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Northwest Sports Update: M’s split opening series, Kraken close in on final playoff spot, Final Four set and more

Northwest Sports Update: M’s split opening series, Kraken close in on final playoff spot, Final Four set and more

AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson Photo: Associated Press


Mariners News

The Mariners are welcoming the Bronx Bombers into town on the heels of salvaging a split in their opening series of the season.

The M’s shut out the Cleveland Guardians 8-0 last night behind a career outing from Emerson Hancock. He tossed six no-hit innings and struck out nine before Cooper Criswell followed with three more innings of shutout ball.

They got plenty of support at the plate, with Brendan Donovan hitting his second homer of the season and Randy Arozarena knocking in another pair of runs.

After splitting their four-game series with Cleveland, the Mariners will now host the New York Yankees. The Yankees are coming off a sweep of the San Francisco Giants where they allowed just a single run over three games.

Luis Castillo is making his season debut on the mound tonight as the M’s look to bob their head above .500. Coverage begins at 5:30 and first pitch is at 6:40 on KPUG.

Meanwhile, Mariners games are coming to a TV station near you.

King5 announced today that it’s partnering with the team to broadcast 10 regular season games for free this season.

The first game will take place on Friday, April 10 when they host their rival Houston Astros. The games will feature the usual Mariners’ broadcasting crew, including Aaron Goldsmith, Angie Mentink and Ryan Rowland-Smith.

Kraken/Torrent News

The Kraken were able to earn a point over the weekend even if they came out on the losing end.

Seattle fell to the Buffalo Sabres 3-2 in shootouts on Saturday. The Kraken took an early 2-0 lead off goals from Chandler Stephenson and Bobby McMann before the Sabres came roaring back to end their three-game winless skid.

Luckily for Seattle, the Nashville Predators lost back-to-back games on Saturday and Sunday, keeping the Kraken within just two points of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference with 10 games to go in the regular season.

They’ll round out their road trip up north tomorrow night against the Edmonton Oilers. Coverage begins at 5:30 and puck drops at 6 on KGMI.

Meanwhile, the Torrent had their team captain’s return spoiled last night. They fell to the Ottawa Charge 2-0 on Hilary Knight’s first game back since getting injured at the Olympics

The Torrent came close to selling out Climate Pledge in Knight’s return from Milan, where she set U.S. Olympic records for all-time goals and points.

March Madness News

The Final Four is set in the men’s tournament after a wild weekend of hoops.

UConn freshman Braylon Mullins hit a go-ahead 35-footer just before the buzzer yesterday to lead the Huskies over Duke. It capped off an improbable rally after UConn trailed by 19 points in the first half.

The 2nd-seeded Huskies advance to face 3rd-seeded Illinois in the Final Four after the Fighting Illini dusted Iowa on Saturday.

On the other side of the bracket, it will be #1 seeds Arizona and Michigan facing off after each notched definitive wins in their Elite 8 matchups.

Both Final Four games will be played in Indianapolis on Saturday, with the championship game coming next Monday.

Meanwhile, the Final Four is almost set in the women’s tournament.

#1 seeds UConn and UCLA each won yesterday to book their tickets to Phoenix. Today, Texas is playing Michigan and South Carolina is facing TCU.

NBA News

The Portland Trail Blazers are officially under new ownership.

The NBA announced today that the board of governors voted to approve the Blazers’ sale to a group led by Dallas businessman Tom Dundon. The sale is valued at about $4.25 billion and will mark the first time in nearly 40 years that the team has not been owned by Paul Allen or his sister, Jody.

It comes weeks after the Allen estate announced that it began the formal process of selling the Seahawks in accordance with Allen’s will.

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