WEEK IN SPORTS VOL 62

Farwell Rodger

DA NEWSMLB First Half

US Basketball Olympic Prep

The MLB first half comes to a close this week. A strange first half if that RA Dickey rose as a ace pitcher, The Nats are in first the Phillies are in last. Also 5 no hitter have been pitched including 2 perfectos and 1 6 pitcher no hitter. Finally Bryce Harper the number 1 pick from 2011 makes his MLB debut

The US basketball team played a preseason game against Brazil although struggling from the field they were able to win accompanied by 19 team steals, Lebron lead the team in points with 30 as they win 80-69

With Just over a week till the Olympic games concern form fans still rises over the dreadful weather of London this past summer. Many believe that with the abundance of rain falling it will ruin the games. The Mayor of London however states that the games will be fine and that “London gets less rain than Rome”

MORE NEWSMARSHAWN LYNCH

TRADE DEADLINE160 OR BUST

The Seattle Seahawks Season is not for about 1.5 months but there still making news for there star running back Marshawn Lynch who was arrested this week for DUI charges police pulled Lynch over after he almost hit two cars in adjacent lanes this is the 4th time Lynch has been arrested as an NFL player 2nd as a Seahawk. Lynch was just recently signed to a 31 million dollar extension by Seattle and has not been suspended as of yet.

The MLB trade Deadline is looming starting pitching seams to be the biggest target for teams in the playoff hunt those available are Jason Vargas, Cole Hammels, Jeremy Helickson, James Shields, Zach Grankie Matt Garza and Ryan Dempster. Big bats that could be on the move are Justin Upton, Carl Crawford, Juan Pierre, Alfonso Soriano and Hanley Ramirez.

The Washington Nationals manger Davey Johnson told reports at the being of the season there phenomena pitcher Steven Strasburg would not pitch more than 160 innings. But with the Nat’s in first questions loom as to if Strasburg will pitch in the playoffs Strasburg has pitched 110.1 innings so far this season Johnson said he will make the decision by himself when it comes up.

MLS ALL STAR TEAMFORWARDS TEAM

Thierry Henrey

New York Red Bulls

Eddie Johnson Seattle Sounders

Chris Pontius DC United

Chris Wondolowski

San Jose Earthquakes

KEEPERS TEAM

Dan Kennedy

Chivas USA

Jimmy Nielsen

Sporting KC

DEFENDERS TEAM

Steven Beitashour San Jose Earthquakes

Aurelien Collin Sporting KC

Ramiro Corrales San Jose Earthquakes

Jay Demirt Vancouver Whitecaps

Justin Morrow San Jose Earthquakes

Heath Pearce* New York Red Bulls

Carlos Valdes Philadelphia Union

*will not play due to injury

MIDFEILDERS TEAM

Osvaldo Alonso Seattle Sounders

David Beckham Los Angeles Galaxy

Kyle Beckerman Real Salt Lake

Dwayne De Rosario

DC united

Landon Donavan Los Angeles Galaxy

Graham Zusi Sporting KC

PLAYER PROFILE OF THE WEEK

NAME: Rodger Levesque

FOR: Retiring

HT/LBS:6,1/174

COLLAGE: Stanford

BIRTH: 1/22/1981, Portland, Maine

POSITION: Striker, Midfield, Right Back

TEAM: Seattle Sounders

STATS SEASON/CAREER: GA 4, G 0, A 0, S 2,/G 40

SO LONG FARWELL

Rodger Levesque the 31 year old Striker, Midfield and Defender will retire after the Seattle Sounders game against the European champions Chelsea FC. Levesque played 10 years as a pro he was drafted 23rd overall by the San Jose Earthquakes in the MLS super draft in 2003. shortly after signing he was placed on loan to the USL Seattle Sounder there Levesque played 3 seasons on loan scoring 23 goals before officially signing with the Sounders in 2006. In 2 season Levesque scored 11 goals and pronounced himself as a star striker. In 2009 Levesque fallowed his Sounders to the MLS were he lost the starting job, was forced to come off the bench. Levesque made the best of 3 seasons scoring just 6 goals. Levesque will truly be missed as a Seattle icon over the past nine years.

