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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (March 31, 2015)
SPORTS A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2015 Blazers clinch playoff spot PORTLAND (AP) — A playoff spot secured, next up for the Portland Trail Blazers is the Northwest Division title. The Trail Blazers haven’t won the division since 2008-09, when they shared it with the Denver Nuggets. Portland’s last outright title came in the 1991-92 season. “I’m not even sure the last time we even won a division AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi title,” All-Star guard Damian Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Taijuan Walker pitches Lillard said. “I’m sure it’s been against the Los Angeles Angels in the first inning of a tough having OKC around. If spring training baseball game Monday in Peoria, Ariz. any year there was a great op- portunity, it’s this year. We just need to keep playing, focus on ourselves, and everything will work out like it’s supposed to.” The Blazers clinched a play- off berth Monday night with a 109-86 victory over the Phoe- nix Suns. The victory cut the Blazers’ magic number for win- ning the division to two. PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — Lillard scored 19 points and Mike Zunino homered and dou- LaMarcus Aldridge added 17 bled, Taijuan Walker pitched points and seven rebounds. The seven impressive innings and Blazers rested all of their starters the Seattle Mariners beat the Los in the fourth quarter after build- Angeles Angels 5-3 Monday. ing a 92-65 lead. Portland led by Robinson Cano added his as many as 31 points. ¿UVWVSULQJKRPHUIRUWKH0DUL- The Suns have lost four ners and is hitting .364 in exhi- straight, and while they are bition play. mathematically still in the The Angels and Mariners playoff picture, the chances are ¿HOGHGOLQHXSVFRQVLVWLQJPDLQ- dwindling. Phoenix plays six of ly of the players who are likely its last eight games on the road. to start on opening day next Gerald Green and T.J. War- Monday when Los Angeles vis- ren came off the bench to score its Seattle. 13 points. Eric Bledsoe added AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi Zunino’s seven home runs 12 in the Suns’ seventh loss by and 13 RBIs lead Seattle this Seattle Mariners’ Mike Zu- 20 or more points this season. spring. The catcher is batting nino rips a two-run double “We played hard but they’re a against the Los Angeles good team,” Bledsoe said. “At .354. Zunino got a playful, palms- Angels in the fourth inning. the end of the day, that’s why down “easy does it” sign from they’re in the position they’re in, ace Felix Hernandez in the club- quarters on Monday. Sanchez’s WU\LQJWR¿JKWIRUDKLJKVHHG´ house after driving in three runs. jersey was hung, adorned with The Blazers also clinched “I feel like the approach is candles, a ball and glove and a the season series against the much different,” Zunino said. photo of him pitching. A bat was 6XQVIRUWKH¿UVWWLPHVLQFHWKH “Last year I was just up there placed against the wall on one 2010-11 season, winning 3-1. swinging and hoping to get side and another photo of San- Phoenix was without guard something to hit. This year there’s chez on the other. Brandon Knight, who tweaked more of a mental approach to it. his sprained left ankle in a 109-97 Transaction It’s been a good learning experi- loss at home to Oklahoma City The Mariners released vet- on Sunday night. Knight had ence I’ve had this spring.” Walker’s scoreless streak eran pitcher Kevin Correia and just returned after missing eight ended at 19 innings when Matt have reassigned him to minor games because of the injury. Joyce homered in the second. league camp. That leaves 28 The Suns were further hurt That was the only run off Walk- players on the roster, and with in the second half when center HUZKRUHWLUHGKLV¿QDOEDW- the starting rotation all but set, Alex Len left the game after a the only decisions to be made collision with Portland center ters. Walker gave up three hits, are who makes the major league Chris Kaman. The Suns said af- ZDONHGQRQHDQGVWUXFNRXW¿YH club out of the bullpen and what terward that X-rays showed Len “I didn’t try to do too much,” WRGRZLWKLQMXUHGLQ¿HOGHU&KULV had a broken nose. Walker said. “I feel really good Taylor, who will be out another Portland was coming off a month or so with a broken wrist. 120-114 victory at home over with all my pitches.”’ 0DULQHUV RXW¿HOGHU 6HWK Denver on Saturday. Starting time Smith and the opening-day The Suns jumped in front pitchers were the lone missing Angels: Monday’s starter 15-8 early in the game, but players from who’s expected to Nick Tropeano isn’t likely to Nicolas Batum’s long jumper open the season in the majors, and 3-pointer pulled Portland EHRQWKH¿HOGQH[WZHHN “At some point you’ve got but he could be an option at ahead 21-17 and the Blazers led to get these guys out there and some point during the season. DIWHUWKH¿UVWTXDUWHU they’ve got to play deep into He allowed four runs on seven Robin Lopez’s tip put the Blaz- games,” Angels manager Mike hits, striking out three and walk- ers ahead 53-37, but Green punc- Scioscia said. “We want to get ing one in six innings. WXDWHGWKH¿UVWKDOIZLWKDGXQNIRU our guys together for sure and “Nick took a huge step for- the Suns to close within 55-49. see how this lineup will work.” ward. That’s the command in the Batum hit a 3-pointer that The