PRO RECAP: M’s and Storm send players to all-star games, Kraken open free agency

SEATTLE – Both the Seattle Mariners and Storm had players named to their league’s respective all-star games, while the Kraken opened free agency by bringing some new faces to the ice. Check out this week’s professional sports recap for an update on the three teams.

Mariners

After dropping three-straight series against the Yankees, Orioles and Nationals, the 42-42 Seattle Mariners earned series wins against both the Tampa Bay Rays and San Francisco Giants.

Seattle fell 15-4 in the series-opening game against the Rays, where Tampa Bay scored eight runs in the top of the eighth inning to break a 4-4 tie. Tamba Bay scored in seven-straight at-bats during the eighth inning and added three more runs in the top of the ninth.

In the following game, Seattle took an early 2-0 lead with RBIs by Mike Ford and J.P. Crawford before Tampa Bay tied with a two-run home run. Seattle scored six runs across the span of the sixth through eighth innings, riding out to an 8-3 win over the Rays.

Tampa Bay took an early 6-1 lead in the rubber match, but RBIs by Ty France, Jarred Kelenic and Ford, as well as a homer by Tom Murphy and a bases-loaded walk, clinched the comeback win over the Rays.

The Mariners won the opening game of a road series against the San Francisco Giants, scoring four runs in the top of the ninth to capture a 6-2 lead. San Francisco nearly rallied with a three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth, but a strikeout by Paul Sewald closed out the game in a 6-5 win for the Mariners.

Seattle pitcher Logan Gilbert pitched a full nine innings on the Fourth of July, holding the Giants to five hits and no runs in a 6-0 Mariner won. Home runs by Ford and AJ Pollock, as well as RBI by Kelenic and Julio Rodriguez, sealed the win to even Seattle’s record at 42-42.

Pitcher Luis Castillo was the only Mariner named to the American League All-Star roster when the list was revealed, though Rodriguez and pitcher George Kirby have been called up to the game as alternates. The MLB’s All-Star game will be on Tuesday at 5 p.m. in Seattle.

Storm

Seattle is in the midst of a three-game losing streak, having lost twice to the Minnesota Lynx (104-93 on June 27, 99-97 on June 29) and at home against the New York Liberty (81-66 on July 2).

In the second loss to the Lynx, Seattle guard Jewell Lloyd tied the game at 87 with 21 seconds remaining on a floater to send the game to overtime, where Minnesota scored four points in the final 11 seconds to leave with a 99-97 win over the Storm.

Two Storm players will represent Seattle in the 2023 WNBA All-Star Game in Las Vegas next week, as Lloyd was named a starter and center Ezi Magbegor was named as a reserve.

Kraken

The NHL’s free agency period began on Friday, and Seattle has been active in signing some new faces to hit the ice this fall. All signings, years and annual average value are according to NHL.com.

Seattle’s first signing was defenseman Jimmy Schuldt, who signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $775k. Schuldt scored eight goals and recorded 24 assists last year with the Coachella Valley Firebirds.

Forward Marian Studenic, recently of the Dallas Stars, agreed to a one-year, two-way deal for an average annual value of $775k. The 24-year-old has appeared in 44 NHL games over his career; 25 in New Jersey and 19 over the past two seasons in Dallas.

Forward John Hayden, who was called up from Coachella Valley for seven games with the Kraken last season, signed a one-year, two-way deal worth $775 AAV. With the Firebirds, Hayden scored 16 goals and recorded 17 assists.

Defenseman Brian Dumoulin, a 10-year NHL veteran who spent the past decade with the Pittsburgh Penguins, signed a two-year deal with an AAV of $3.15 million. Dumoulin is a two-time Stanley Cup champion and played with current Kraken defenseman Justin Schultz from 2015-20 in Pittsburgh.

Forward Kailer Yamamoto, a native of Spokane, signed a one-year contract with a $1.5 million AAV. Yamamoto has played his entire career with Edmonton since being drafted No. 22 overall in 2017, and notched career highs in goals (20) and assists (21) in the 2021-22 season.

Defenseman Connor Carrick signed a one-year, two-way deal with an AAV of $775k after seeing career highs in assists (38) and points (44) with the Providence Bruins of the Americal Hockey League.

Carson Soucy, Morgan Geekie and Daniel Sprong – all restricted free agents of the Kraken – signed with Vancouver, Boston and Detroit, respectively. Unrestricted free agent Ryan Donato signed with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Ian Bivona may be reached at ibivona@columbiabasinherald.com.