BLUE JAYS-MARINERS
Happ gets 20th win, Jays take over 1st AL wild-card spot
SEATTLE (AP) — J.A. Happ became the major leagues’ second 20-game winner and Russell Martin and Michael Saunders each hit a two-run homer, lifting the Toronto Blue Jays over the Seattle Mariners 10-2 on Tuesday night to move into first in the AL wild-card race.
Toronto took the lead with an eight-run fourth inning and moved a game ahead of Baltimore. Detroit remained 2 1/2 games behind the Blue Jays.
Seattle lost for the fourth time in five games to fall four games behind Toronto.
Happ (20-4) allowed two runs, six hits and a walk over five innings, striking out eight while winning for the 14th time in his last 15 decisions. He’s the first Toronto pitcher to reach 20 wins since Roy Halladay in 2008.
Martin and Saunders each homered off Hisashi Iwakuma (16-12) during the Blue Jays’ big inning.
DUCKS DISARRAY
Oregon Ducks face adversity going into Pac-12 play
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — A disappointing loss at Nebraska, questions about those two-point conversions and injuries to key players have the Oregon Ducks facing adversity with Pac-12 play at hand.
Oregon fell out of The Associated Press Top 25 following the 35-32 loss at Memorial Stadium on Saturday. Now 2-1, the Ducks host Colorado (2-1) in their Pac-12 opener this weekend.
The loss was costly. It was revealed Monday that receiver and Olympic hurdler Devon Allen had suffered a season-ending injury to his left knee. The team also says left tackle Tyrell Crosby is out for the season because of a broken foot that required surgery.
With Allen’s injury, the Ducks lose tremendous speed at receiver. The junior won the NCAA championship in the 110-meter hurdles then earned a spot in the Rio Games at the Olympic Trials in Eugene this July. He finished fifth in Rio last month.
WNBA PLAYOFFS
WNBA playoffs open
UNDATED (AP) — The WNBA playoffs open tonight with a pair of games showcasing the league’s revamped playoff format.
First up will be the single elimination games as fifth-seeded Indiana hosts No. 8 Phoenix and seventh-seed Seattle is at No. 6 Atlanta. The second round begins Saturday with New York and Chicago waiting — and it will also be single elimination.
The eight teams with the best record qualified for the playoffs, regardless of conference affiliation. And they were seeded according to their record.
Los Angeles’ Nneka Ogwumike was yesterday named the AP’s WNBA Player of the Year, chosen by a media panel.
WNBA HONORS
Nneka Ogwumike wins AP WNBA Player of the Year award
NEW YORK (AP) — Nneka Ogwumike put up career numbers this season for Los Angeles and was arguably the most consistent impact player in the league.
Her efforts earned her Associated Press WNBA Player of the Year honors on Tuesday. The award was chosen by the 14-member media panel that votes for the weekly power poll.
Seattle’s Breanna Stewart won rookie of the year, finishing third all-time for points by a rookie and breaking Lisa Leslie’s WNBA record for defensive rebounds in a season. The former UConn star was the only rookie on the AP WNBA first team. She was joined by Ogwumike, Tina Charles, Maya Moore and Elena Delle Donne.
Ogwumike’s coach, Brian Agler, was named the AP’s coach of the year, narrowly edging Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve. Los Angeles also had the sixth woman of the year in Jantel Lavender.
Atlanta’s Elizabeth Williams was voted the most improved player. Connecticut’s Chiney Ogwumike earned comeback player of the year honors after recovering from microfracture surgery in her right knee that sidelined her last year.
Minnesota’s Sylvia Fowles was defensive player of the year while leading the Lynx to one of the top-rated defenses in the league.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.
