PRO RECAP: M’s string together wins, Seahawks prep for 2023
The Seattle Seahawks will open the 2023 preseason at home against the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday.
AP PHOTO/LINDSEY WASSON
The Mariners have won their previous five games ahead of Tuesday night’s home game against the San Diego Padres, and 10 of its previous 12 games dating back to July 25.
The Seattle Storm have won three of their previous five games but fell to the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday afternoon in Seattle.
Seattle Kraken defenseman Vince Dunn re-signed with the Kraken on a four-year contract last week after marking career highs in goals, assists and points last season.
SEATTLE — Since the passing of last week’s MLB trade deadline, the Mariners have been on an impressive winning streak while the Seattle Seahawks prepare for the beginning of the 2023 preseason. Read along for updates on the two squads, as well as the Seattle Kraken and Storm.
Mariners
Since July 21, the Seattle Mariners have won five-straight series against the Toronto Blue Jays, Minnesota Twins, Arizona Diamondbacks, Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Angels, which has helped Seattle reach a season-high eight games over .500.
Dating back to the second game of Seattle’s road series against Minnesota on July 25, a 9-7 win, the Mariners have been victorious in 10 of their previous 12 outings with the two losses coming against Arizona (4-3 on July 29) and Boston (6-4 on Aug. 1).
Seattle’s four-game sweep of the Los Angeles Angels last weekend — which ended with an RBI single by third baseman Eugenio Suárez — moved the Mariners into third place of the AL West, six-and-a-half games behind the division-leading Texas Rangers.
After a two-game home stand against San Diego on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Mariners will host Baltimore for a three-game series over the weekend before traveling to Kansas City for four road games against the Royals.
The MLB’s trade deadline passed last Monday, with Seattle making two moves; the first being a trade with the Diamondbacks that sent closer Paul Sewald to Arizona. In return, the Mariners received outfielder Dominic Canzone, utilityman Josh Rojas and Double-A middle infielder Ryan Bliss. The Mariners also acquired minor league right-handed pitcher Eduard Bazardo from Baltimore, sending right-hander Logan Rinehart in return.
Seahawks
After reporting for training camp July 25, the Seattle Seahawks will open the 2023 season with a preseason matchup against the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday.
Seattle has made a variety of roster moves in the previous weeks, beginning with signing linebacker Uchenna Nwosu to a three-year contract extension worth up to $59 million July 24. Nwosu, 26, signed with Seattle before the 2022 season after four seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers, setting career highs in solo tackles (42), assisted tackles (24), sacks (9.5), forced fumbles (3), fumble recoveries (2) and passes defended (4, tied).
In the past week, the Seahawks have announced the signings of nose tackle Robert Cooper (nose tackle Roderick Perry II released in a corresponding move), Perry (defensive end M.J. Anderson released in a corresponding move) and defensive end Jordan Ferguson (cornerback Andrew Whitaker waived/injured in a corresponding move).
Kickoff against the Vikings is at 7 p.m. Thursday.
Storm
The Seattle Storm snapped a 10-game losing streak with July 28’s 83-74 road win over the Chicago Sky, led by a 17-point performance by center Ezi Magbegor. Two days later, Seattle won its second-straight game with an 85-62 win over the Indiana Fever surged by guard Jewell Loyd’s 26-point outing.
After a 76-65 setback against Dallas, the Storm took to the road again in a 97-91 win over the Phoenix Mercury. Guard Sami Whitcomb’s three-pointer with 27 seconds remaining gave Seattle a six-point lead, which the Storm carried to their third win in their previous four games. Loyd led all scorers with 32 points in the win.
In Tuesday’s home game against the Connecticut Sun, Seattle was outscored 29-14 in the second quarter, leading to an 81-69 home loss to the Sun. The loss dropped Seattle to 7-21 on the year.
Seattle plays host to Atlanta on Thursday and Phoenix on Sunday to close out the week, then hosts Minnesota next Friday to end the homestand.
Kraken
Defenseman Vince Dunn, who was a restricted free agent and had a team-high in assists last season (50), re-signed with Seattle on a four-year contract with an average annual value of $7.35 million on July 21, according to NHL.com.
Dunn, who’s 26 years old and won a Stanley Cup with the St. Louis Blues in 2019, had career highs in goals (14), assists and points (64) on the ice with the Kraken in the 2022-23 season. In the playoffs, Dunn scored one goal and had six assists.
Seattle Head Coach Dave Hakstol’s contract was extended through the 2025-26 season on July 18, fresh off a 100-point season and a second-round playoff appearance for the Kraken. Hakstol was a finalist for the NHL’s Jack Adams Award last season after guiding Seattle to a 19-win and 40-point increase from year one to year two.
Ian Bivona may be reached at ibivona@columbiabasinherald.com.
