Mariners News
The Mariners will be without one of their key spark plugs for the majority of the season. The team announced today that second baseman Ryan Bliss is expected to miss four to five months with his torn left biceps. The team says Bliss is getting surgery tomorrow and his full recovery could last into September. The 25-year-old suffered the injury on a swing in the second inning of Tuesday’s game against the Astros. He was batting .200 with a home run and 3 RBI in 11 games this season while making the first Opening Day start of his career.
Miles Mastrobuoni got the start at second base against the Astros yesterday. Manager Dan Wilson says the team is still weighing its options to replace Bliss at second, including Dylan Moore and the recently-recalled Leo Rivas.
Meanwhile, the Mariners could be changing up their starting rotation. The team optioned Luis F. Castillo to Triple-A Tacoma today after he made two starts in six days. Castillo, not to be confused with regular veteran starter Luis “The Rock” Castillo, gave up six earned runs in seven innings between his two starts. The M’s called him up last week to take the place of Emerson Hancock as they search for a replacement for George Kirby, who is still working his way back from shoulder inflammation. Today’s move could signal Hancock’s return as a big-league starter, though the open spot in the rotation won’t be up again until likely next Wednesday.
The Mariners have the day off today before opening a key series against the Texas Rangers at T-Mobile tomorrow night. The M’s are currently tied with the Athletics for last place in the AL West with a 5-8 record, while the Rangers lead the division at 9-4.
Kraken News
The Kraken are back tonight in the final road game of the season. Seattle’s in Sin City to face the Vegas Golden Knights in the last match of their five-game road trip. The Knights have already locked up a playoff spot and are closing in on clinching the Pacific Division.
The Kraken, meanwhile, have upped their play here in the home stretch of the season, winning three straight games for the first time since November. That streak was snapped Tuesday in a blowout loss to Utah, but the Kraken have gotten plenty of production from key players. Jared McCann has led the way with seven points over their last four games. He’ll look to keep it up in tonight’s match against Vegas. Coverage begins at 6:30 and puck drops at 7 on KPUG.
WWU Vikings News
And a decades-long track record at Western Washington University has finally been broken. Junior Maurice Woodring posted a time of 51.69 seconds to win the 400 meter hurdles last Saturday. It broke the longest-standing men’s track and field record at the school, which was made by Western Athletics Hall of Famer Mike Vorce 52 years ago. The margin of victory was small as can be, as Woodring beat Vorce’s record by just five-hundredths of a second. Woodring’s time currently ranks him at seventh in the nation for D-II.