a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays tonight.
The Mariners are coming off a series loss to the Detroit Tigers where they were outscored 21-4, including their most lopsided loss of the season yesterday. The 11-0 defeat marked the 11th time they’ve been shut out this year, which is tied for most in the MLB.
They now sit three games behind first place in the American League West entering this series against the AL-leading Rays.
Dan Wilson is back in the dugout after serving a one game suspension for their scrum with the Tigers on Wednesday, while Gabe Speier is still appealing his three-game ban.
Logan Gilbert is on the mound for tonight’s opener. Coverage begins at 5:30 and first pitch is at 6:40 on KPUG.
After the game, the Mariners will hold an alumni home run derby featuring Ichiro, Mike Cameron and other former Seattle sluggers. Ken Griffey Jr. will be the commissioner of the event, with Jay Buhner and Nelson Cruz set to serve as coaches.
It will jumpstart a weekend of festivities as the team celebrates their 50th season.
The stars will be out at T-Mobile Park tomorrow, as the team unveils their Top 50 greatest Mariners players of all time as chosen by fans, media and staff during a special ceremony before Saturday’s game.
Speaking of former Mariners standouts, a fan favorite pitcher made his first outing last night since getting dealt from Seattle at the trade deadline.
Luis Castillo gave up five runs over four innings in his starting debut for the White Sox. Chicago ultimately fell to the Boston Red Sox 12-11 in a 13-inning thriller.
Meanwhile, Double-A catcher Boston Smith has already homered twice in three games after getting sent from the White Sox to the Mariners’ farm system in the Castillo trade.
In other former Mariner news, the Yankees have reportedly signed Mitch Garver to a minor league deal.
Bells News
The Bells are playing their first game of the playoffs tonight.
The defending West Coast League champs are in Nanaimo for the first of a best-of-three series against the NightOwls.
Bellingham finished the regular season with a 36-18 record, which ranked second in the league and was their second-most wins in program history. They enter the postseason with a full head of steam, having won 10 of their last 11.
This is the NighOwls’ first playoff appearance in team history. The teams split six meetings during the regular season.
The Bells are hosting a watch party for tonight’s game at Larabee Lager starting at 6:00 before the 6:35 first pitch. You can also livestream the game for free on YouTube.
Game 2 takes place at Joe Martin Field Saturday night, also at 6:35. If necessary, Game 3 would take place at 1:35 on Sunday in Bellingham.
WWU Vikings News
Western’s women’s soccer team is earning nationwide respect ahead of the season.
The Vikings were ranked 18th in the country in the D-II preseason coaches poll. Simon Fraser came in at #24, joining them as the only two GNAC teams to make the rankings.
Western finished 14-1-7 last year and won their second straight regular season GNAC title. They went on to get upset in a PK shootout loss in their first match of the national tournament.
This year’s team features 20 returning letterwinners, with a pair of local freshmen joining the team in Sehome’s Keira Reeves and Lynden Christian’s Kayla Yun.
The Viks play their first preseason game next Thursday before opening their season at home on August 27.
