Seattle, WA

Nationals are undone by their own mistakes and fall short in Seattle

Published

2 years ago

June 27, 2023

Nationals are undone by their own mistakes and fall short in Seattle

SEATTLE — Manager Dave Martinez has said this year that his team has to play the perfect ballgame to win because their margin for error is thin.

But it was the little details in the fifth inning that cost the Washington Nationals a chance at a victory Monday night. The Nationals instead fell, 8-4, to the Seattle Mariners to open their three-game series at T-Mobile Park.

“Those little things become big things, as we saw,” Martinez said. “We’ll talk about these things again tomorrow and hopefully tomorrow we play a cleaner game. This game was close for a while there and was a good game. The boys battled back but I would like to see us get through that inning, that one inning that kind of beat us.”

Cory Abbott entered to pitch the fifth inning with the game tied after Trevor Williams pitched four innings. Abbott faced off against Teoscar Hernández, who lined a ball off of Abbott’s foot. The ball ricocheted to first baseman Dominic Smith, who caught the ball on the run and flipped it backhand to first base without looking. The only problem was that no one was covering first. The ball rolled down the first base line, and Hernández reached second. Two batters later, Hernández scored on a sacrifice fly hit by Eugenio Suárez that nearly left the yard.

Smith said he assumed Luis García was there because he typically is. With the Mariners’ first base coach yelling, Smith saw a shadow out of the corner of his eye, thinking it was García when it was actually the umpire.

“I should have known [García] was playing a little bit more up the middle, I was playing him a little bit more [opposite field],” Smith said. “That’s probably where the mix-up went. But the play happened so fast. . . . Baseball is one of those sports where you see something new every day. If that play does come up again, then I won’t toss it to nobody over there.”

Abbott made the costly mistake of walking Jared Kelenic on four pitches — and that it came with two outs made it that much more maddening. Kelenic attempted to steal second base and was initially ruled out on a strong throw from Keibert Ruiz. But as the Nationals dashed off the field, the Mariners challenged the play — and after review, Kelenic slid around the tag from CJ Abrams. Martinez said after the game that Abrams should’ve held the tag on after the slide because Kelenic came off the bag.

The ensuing pitch, Mike Ford hit an RBI single that extended Seattle’s lead before Kolten Wong drove him in with an RBI double to make it 6-3.

The next rookie up for the Nationals: Reliever Amos Willingham

The Nationals and Mariners traded blows back and forth over the first four innings, with Seattle seeming to have a response for every score by the visitors.

Lane Thomas led off the game with a solo home run off Luis Castillo, but J.P. Crawford responded with a solo home run to open the bottom of the inning off Williams.

Smith hit a solo home run in the second inning to put Washington back on top. García added a RBI single in the third inning to increase the Nationals’ lead to 3-1. But the Mariners tied the game in the fourth when Suárez hit the fourth solo home run of the game before Julio Rodríguez hit a two-out RBI single.

Williams wasn’t efficient over his four innings, tossing 83 pitches and forcing Martinez’s hand to bring in Abbott. And though the Nationals got to Castillo early, he only threw 57 pitches over four innings.

Abbott — seldom used this season since being called up earlier this month — did provide the Nationals length, though he wasn’t necessarily efficient either. He walked four batters and struck out five, but it took him 77 pitches to get there. Castillo, meanwhile, finished throwing 103 pitches over seven innings.

Abbott’s inability to get ahead made a difference in the end; he served up walks to the final two batters he faced, ending his night and bringing Thad Ward into the game. Ward served up a bloop single to Ty France, and Cal Raleigh added a sacrifice fly.

Last time out: MacKenzie Gore keeps his emotions — and Padres — in check

Thomas added a RBI double in the ninth inning, and Jeimer Candelario came to the plate in the ninth as the tying runner. But he struck out looking and the game was over.

Cade Cavalli and Tanner Rainey, both recovering from Tommy John surgery, will meet the team in Washington when the Nationals return from their nine-game road trip. Cavalli is three months removed from surgery and will get checked out by the team’s doctors. Rainey has been throwing off a mound in Florida, and Martinez said he wants to see Rainey throw in person.

Carl Edwards Jr. still hasn’t resumed throwing after being placed on the injured list last week with right shoulder inflammation. Victor Robles is still doing back strengthening drills in Florida after being placed on the injured list last week.