RANGERS V MARINERS

4-0The Mariners Looking to win the rubber game of the 3 game set against Matt Harrison and the Rangers. Iwakuma on the mound for the M’s. Top one Kinsler leading off the game gets a walk then Olivo lets a ball fly to the backstop Kinsler to 3rd Andrus batting grounds softly to second Kinsler goes to 3rd . Hamilton up and he grounds slowly to first Smoak he tags first Hamilton's out Kinsler scores 1-0 Texas. Top 3 Gentry leading off he singles then Kinsler he pops out to 2nd. Andrus up he doubles the Hamilton comes up runners at the corners and Iwakuma takes the bat away from Hamilton he goes to first to load the bases. Beltre comes up the ex-M. 2nd pitch a slide and Beltre hits a hard grounder through the hole past 3rd into left Gentry scores Andrus good speed he scores 3-0 Rangers. Top 5 Kinsler leading off and he rips a shot to deep left and that just clears the fence 4-0 Rangers Iwakuma struggles 5 innings 7 hits 4 runs all earned 3 walks and no K’s. On the other hand Matt Harrison had the Mariners number, he goes the distance 9 complete frames 5 hits no runs 4 walks and 3 k’s. 4-0 final.

MARINERS V ROYALS

9-4The Mariners playing Kansas City the all star game hosts pitching has been struggling as of late the Mariners looking to bounce back form a series lose against the Rangers. Top one Ackley walks then Ichiro hits a slow roller towards Escobar at short and Ichiro beats the throw runners at first and 2nd Casper Wells up he gets a first pitch changeup over the heart of the plate and crushes it to left center field a line drive that leaves the yard in a hurry. 3-0 Seattle. Two batters latter after a Montero single Smoak up and he gets a belt high fastball and he Smoaks it to deep left and gone the M’s go 5-0 in the first 5-0 in the first would you believe. Top 2 the M’s at it again Ryan singles then Ackley same story two batters latter after Ichiro flies out Wells comes up and hits a rocket opposite field into the right center field gap it roles to the wall Ryan and Ackley score easy and Wells heading to 3rd and is in easy standing up. 2 more runs 7-0 Seattle. Not a good day for the rookie Sanchez he is done after just 1 and 1/3 innings 7 hits 7 runs 1 walk and 2 K. Bottom 3 Salvador Perez leading off and he hits a mile high pop with some carry it’s still going and it’s gone just clears the fence a big fly ball his 5 homer of the season 1-7. 4 batters latter Hosmer on 2nd Billy Butler up the team home run and RBI leader and Vargas leaves a 87 MPH fastball high and inside and Butler all over this one it’s flying all the way back to Seattle a Mammoth shot 3-7 now. Top 4 Kawasaki on 3nd Ichiro up and he slaps a liner down the line into the corner it roles around over there as Ichiro goes into 3rd standing up 8-3. Top 6 2 outs Ackley up no problem he hits a liner to left and you can watch this one get out of town a solo blast 9-3 Seattle. KC would score one more run but fail to mount a come back 9-4 final.

MARINERS V ROYALS

9-6After the offensive explosion in game one the M’s look to continue there success. We go top one after Ichiro and Ackley both get out Wells comes up and single then the very next batter Montero gets a fastball out over the plate and give it a ride to deep center way back and off the fence Wells hauling he’s up easy into the plate 1-0 Seattle 2 out RBI double for Jesus. Next batter Justin Smoak up he gets a fastball low and outside and barrels up to it and gives it a ride to deep left there’s no doubt in this one, its gone to left 3-0 Seattle early. Top 2 now after Ryan strikes out Ackley singles then Ichiro singles Ackley wheels into third Wells up and he K’s 2 outs for Montero and he hits a bullet on the ground past the 3rd basemen Moustakas and into left Ackley scores it’s 4-0. next batter Smoak he walks on 5 pitches to fill the load for Kyle Seager. Seager ready the first pitch swung on and ripped over the head of BLANK in right and one hops the fence Ichiro scores Montero hustling he scores it’s 6-0 Seattle in the 2nd! That would be all thank you for Ryan Verdugo for the 2nd time in 2 day Royals starting pitching has not been able to escape the 2nd inning Verdugo goes 1.2 innings 6 runs all earned on 8 hits 2 walks and 2 K’s. Top 5 now 6-3 Blake Bevan struggling through the 3rd inning but top 5 Olivo singles then Saunders comes up and gets a fastball down and down the middle and crushes it to the deepest part of the park and it leaves the ball yard a 2 run shot 8-3 after a mammoth bomb from the Canadian. 9-4 now runner on 3rd for Lorenzo Cain and with that name you got to come up big he dose an blast to left Wells on the run leaping at the fence and misses the ball by half and inch a long ball to make it 9-6 which would be the final score as Blake Bevan records the win going 6 innings giving up 5 runs all earned no walks and 3 K’s in a 9-6 win final.

