MARINERS-ASTROS
Astros use big sixth inning to get 8-4 win over Mariners
HOUSTON (AP) — George Springer had three hits, including a two-run double during a six-run sixth inning, and the Houston Astros beat the Seattle Mariners 8-4 on Tuesday night.
The victory leaves Seattle two games behind Baltimore for the second AL wild card and cuts Houston’s deficit in the race to 2 1/2 games.
The Astros got five hits off Felix Hernandez (11-7) in the sixth, but only two of the six runs scored in the inning were earned because of two errors.
The game was tied when Springer shot a ground-rule double to right field that made it 6-4. A two-run single by Marwin Gonzalez, which sailed just out of reach of a lunging Hernandez, chased the pitcher and left Houston up 8-4.
Houston starter Mike Fiers allowed eight hits and four runs in five innings. Rookie Jandel Gustave (1-0) yielded no hits and no runs with one walk in 1 1/3 innings for his first career win.
MLS-SOUNDERS-DEMPSEY
Clint Dempsey to miss rest of 2016 season for Sounders
TUKWILA, Wash. (AP) — Seattle Sounders forward Clint Dempsey will miss the remainder of the 2016 MLS season due to an irregular heartbeat that has sidelined him for more than a month.
Seattle general manger Garth Lagerwey announced the decision on Dempsey on Tuesday. Lagerwey said the main objective is to take away any pressure Dempsey may feel about trying to return this year and give him ample time to address his condition.
Seattle announced in late August that Dempsey would be out due to an irregular heartbeat revealed after a series of tests. Dempsey underwent an unspecified procedure and has been receiving treatment. He briefly returned to training about two weeks ago but was gone all of last week.
Lagerwey says the hope is Dempsey will be available for the start of the 2017 preseason.
ROCKIES-GIANTS
Posey, Pence homer as Giants beat Rockies 12-3
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Buster Posey homered for his 1,000th hit, Hunter Pence also went deep one batter later and the San Francisco Giants beat the Colorado Rockies 12-3 on Tuesday night.
Brandon Crawford tripled twice for San Francisco, which remained a half-game behind the Mets for the top NL wild card and one game up on the Cardinals for the second spot.
Matt Moore (12-12) matched his career high with 11 strikeouts over 7 2/3 innings, rebounding from his worst start this season.
Posey and Pence hit consecutive solo shots, the fifth time the Giants have had back-to-back homers this year. Each player drove in two runs on the night. Conor Gillaspie added a two-run homer in the eighth.
IDITAROD-MACKEY
4-time Iditarod champ Lance Mackey out of 2017 race
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Organizers of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race say four-time champion and cancer survivor Lance Mackey has dropped out of next year’s nearly 1,000-mile race because of health reasons.
Race marshal Mark Nordman confirmed the withdrawal to The Associated Press on Monday after the Iditarod Trail Committee announced it on its Facebook page.
Mackey started last year’s race, but later scratched because of health concerns.
Mackey was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2001 and underwent extensive surgery as well as radiation treatment and the loss of his salivary glands. After returning to the sport he went on to become the only musher ever to win both the Iditarod and the 1,000-mile Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race in the same year. It’s a feat he has accomplished twice.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.
