10A
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2017
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Gary Henley | Sports Reporter
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Keuchel,
Bregman
lead the
Astros
past M’s
By JIM HOEHN
Associated Press
SEATTLE — Alex Bregman
had a tiebreaking two-run dou-
ble in Houston’s four-run seventh
inning and Dallas Keuchel pitched
effectively into the eighth to lead
the Astros to their fifth straight
win, 6-2 over the
Seattle Mariners on
Monday.
Keuchel (12-3)
allowed two runs
and seven hits in
7 2/3 innings. He
struck out five and
walked two in his lon-
gest outing since May 5. The left-
hander started the season 9-0, but
was 2-3 with a 5.35 ERA in his
seven previous starts since com-
ing off the disabled list on July 28.
Yuli Gurriel and Brian McCann
had solo homers in the fifth for the
Astros, and Josh Reddick added
a two-run single in the seventh.
Nelson Liriano finished the eighth
inning and Ken Giles struck out
the side in the ninth.
“You have to give credit to
Keuchel, he was really good
today,” Mariners manager Scott
Servais said. “Fourteen outs on
the ground. Double play balls cer-
tainly squashed a couple rallies
we thought we got going. He’s an
accomplished left-handed starter
with a good sinker, and he got it
done against us.”
After starter Erasmo Ramirez
limited the Astros to four hits,
including the two homers, through
six innings, Houston broke
through against the bullpen.
Marwin Gonzalez singled and
McCann walked against Marc
Rzepcynski (2-1). Nick Vincent
came on and Cameron Maybin
advanced the runners with a bunt.
George Springer was walked
intentionally to load the bases and
Bregman sliced an opposite-field
double down the right-field line.
“They decided to walk
Springer,” Bregman said. “He’s
been driving the ball. ... I was just
fortunate enough to put a good
swing on the ball and thankful to
come through for my teammates.”
Jose Altuve was intentionally
to reload the bases. Reddick’s
two-out single scored two more
runs.
The Astros, who managed just
two singles through four innings,
erased a 1-0 deficit with two hom-
ers in the fifth. Gurriel opened
with his 16th, sending a 1-1 pitch
over the wall in left. After Gon-
zalez grounded out, McCann fol-
lowed with his 14th.
Kyle Seager brought the Mar-
iners even in the sixth with his
20th, a two-out solo shot to center
— his sixth consecutive season of
20 or more homers.
First-inning singles by Jean
Segura, Nelson Cruz and Seager
staked the Mariners to a 1-0 lead.
Houston, which led the AL
West by 16 games at the end of
July, stumbled a bit through inju-
ries to 11-17 in August, but are
perfect so far in September.
Seattle, coming off a three-
game sweep of Oakland, entered
the day 2 1/2 games behind Min-
nesota for the second wild card
spot.
Mariners moves
Seattle claimed OF Jacob
Hannemann and RHP Seth Fran-
koff off waivers from the Chicago
Cubs on Monday. RHP David
Phelps (right elbow impingement)
was transferred from the 10-day
DL to the 60-day DL and LHP
Zac Curtis was designated for
assignment.
Trainer’s room
Mariners: CF Jarrod Dyson
(groin) is day to day, Servais said.
... RHP Felix Hernandez, on the
10-day DL (right shoulder bursi-
tis),threw a 37-pitch bullpen ses-
sion Monday. “The bullpen today
was much better than it was the
last time,” Servais said.
AP Photo/Seth Wenig
Then-New York Jets defensive end Sheldon Richardson stretches prior to a game against the Buffalo Bills.
Seahawks make statement in
getting Richardson from Jets
By TIM BOOTH
Associated Press
R
ENTON, Wash. — Sheldon Richard-
son received the traditional welcome
of being a new member of the Seattle
Seahawks.
In his first team meeting on Monday, he
was the brunt of a practical joke.
“The team meeting is nuts. The team
meeting is a little different,” Richardson said
after completing his first practice with his
new team. “They got me today. Cracked a lit-
tle joke on me. No need to go into it. But it
was fun. A fun environment.”
