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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (April 12, 2018)
SPORTS THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 2018 1B FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @EOSPORTS TIMBERWOLVES SWEEP CHUKARS AP Photo/Steve Dykes Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, right, drives to the basket past Utah Jazz guard Ricky Ru- bio, left, during the first half of Wednesday’s game in Portland. The Blazers won 102-93. Blazers claim No. 3 seed with win over Utah Portland will play the sixth-seeded New Orleans in the opening round By ANNE M. PETERSON Associated Press PORTLAND — Damian Lillard had 36 points and 10 assists and the Portland Trail Blazers snapped a four-game losing streak with a 102-93 victory over the Utah Jazz Wednesday night to earn the Northwest Division title. With the win in the regu- lar-season finale, Portland claimed the third seed in the Western Conference and will play the sixth-seeded New Orleans Pelicans in the opening round of the playoffs. The Jazz, who saw a six-game winning streak snapped, fell to the fifth seed. They’ll face No. 4 Oklahoma City on the road to open the playoffs. The schedule had not been set. See BLAZERS/3B Seager’s homer in 8th sends Mariners past the Royals 4-2 By DAVE SKRETTA Associated Press Staff photo by Eric Singer BMCC pitcher Colton Walker fires a pitch during Game 1 of a doubleheader with Treasure Valley on Wednesday in Pendleton. Walker threw a complete game shutout as BMCC won 2-0. Walker throws complete game shutout By ERIC SINGER East Oregonian ENDLETON — Even with the tying runs on first and second base and two outs in the ninth inning, Blue Mountain pitcher Colton Walker wasn’t worried. “That was easy,” Walker said. “The guy coming up I had already struck out twice so I just thought now it’ll be three times I strike him out ... that’s all I was thinking in my head.” Walker didn’t get the strikeout he had hoped for, however, he still managed to retire the batter on an easy groundout to second baseman Dustin Durflinger to end the game. Feeling the excitement in that moment, Walker then let out a celebratory fist pump as the final out put a seal on his first career complete-game shutout for the Timberwolves in a 2-0 win over Treasure Valley. P It was a good start to the day for BMCC, which earned a much-needed sweep of the Chukars with an 8-7 win in Game 2 to get back to third place in the East Region. “Oh man it feels great,” Walker said of the wins. “It’s really great for team morale.” Walker, a native of The Dalles, allowed only six hits and three walks while punching out eight batters to earn his third career nine-inning complete game. He threw a whopping 141 pitches Wednesday, 93 for strikes, and never once wanted to hand the ball over to the bullpen. “Colton’s a warrior out there,” Timberwolves head coach Brad Baker said. “He put the team on his back when we needed a win, he had good command of his fastball and slider ... he works harder than just about any kid I’ve ever coached in the offseason and that strength and conditioning sure payed off today.” Walker got a big boost in the first inning as the Timberwolf (16-14 overall, 5-5 East Region) offense gave him a two-run cushion thanks to an RBI single by Alex Salsman and a sacrifice from Kaden Enriquez. “That’s so good, opening a game up with runs. It really just sets you up,” Walker said. “I really feel like when I pitch, when we get ahead, I can keep them (the opponent) below that and that’s what we did today.” Only once did a Chukar (7-18, 1-9) baserunner get past second base against Walker. It came in the third inning when a single from Payton Higgins and groundout put Higgins on third base with two outs. But Walker escaped with an easy pop fly to first baseman Tanner Broom for the final out. See BMCC/3B KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Scott Servais reclined in a chair in the visiting clubhouse at Kauffman Stadium, a big smile on the Seattle manager’s face, and spoke before the first reporter could ask a ques- tion. “Long road trip, happy road trip,” he said. “Cold road trip.” Most of it. The weather finally turned Wednesday and gave Seattle a warm, sun-splashed afternoon in Kansas City, and Servais’ club made sure to relish the spring-like tempera- tures. Kyle Seager hit a go-ahead homer with two outs in the eighth inning, and the Mariners held on to beat the Royals 4-2 to wrap up a winning seven- game journey that covered 10 days and about 5,200 miles. See MARINERS/2B AP Photo/Orlin Wagner Seattle Mariners’ Robinson Cano (22) scores on a wild pitch by Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Danny Duffy (41) during the first inning of a baseball game at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Wednesday. Sports shorts Five booted as Arenado charges mound, swings away, Rockies and Padres brawl DENVER (AP) — Colorado Rockies standout Nolan Arenado charged the mound in the third inning after a fastball from San Diego starter Luis Perdomo sailed behind him, setting off a wild brawl that resulted in five ejections Wednesday during a testy series at Coors Field. Perdomo chucked his glove at a furious Arenado, and the big-hitting third baseman started throwing punches at the pitcher. Arenado yelled at Padres catcher A.J. Ellis and had to be held back by Padres bench coach Mark McGwire. THIS DATE IN SPORTS LeBron James plays all 82 games in season for first time in career CLEVELAND (AP) — LeBron James has added another first to his remarkable career by playing in all 82 games. James, who has broken personal and NBA records all season, played 81 games for Cleveland in 2008-09, but then-coach Mike Brown sat him for the Cavs’ regular-season finale to get rested for the playoffs. The 33-year-old James accomplished the feat Wednesday when the Cavs hosted the New York Knicks. In his 15th season, James will finish leading the league in points (27.7) and minutes played (37.2). 1953 — Ben Hogan takes his second Masters with a five- stroke victory over Porky Oliver. 2005 — Smithtown (N.Y.) High School’s co-ed badminton team defeats Miller Place (N.Y.) High School 10-5 to end Miller Place’s 504-match win streak, the longest sports winning streak in U.S. history. For Miller Place, it is the first loss in the program’s history, which began in 1973. 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