Time is running out for asylum seekers to leave an encampment at Powell Barnett Park in Seattle’s Central District. They have just about 24 hours to find a new place to stay. They’ve been there since last week after their stay at a local hotel ran out.

MINNEAPOLIS – Josh Rojas and Ty France each hit an RBI single during Seattle’s four-run ninth inning, and the Mariners beat the Minnesota Twins 10-6 on Tuesday night.

Cal Raleigh connected for a pinch-hit grand slam in the seventh for Seattle, which has won three of four. Mitch Haniger hit a solo homer in the second and added a sacrifice fly in the ninth.

Ryne Stanek (1-0) got two outs for the win after fellow reliever Tayler Saucedo got hurt while covering first base. Andrés Muñoz pitched a scoreless ninth.

“We were kind of waiting for this game to come,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “At some of these points, you’re going to have to find a way to score a bunch of runs to pick up your pitching, and we did that tonight.”

Minnesota reliever Jorge Alcala (1-1) allowed four runs on four hits, issued two walks and threw a wild pitch during Seattle’s ninth-inning rally. The Twins have lost two of three after their 12-game winning streak.

“We didn’t play the kind of baseball we’ve been playing,” Minnesota manager Rocco Baldelli said. “We didn’t play a complete game. We played pieces of a game.”

A wild three final innings was highlighted by a clutch swing for Raleigh, who was out of the starting lineup for a rare occasion. Raleigh hit for Seby Zavala against left-hander Steven Okert and drove a hanging slider to the third deck in left at Target Field.

“If you’re down in the game or the game’s close, he’s just got a way late in the game,” Servais said of Raleigh. “He has really good at-bats. He doesn’t always come through. But when he does, he usually comes through in a big way.”

Down 6-4 after Raleigh’s homer, Minnesota got a run in the bottom of the seventh and another one in the eighth.

Kyle Farmer’s double followed Jose Miranda’s leadoff double in the seventh. The tying run scored as Saucedo was on the ground in pain in the eighth.

Pinch-hitter Austin Martin hit a ball to France at first base. Martin slid safe into first while Saucedo took the throw from France and stepped on the bag. But Saucedo slipped in the process and went down. As he was on the ground, Max Kepler rounded third base and came home.

After several moments, Saucedo was helped off the field with assistance from a trainer.

“He’s going to be out for a little while; a little bit of a knee issue there,” Servais said. “We’ll get some imaging on that, but we’re going to miss him.”

Ryan Jeffers hit a three-run homer in Minnesota’s four-run third. Jeffers reached base safely in a career high-tying 14th straight game.

RIGHTY OR LEFTY
Jay Jackson started the seventh for the Twins, loading the bases on a pair of singles and a walk before Raleigh was announced as the pinch hitter. Baldelli turned to Okert to turn around the switch-hitting Raleigh. But the seventh pitch of the at-bat got away from Okert to the middle of the zone and Raleigh went deep for his ninth homer.

“They’re always going to do it to one side or the other, so it’s just part of the game,” Raleigh said, adding that he noticed Okert was warming up quickly and knew he might face the lefty. “I was able to get work in the cages, do some stuff and make sure I had both sides ready just in case that was to happen.”

Five of Raleigh’s homers this season have come from the right side, but he entered the day with a .921 OPS from the left side versus .662 from the right.

TRAINER’S ROOM
Mariners: Servais said SS J.P. Crawford (right oblique strain) has been swinging in the cage and is feeling good, but he offered no timeline for a return. Servais also said RHP Bryan Woo (elbow inflammation) might be in line for a return to the rotation but didn’t have a particular date.

UP NEXT
Seattle right-hander George Kirby (3-2, 3.76 ERA) starts on Wednesday night in the third game of the four-game series. Minnesota counters with righty Chris Paddack (3-1, 4.78 ERA).

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SEATTLE – A renewed push for action on Seattle’s notorious Aurora Avenue has emerged. 

Reports show that City Councilmember Cathy Moore suggested the reinstatement of an old loitering law to address escalating concerns over crime in the corridor. The proposal comes amidst mounting worries about exploitation and trafficking, issues that Mayor Bruce Harrell’s office has also vowed to tackle.

Harrell’s office announced Tuesday that May 7th will be designated as Child Sex Trafficking Prevention Day. The proclamation was made during an annual luncheon hosted by the non-profit organization StolenYouth, which identifies Aurora as the epicenter of sex trafficking in Washington State.

Renee Wallace, representing StolenYouth, highlighted the severity of the problem, noting that trafficking extends along the 99 corridor from Pacific Highway in the south to Aurora in the north. She emphasized that many children engaged in the sex trade are doing so out of necessity and may not fully comprehend the exploitation they endure. 

StolenYouth estimates an estimated 500 children and youth (under the age of 24) are trafficked each year in Seattle alone. 

“It’s a huge issue, especially since the pandemic, it has increased,” noted Wallace. “It’s not only on Aurora Avenue but it’s online as well.”

Wallace’s concerns are echoed by recent events, including a disturbing case earlier this year where Bellevue Police arrested a man who used Snapchat to lure underage girls from Oregon to his Federal Way home. Subsequently, the girls were forced into sex work on Aurora.

The issues on Aurora extend beyond exploitation, as evidenced by a recent incident captured on camera in March, depicting gunfire exchanged during a turf war between pimps near Northgate. Residents in the area have expressed growing fear for their safety amidst the escalating violence.

Aurora Avenue falls within District 5, represented by newly elected City Councilmember Cathy Moore, who has been inundated with complaints from constituents. In response, Moore has floated the idea of reviving an old city ordinance related to prostitution loitering, which was repealed unanimously in 2020 due to concerns over the potential discriminatory impact and arbitrary enforcement of such laws.

While some advocate for a crackdown, others, like Renee Wallace, emphasize the importance of prevention and addressing the root causes of exploitation. As a former victim of trafficking herself, Wallace believes that understanding and addressing the underlying vulnerabilities is crucial in combating sex trafficking.

“We tend to put a lot of Band-Aids on things and the city is hemorrhaging,” Wallace pointed out. “There is the misconception that it’s only happening out on the streets. Kids are more susceptible to getting exploited by playing online video games.” 

As discussions continue, attention turns to whether Mayor Harrell will support Moore’s proposal. Her office reports she has been discussing solutions with his office in addition to former sex workers, the city attorney and Seattle Police. 

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