Mariners News

The Mariners are playing the Rangers tonight in Game 2 of their four-game series. The new-look M’s offense hammered Texas last night 6-0 behind six shutout innings from George Kirby.

Cal Raleigh hit his major league-leading 42nd homer of the season and Cole Young added a mammoth 470-foot bomb in the win. Eugenio Suarez also hit a double and scored a run in his first game back as a Mariner. Ben Williamson was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma to make room for Geno.

The bad news coming out of yesterday’s game is that reliever Trent Thornton was carted off the field in the ninth inning after falling on his way to cover first base. The Mariners placed him on the 15-day injured list today with a torn left Achilles tendon, effectively ending his season.

The M’s will look to take another pivotal division game against the Rangers tonight with Logan Gilbert on the mound. Coverage begins at 6:00 and first pitch is at 7:10 on KPUG.

Mariners fans just received long-awaited injury updates on two key players.

President of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto says starting pitcher Bryce Miller is loosely scheduled to make his first rehab appearance tonight. Miller has been on the injured list since June 10 with inflammation and a bone spit in his right elbow.

There’s still no date for his expected return to the majors, but it will likely be at some point in August.

Meanwhile, outfielder Victor Robles took batting practice on Wednesday for the first time since getting injured. He’s been out since early April after fracturing his shoulder during a highlight-reel catch.

Dipoto says Robles could end up making his return in September, but any setback between now and then would likely end his season.

Bells News

The Bells are back in action tonight for their penultimate regular season series of the year.

They’re in Wenatchee for the start of a three-game series against their North Division rival AppleSox.

The Bells are coming off a tight series loss at home to the Kelowna Falcons where they fumbled a big lead late in their rubber match on Wednesday.

While the Bells have clinched home field advantage for their first playoff series next weekend, they still need to win the North Division overall season standings to host the Divisional Championship if they make it that far.

They currently trail the first-place Edmonton Riverhawks by half a game.

Tonight’s game against Wenatchee gets underway at 6:35.

The Bells return home on Monday for the start of their final regular season series.

Sounders News

The Sounders blanked Cruz Azul 7-0 yesterday in their opening match of the Leagues Cup tournament.

It was a statement win over a Cruz Azul club that won the CONCACAF Champions Cup earlier this year.

The Sounders are on a seven-game unbeaten streak since bowing out of the FIFA Club World Cup.

They’ll continue Phase One play of the tournament against Mexico’s Santos Laguna at Lumen Field on Sunday.

NFL News

The Los Angeles Chargers spanked the Detroit Lions 34-7 last night in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game.

LA scored a touchdown less than three minutes into the game and never looked back to open the NFL preseason with a win.

The preseason continues with three more games next Thursday, including Pete Carroll’s return to Seattle when the Seahawks host the Raiders in the nightcap.

Youth Sports News

Another local little league team is making headlines.

The Whatcom Prep 14U Babe Ruth team earned a finalist spot at regionals last weekend and has been invited to represent the Pacific Northwest in the Babe Ruth World Series. The tournament runs from Aug. 7 through the 17th in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

They’re raising $20,000 to cover expenses for players to get there. You can use this link to donate to the team.

The team is also having a fundraiser event tomorrow (Saturday) with a car wash at Ferndale Grocery Outlet.