James Wood and Brady House were selected to represent the Nationals at the 2023 All-Star Futures Game in Seattle next month.

Wood, one of the top prospects in baseball, was acquired in the Juan Soto-Josh Bell trade a year ago and has continued to impress this season. Wood, 20, jumped from High-A Wilmington to Class AA Harrisburg and is hitting .272 with 12 home runs and 52 RBI across both levels.

House, 20, has bounced back in 2023 after missing most of his first professional season because of a back injury. House was promoted from Low-A Fredericksburg to High-A Wilmington in early June and the Nationals’ 2021 first-round pick has continued to impress, hitting .297 with eight home runs and 30 RBI this season.

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Seattle, WA

Gus Williams, Seattle SuperSonics star and point guard ‘Wizard,’ dies at 71

Published

2 hours ago

January 17, 2025

Press Room

Gus Williams, Seattle SuperSonics star and point guard ‘Wizard,’ dies at 71

Gus Williams, the beloved Seattle SuperSonics star who led the franchise to its only NBA championship in 1979, died Wednesday at age 71.

Williams earned the nickname “The Wizard” thanks to his speed and athleticism as a dynamic scoring guard. He played six of his 12 NBA seasons with the SuperSonics, guiding the team to back-to-back NBA Finals appearances. Both of his two All-Star selections came during his time in Seattle.

A second-round draft pick out of USC, Williams started his pro career with the Golden State Warriors and finished second in NBA Rookie of the Year voting in 1976 behind Phoenix’s Alvan Adams. After two seasons with Golden State, Williams joined the Sonics in free agency and quickly became a star once coach Lenny Wilkens made him a permanent starter in the backcourt alongside Dennis Johnson. Williams finished the 1977-78 season averaging 18.1 points in 79 games and helped Seattle reach the NBA Finals, only to fall to the Washington Bullets in seven games.

The Sonics faced off against Washington in the Finals again the following season, this time beating the Bullets in five games. It remains the only championship for the franchise, which moved to Oklahoma City ahead of the 2008-09 season.

Williams finished the championship season as the SuperSonics’ leading scorer at 19.2 points per game. He saved his best for last, averaging 29.0 ppg against the Bullets in the NBA Finals. Despite his heroics, Williams was not named Finals MVP, with that honor instead going to his teammate Dennis Johnson. Four of the five starters on that championship squad and key reserve Paul Silas are now dead, with Jack Sikma, sixth man Fred Brown and Wilkens the only surviving pillars of the team.

Remembering Gus Williams (1953-2025) pic.twitter.com/UGBFH2mq7v
— NBA History (@NBAHistory) January 17, 2025

James Donaldson, one of Williams’ SuperSonics teammates beginning in 1980, started a GoFundMe account on behalf of Williams’ family to raise funds for his burial.

Williams lived in a care facility in Maryland and died five years after suffering a stroke in 2020. Donaldson wrote on GoFundMe that he remained in contact with Williams “throughout most of this terrible journey” that included Williams battling pneumonia and meningitis after his stroke.

“He has spent the last 5 years, flat on his back and bravely battling this terrible misfortune,” Donaldson wrote of Williams’ health. “He fought a good fight, but alas, it just became too much to overcome.”

Donaldson said Williams’ family asked him to set up the GoFundMe account to bring Williams’ body to his hometown of Mt. Vernon. N.Y., so he can be buried next to his brother Ray, also a former NBA player who died of prostate cancer in March 2013. Donaldson said the Williams brothers’ 100-year-old mother and other relatives would like to be able to visit their gravesites together.

“(Williams) was gregarious, funny, always upbeat and (very) charitable with his time and money. Plus, he was always friendly with the fans and they loved him in return,” Donaldson wrote of his former teammate. “Super fast and super quick on the court. Could stop on a dime and outrun everyone out there. With a deadly jump (shot) to boot. Gus was one of a kind!”

Williams’ one-of-a-kind style extended off the court, too. He refused to back down in a contract dispute with Sonics management ahead of the 1980-81 campaign, ultimately sitting out the entire season. He returned the following season and averaged a career-high 23.4 points in 80 games, earning his first All-Star selection, NBA Comeback Player of the Year and first-team All-NBA honors.