MARINERS V ROYALS

7-8Your Seattle Mariners looking to win game 3 of the 4 game set and the series. Top 2 Bruce Chen on the mound 2 out for Kyle Seager and he say’s I don’t need nobody he gets a sinker low and Outside but somehow he turns on the pitch and hits a bullet to right a liner and it wraps around the foul pole for a homer another 2 out RBI for Seager most among active players under 25 this season 1-0 C-attle. But don’t count out KC Butler up he singles then Cain singles Butler to 2nd Moustakas up and he hits a liner over Ackley just out of his reach and into the right center gap butler scores Cain to 3rd next batter Francoeur he line out then Pena up 1 down and he hits a grounder to Ackley he throws to first to retire Pena Cain scores Moustakas to 3rd then Getz up he lays down a but towards Smoak and no one’s covering first he’s safe Moustakas scores 3-0 KC. Top 4 Ichiro up he single then Wells he wants to mount a rally he hits a big fly ball to left and that one will leave the park Wells takes Chen yard to tie up the ball game 3-3. Bottom of the frame now 1 out Pena singles then Getz doubles runners at 2nd and 3rd then Alex Gordon gets up and he hits a blooper and it bounces and roles down the left field line both Pena and Getz score Gordon digging for 2nd the throw is money but it’s to late 5-3 Royals. Top 5 Millwood still on the mound he walks Butler on 5 pitches then Cain gets up and Millwood's fastball is over the dead center of the plate were Cain crushes it and that one’s flying all the way back to Seattle a deep blast as KC starts to pull away 7-3. Top 6 both Wells and Montero single to lead off then 3 batters later same scenario 2 out Olivo up and hits a grounder back up the pipe Wells scores 4-7. Next inning top 7 Ichiro singles with one down then Wells singles Ichiro speeds into 3rd Wells rounds 1st and he is hauling towards 2nd he’s going to get it as Cain bobbles the ball in right. then Montero up he singles to center Ichiro and Wells score 6-7. then 2 batters later after a pass ball Montero goes to 2nd 2 down for Seager an he rips a ball to right off the fence the M’s tie it up 7-7. Bottom 8 Ryan on 3rd Ackley hits a tapper towards 2nd the throw to the plate is in time to retire Ryan but if you look at the replay Ryan is clearly safe a blown call hurts the M’s big time. Bottom 9 Butler up the pitch from Kinney and it is swung on and lifted to deep left center looking up is Saunders and it’s gone walk off home run Billy Butler 8-7 KC final.

MARINERS V ROYALS

6-1The Seattle Mariners in position to win game four of the set and take the series and there is no better way to do that than with the King on the mound, KC sends young 23 year old southpaw Will Smith to the mound (not that Will Smith). Temperature at game time 105 temperature at last pitch 120. Top 2 Montero leading off the 1-2 pitch to Montero breaking ball middle away Montero off the end of the bat hits a liner towards center Jarrod Dyson retreating back he’s still running and runs into the wall did not realize there was a wall there and he falls over as the ball sores just over the fence for a solo blast 1-0 Seattle. Next batter Seager he singles to right then Smoak same story to left then Jaso lays down a sacrifice bunt easy play for Smith throws out Jaso runners advance so Saunders up now and he gets a pitch on the inside corner turns on it beautifully and hits a rocket past a lunging Hosmer at first Seager scores Smoak to 3rd 2-0 C-attle. Then Next batter Ryan flies to Cain in right Smoak tags 3-0 M’s. And that was all the King would need he throws 66 pitches through 8 innings (definition of efficient-THE KING). Top 5 Ichiro doubles with one down then with batting wild pitch Ichiro to 3rd then Wells issued free admission and Montero he’s up and hits a grounder past Moustakas at 3rd and into left 4-0 mariners. Top 7 4-1 now Wells walks with one down then Montero hits a big fly to left and off the top of the fence Wells hustling hard from first he scores as the M’s bats tag on another 5-1. The M’s would go onto win 6-1 with a dominate performance from Felix Hernandez 8 innings 8 hits 1 run all earned 1 walk and 3 K’s lights out 6-1 final.