Richardson became the latest star added
to Seattle’s already standout defense when
he was acquired via trade from the New York
Jets last Friday for wide receiver Jermaine
Kearse and a 2018 second-round pick.
It appeared Richardson’s time with the
Jets had worn thin, so the move may have
been somewhat expected. The surprise was
Seattle making such a strong statement about
its intent for the upcoming season.
Veteran DT Ahtyba
Rubin among Seahawks
final roster cuts
By TIM BOOTH
Associated Press
SEAHAWKS 2017 SCHEDULE
Sun, Sep 10 .............@ Packers .............. 1:25 p.m.
Sun, Sep 17......... vs 49ers ............. 1:25 p.m.
Sun, Sep 24 .............@ Titans .................. 1:05 p.m.
Sun, Oct 1 ........... vs Colts .............. 5:30 p.m.
Sun, Oct 8 ................@ Rams................... 1:05 p.m.
Sun, Oct 22 .............@ Giants ................. 1:25 p.m.
Sun, Oct 29 ......... vs Texans ........... 1:05 p.m.
Sun, Nov 5 .......... vs Redskins ....... 1:05 p.m.
Thu, Nov 9 ...............@ Cardinals ........... 5:25 p.m.
Mon, Nov 20 ....... vs Falcons .......... 5:30 p.m.
Sun, Nov 26 ............@ 49ers ................... 1:05 p.m.
Sun, Dec 3 ........... vs Eagles ........... 5:30 p.m.
Sun, Dec 10 .............@ Jaguars .............. 10 a.m.
Sun, Dec 17......... vs Rams ............. 1:05 p.m.
Sun, Dec 24 .............@ Cowboys ........... 1:25 p.m.
Sun, Dec 31......... vs Cardinals ...... 1:25 p.m.
Home games bolded
“The team that drafted me. Met some
great people along the way, met people I
liked and didn’t like,” Richardson said of
leaving behind the Jets.
“Other than that, they’re still family. That
locker room is still my brothers, I’ll keep in
touch with them, I will, they know I will ride
Seahawks
preview capsule
Associated Press
with them for the rest of my life because they
looked out for me in tough times in my tribu-
lations and trials. I’ll miss them.”
But Richardson is also well aware of the
opportunity he’ll have in Seattle to possi-
bly be on a championship roster, one that he
wasn’t going to have with the Jets.
“Got a good opportunity here. Plan to
make the most of it,” he said.
For now, Richardson appears to be a one-
year rental, with his contract set to expire at
the end of the 2017 season.
But that rental could be the difference
between Seattle being the NFC contender
and the NFC representative come February
in Minneapolis.
He becomes the eighth starter on Seat-
tle’s defense to be selected to at least one Pro
Bowl. He’ll join a defensive line already con-
sidered one of the best with Michael Bennett,
Cliff Avril and Frank Clark.
Richardson’s ability to rush from the inte-
rior, combined with those other three, sud-
denly makes Seattle’s defense even more of a
nightmare for opposing quarterbacks.
Seahawks believe
their title window
remains open
By TIM BOOTH
Associated Press
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (11-6-1)
RENTON, Wash. — The Seattle Seahawks
released veteran defensive tackle Ahtyba Rubin,
backup quarterback Trevone Boykin and fullback
Marcel Reese as part of their roster moves to reach
the 53-man limit on Saturday.
The cuts included wide receiver Kasen Williams
and cornerback Pierre Desir after both had been
standouts in training camp.
The decision to release Boykin means Seat-
tle will go into the season with just veteran Austin
Davis as the backup QB to Russell Wilson. Boy-
kin had served as Wilson’s backup a year ago, but
was inconsistent during the preseason while Davis
played well in the final two exhibition games.
Seattle also made a pair of trades, sending
defensive end Cassius Marsh to New England in
exchange for fifth- and seventh-round picks and
acquiring offensive lineman Isaiah Battle from Kan-
sas City in exchange for a seventh-round draft pick.
Seattle’s initial 53-man roster featured 10 offen-
sive linemen — including undrafted rookie Jordan
Roos — and eight defensive linemen. Rubin is not
part of that defensive line group after being with the
Seahawks for the past two seasons, starting all 32
games in the regular season.