Williams’ time in Seattle ended in 1984 when the SuperSonics traded him to Washington. He spent two seasons with the Bullets, followed by one with the Atlanta Hawks before retiring in 1987.

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Washington Bullets alumni, Gus Williams.
Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones. pic.twitter.com/zhKV1lS5Pw
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— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) January 16, 2025

Williams finished his career with 14,093 points, 4,597 assists and 1,638 steals. He averaged 17.1 ppg in 825 regular-season contests and 19.5 ppg in 99 playoff appearances.

He was inducted into the USC Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009.

(Photo: Focus on Sport / Getty Images)

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Seattle, WA

Seattle weather: Cool blast of air for this weekend

Published

9 hours ago

January 17, 2025

Press Room

Seattle weather: Cool blast of air for this weekend

Seattle weather: Morning fog, sunshine in the forecast

FOX 13 Seattle Meteorologist Ilona McCauley has your latest western Washington weather forecast!

Western Washington is gearing up for some of the coolest air of the season heading into this weekend. A weak cold front will drop our overnight lows into the lower 30s beginning tonight. Chilly conditions will remain into much of next week. It’s time to remember to protect your pipes, plants, pets and people.

A weak cold front moved through earlier Thursday, keeping cold air in place around Western Washington.

As the rain wraps up and the skies clear out, fog will develop overnight. With many spots dipping into near freezing, the possibility of freezing fog along with icy spots will be around for Friday morning’s commute.

Map showing increasing clouds around Western Washington.

Rain and clouds clearing out, leading to overnight fog.

Skies clear out after Thursday stray showers wrap up. Fog will develop on Friday morning with some freezing fog possible. (FOX13 Seattle)

January has gotten off to a cool start already with more cold air on the way. A ridge of high pressure will keep much of our area in a cool, dry, northwesterly flow through at least the end of next week.

The extended 7 day forecast for the Seattle area.

Skies are drying out and some of the coolest air of the season is on the way this weekend. (FOX13 Seattle)

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Seattle, WA

Dominican infielder Kendry Martinez agrees to $2.5 million deal with Seattle Mariners

Published

17 hours ago

January 16, 2025

Press Room

Dominican infielder Kendry Martinez agrees to .5 million deal with Seattle Mariners

Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Dominican infielder Kendry Martinez was among 17 additional players agreeing to seven-figure bonuses, a $2.5 million deal with the Seattle Mariners.

Thirty-two players have agreed to bonuses of $1 million or more through two days of the international signing period, which opened Wednesday and runs until Dec. 15.

The Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays, hoping to sign Roki Sasaki, were among five teams that have not finalized any contracts and kept open their entire signing bonus pool allotment, joined by Kansas City, the New York Yankees and Colorado. The San Diego Padres, also wooing the Japanese pitcher, struck one deal for $10,000, the highest amount that does not count against a team’s bonus pool.

Sasaki is considered an international amateur by Major League Baseball because he is under 25 and has not played six seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball. Under the MLB-NPB posting agreement, he has until Jan. 23 to finalize an MLB deal.

Agreements included Dominican shortstop Wilfri De La Cruz and the Chicago Cubs ($2.3 million), Venezuelan outfielder Yorger Bautista and Seattle ($2.1 million), Dominican outfielder Kevin Alvarez and Houston ($2 million), Venezuelan shortstop Liberts Aponte and Cincinnati ($1.9 million), Dominican right-hander Raudy Reyes and Atlanta ($1,797,500), Venezuelan infielder Eliomar Garces and Tampa Bay ($1.6 million), Dominican infielder Juan Cabada and the Cubs ($1.5 million), Bahamian shortstop Ayden Johnson and the Athletics ($1.5 million), Dominican shortstop Dorian Soto and Boston ($1.4 million), Dominican outfielder Royelny Strop and St. Louis ($1.4 million), Dominican outfielder Kenny Fenelon and Milwaukee ($1.3 million), Venezuelan infielder Yulian Barreto and San Francisco ($1,118,700), Dominican shortstop Juan Tomas and the Cubs ($1.1 million) and Dominican outfielder Elorky Rodriguez and Texas (1,097,500

Players born from Sept. 1, 2007, through Aug. 31, 2008, are eligible to sign during this year’s period, which ends Dec. 15. Teams began the week with signing bonus pools ranging from about $5.1 million to $7.6 million.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

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