Angels scored twice counts we were talking about,” capped a 17-4 run to open the in the ninth off Mariners lefty Scioscia said. “Really just a cou- Charlie Furbush, who will be in ple of pitches he didn’t get.” the Seattle bullpen this season. Mariners: Walker won’t be PREP SCHEDULE one of the Mariners’ starters who Tribute to fallen will pitch in the season-opening TODAY Baseball — Astoria at Rainier, 4:30 teammate series in Seattle, but he’s on the p.m.; Estacada at Seaside (2), 4 p.m.; The death of 20-year-old Angels’ radar. Mariners pitching prospect Vic- “I’m glad we got to see him. Delphian at Knappa, 4:30 p.m. Softball — Seaside at Estacada, 5 tor Sanchez is still heavy on the He’s good, no doubt,” Scioscia p.m.; Delphian at Knappa, 4:30 p.m. minds of players and staff within said. “They’ve got a really good Girls Golf — Seaside at Catlin Ga- the organization. Sanchez died starting rotation and he’s one bel, 1 p.m. WEDNESDAY Saturday in Venezuela from in- piece of it.” Baseball — North Marion at Astoria, juries suffered in a boating acci- :DONHU JDLQHG VRPH FRQ¿- 4:30 p.m.; Tillamook at Warrenton, 3:30 dent last month. dence facing Angels regulars. p.m. A makeshift memorial set “Hopefully I get to face them Softball — North Marion at Astoria, up by minor league staff ap- during the season. It was good 4:30 p.m. peared outside the front door to to see what they have,” Walker Track — Astoria at Valley Catholic, 3:30 p.m.; Scappoose/Tillamook at the team’s spring training head- said. Zunino’s bat, Walker’s arm lead Mariners over Angels AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer Portland Trail Blazers center Meyers Leonard, right, passes away from Phoenix Suns guard Reggie Bullock, left, during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game in Port- land Monday. The Trail Blazers beat the Suns 109-86. second half and pushed Port- land’s lead to 72-53. The Blaz- ers outscored the Suns 37-16 in the third quarter. “We came out lackadaisical,” Suns coach Jeff Hornacek said. “No intensity, no real emotion. That’s your chance. You come out in that third quarter and make it a little tough on them, then maybe the tide turns.” %DWXP ¿QLVKHG ZLWK points, including four 3-pointers. Following the game, the re- action in Portland’s locker room was muted. Lillard said Al- dridge commented, “I’m happy I’m going to the playoffs with y’all,” but that was about it. “I mean, it wasn’t like it was earth-shattering,” coach Terry Stotts said. “Honestly, our goal is beyond just to make the play- offs. ... It’s nice to clinch a spot, but we’ve still got a few games to go that are important to us.” It is Portland’s 31st playoff ap- pearance in franchise history. The Blazers (48-25) moved within a AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer half-game of the Clippers (49-25) for the fourth-best record in the Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge scores Western Conference and home- against the Phoenix Suns during the first quarter of an FRXUWDGYDQWDJHLQWKH¿UVWURXQG NBA basketball game in Portland. SCOREBOARD Seaside, 3:30 p.m.; Warrenton at Port- land Christian, 3:30 p.m. Boys Golf — Astoria at Scappoose, 2 p.m.; Valley Catholic at Seaside, 1 p.m. THURSDAY Baseball — Seaside at Corbett, 4:30 p.m. Softball — Corbett at Seaside, 5 p.m. Track — Northwest League Relays, TBA FRIDAY Baseball — Knappa at Delphian (2), 3 p.m. Softball — Astoria at R.A. Long, 4 p.m.; Knappa at Delphian (2), 3 p.m. Girls Golf — Tillamook Scramble, 9 a.m.; Seaside at Ridgeview, 1:30 p.m. Early Childhood Health & Education Clinic For Clatsop County Kids SIGN UP TODAY! FREE For all 3-5 year olds, regardless of income April 14, 2015 The Astoria Armory 1636 Exchange St., Astoria April 22, 2015 Seaside Convention Center 415 First Avenue, Seaside Early screening is an important step to successful learning. Your child will receive the following exams and screenings: Cards rally for 9-4 softball win CORBETT — Astoria led 2-1 going into the bot- tom of the fourth inning, but the Corbett Cardinals scored eight runs in their next three at-bats, on their way to a 9-4 win over the Lady Fishermen in a non- league softball game Mon- day. The Lady Fish had nine hits on the day, which in- cluded a pair of doubles for both Abi Danen and Miranda Dietrichs. Libby DiBartolomeo also had a single and a double for Astoria, which hosts North Marion Wednesday, then plays at R.A. Long Friday. WILL THE CIRCLE BE UNBROKEN A Tribute to the Carter Family Featuring John McEuen & John Carter Cash Saturday, April 18, 7:30 pm Tickets: $30 - $35 John Carter Cash John McEuen BREW IT ON, LAUGH IT OFF! Final 3 rd Fridays adds stand up to the Micro Brew ŵŝdž ^ĞĂƩůĞ ^ƚĂŶĚͲƵƉ ŝǀĂ ^ƵƐĂŶ :ŽŶĞƐ ĂŶĚ KƉĞŶĞƌ dƌĂǀŝƐ EĞůƐŽŶ͘ >ŽĐĂů ŵŝĐƌŽ ďƌĞǁƐ ĂŶĚ ǁŝŶĞƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ůŽďďLJ Ăƚ ϱ͗ϯϬ Ɖŵ͕ ƐŚŽǁ͗ ϳ͗ϬϬ Ɖŵ dŝĐŬĞƚƐ͗ Ψϭϱ ~ Physical ~ Hearing ~ School Readiness ~Speech ~ Nutrition ~Vision ~Dental ~Immunization Call your local elementary school or Head Start center for an appointment by April 7 for the Astoria clinic or April 15 for the Seaside clinic. Susan Jones Travis Nelson Limited transportation help is available upon request. se habla espanol. Sponsors are NW Early Learning Council, NW Educational Service District and Clatsop Kinder Ready. Major health & education groups of Clatsop County are partnering to make this clinic possible. 4)#+%43 s s WWW.COLUMBIATHEATRE.COM