The decision to cut Rubin was made easier by
the acquisition of Sheldon Richardson from the
New York Jets on Friday and will save Seattle
money against the salary cap in each of the next two
seasons.
Cutting Williams was the bigger surprise after
a stellar preseason in which he led the NFC with
208 yards receiving in four games. Williams’ spot
appeared safe after Jermaine Kearse was sent to the
Jets as part of the Richardson trade.
Seattle will go into the regular season with five
wide receivers — Doug Baldwin, Tyler Lock-
ett, Paul Richardson, Amara Darboah and Tanner
McEvoy — and five running backs. The running
back group includes seventh-round pick Chris Car-
son and J.D. McKissic, who can double as a wide
receiver and kick returner.
New faces: DL Sheldon Richardson, CB
Justin Coleman, OL Luke Joeckel, RB
Eddie Lacy, LB Michael Wilhoite, K Blair
Walsh, OL Oday Aboushi, DB Bradley
McDougald, rookies OL Ethan Pocic, CB
Shaquill Griffin.
Key losses: DE Cassius Marsh, DT
Ahytba Rubin, OL George Fant, K Steven
Hauschka, OL Garry Gilliam, LB Brock
Coyle.
Strengths: Defense is still elite and
may have most depth since Super Bowl
winning season. Addition of Richardson to
defensive line may push Seattle over top.
LB Bobby Wagner led NFL in tackles last
season, S Earl Thomas is recovered from
broken leg, and CB Richard Sherman and
DE Michael Bennett remain among best
in league at positions. QB Russell Wilson
also fully healthy after playing through
knee, ankle injuries last season, and has
TE Jimmy Graham, WR Doug Baldwin as
primary targets.
Weaknesses: Offensive line remains
biggest question, especially after loss of
LT Fant due to season-ending knee injury.
Run game has potential, but both Thomas
Rawls and Eddie Lacy have durability
questions. Cornerback opposite Sherman
closely watched with Deshawn Shead
recovering from major knee injury.
Fantasy Players To Watch: Wilson,
Graham, Rawls, WR Tyler Lockett, K Blair
Walsh.
Expectations: Anything less than playoff
spot and being in Super Bowl conversation
is considered disappointment. Seattle still
viewed as favorite in NFC West even with
defense aging and some offseason drama.
Wilson has looked superb in preseason
and healthy return of Thomas is significant
for defense. Favorable schedule means
Seahawks should be in running all season
for best in NFC.
SEATTLE — When it became clear Pete Carroll
had pieced together a special group and guided them
to a first Super Bowl title, the debate topic was how
many championships the Seattle Seahawks would
win under his watch.
Four years since winning that first title, Carroll
and the Seahawks are still looking for that second
championship. They are relying on much of that same
special group. But that core unit is slowly creeping
into the latter stages of its prime and shrinking the
remaining opportunities for future championships.
“If you looked at that, I think you might see that
not very many teams win for a long time. I think
the windows are kind of open and shut, but I’m not
thinking that way,” Carroll said. “I have no place in
my brain for that kind of thinking, we’re just trying
to keep on going and stay on it.”
The Seahawks head into the 2017 season as clear
favorites in their division and again likely contenders
for an NFC championship. Finding them in Minne-
apolis in February playing in their third Super Bowl
under Carroll would not be a surprise.
But as the past few seasons have shown, there is
a fragility associated with the team. Whether it was
internal strife or key injuries, the line between just
being good and being a championship contender is
thin.
“I think that this year we kind of found our, I
don’t want to say edge, but we’ve got some motiva-
tion,” wide receiver Doug Baldwin said.
Seattle appears to be putting extra urgency in this
season, highlighted by the acquisition of former Pro
Bowl defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson last
week. It wasn’t a move needed for Seattle to be com-
petitive, but could be a move that is the difference
in being a contender and a Super Bowl participant.
There is little doubt what Seattle’s defense will be
with the addition of Richardson, the return to health
of standout safety Earl Thomas, plus the rest of the
stellar holdovers, including Bobby Wagner, Rich-
ard Sherman, Kam Chancellor and Michael Bennett.
They should be among the best in the NFL.