NW Sports from the AP

Date: 09/03/2013 04:59 AM

AP-NW–SportsMinute/308
Here is the latest Washington, Oregon and Alaska sports news from The Associated Press

 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Felix Hernandez lost his fourth straight start and Will Smith struck out a career high eight to help the Kansas City Royals beat the Seattle Mariners 3-1 yesterday. The Mariners right-hander hasn’t lost four straight starts since 2008. Smith pitched 4 1-3 innings of scoreless relief to pick up the victory, allowing just one hit, after starter Danny Duffy failed to make it through four innings.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Seattle Mariners star Felix Hernandez left in the seventh inning of Monday’s game against the Kansas City Royals with an aching lower back. After Hernandez made a pitch to Alex Gordon, Mariners manager Eric Wedge and a trainer rushed to the mound. They had a brief conversation with Hernandez and he was replaced by Oliver Perez. The team says the injury was a cramp in his lower back.

RENTON, Wash. (AP) – Defensive end Chris Clemons is expected to return to practice on Wednesday for the first time since suffering a major knee injury in last January’s NFC playoffs. Seattle coach Pete Carroll said after practice yesterday that Clemons would be back on the field this week. Carroll said Clemons will not play in the season opener at Carolina, but his return to practice this week is why Seattle kept its sacks leader from the past two seasons on the active 53-man roster.

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) – Get a couple runners together in Juneau this time of year and you’ll inevitably hear one question: Are you running the Klondike? The 110-mile Klondike Trail of ’98 International Road Relay commemorates the 1898 Gold Rush stampede to the Yukon. It’s known for its challenging terrain, pretty scenery and party atmosphere once all 10 stages are run. The race starts Friday in Skagway. It finishes Saturday in Whitehorse, Canada.

 

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