MARINERS V RAYS

3-4The Seattle Mariners fly into Tampa Bay to face the Rays, Seattle has straggled at the Trop not winning there since 2010. Top 1 Ichiro batting 2nd Triples on a slow roller into the right center gap, then Wells Doubles off the fence in right over the head of Joyce Ichiro waltzes home 1-0 Seattle. Top 2 Brendan Ryan up he takes a hack and lets go of the bat as it goes into the Seattle dugout, then next pitch he dose it again a strange sight for Ryan but everybody would be ok. Iwakuma was dealing for the M’s but he makes one mistake a fastball to Upton high and inside is crushed to deep left forget about is that one’s in the cheap seats as Upton ties the game. Then 2 batters later Zobirist singles then 2 batters later 2 outs now Keppinger up he hits a rocket Seager goes for it and deflects off his glove Ryan can’t adjust it roles into left run scores 2-0 Rays. Top 7 Seager leading off he singles then 2 batters later the big man Carlos Peguero recently called up form AAA and he gets a fastball and he’s swing for the fences and hits a long ball to deep right. his first since being recalled 3-2. Bottom of the frame we go Jennings leading off he doubles then Molina Sac bunt Rodriguez up now 2 strike Upton is trying to steal home Rodriguez lays down a bunt but is goes foul he strikes-out then next batter Upton he hits a chopper towards the hole Ryan fields it cleanly he throws cross the diamond the throw is offline Smoak knocks it down run scores 3-3. We head to extra bottom of the 14th Olivo starts to warm up in the pen the Mariners out of pitchers Whilhelmsen on the hill Carlos Pena he singles with one down then Ben Zobrist hits a rocket down the right field line it stops in the corner Ichiro heaves a throw to the plate it’s a little bit off line Montero picks it up tries to dive to get Pena but he’s to late walk off 4-3 final 14.

MARINERS V RAYS

2-1The Seattle Mariners playing the Rays again trying to win for the first time since 2010. Top 1 a quick 2 outs as both Ackley and Ichiro get out then Wells walk then Jaso singles to right wells good speed around the paths he gets to 3rd then Seager up leads the M’s in RBI’s he would not get one hear though he walks then Saunders up bases full 2 down the 2-2 pitch is swung on and hit just past Rodriguez at short and into left Wells scores Jaso hauling he scores 2-0 Seattle early. And that was all Vargas would need he pitches 6 scoreless. Bottom 7 Jennings leading off he singles then Lobaron comes up gets a pitch from Vargas that gets blooped into right Jennings speeds it 3rd he’s goanna get it easy but Ichiro challenges him throws a bullet but it scores on him and past Kyle Seager at 3rd and into left field Jennings scores and it’s 2-1. but that would be all the offensive the Mariners make a winner out of Vargas and the Mariners win there first game in Tampa in over 2 years. 2-1 final.

SOUNDERS V RED BULLS

2-2The Seattle Sounders are in New York to face the tough Red Bulls. The Sounder looking for a win to seal 3rd place from the Whitecaps. In the 16th minute Johansson form 30 yards out sends a curling cross towards the left side of the 6 yard box were a sliding Alvro Fernandez meets it with his foot he sends a hard pass into the far post past a diving Bouna Coundoul 1-0 Seattle. In the 24th minute Kenny Cooper sends a hard shot towards Meredith from 20 yards out he blocks it but can’t clean the ball as it rebounds to Le toux as he finds the empty net 1-1. a couple close calls but no goals until the 61st minute Barklage  sends a ball to Lindpere as he is running up the sideline Lindpere goes right past Andy Rose then parallel to the 18 yard box he cuts inside of Johansson and sends a pass into the lower corner Meredith dives but it’s to late he dose not react quickly enough 2-1 New York. In the 67th minute the sub Montero provides an answer. A through ball played to Evans from Johansson into the corner is sent towards the near post of the 6 yard box were Montero one times it on the ground past Coundoul into the net 2-2. On Broadway the Sounders get a point on the road 2-2 final.

CHELSEA FC V SOUNDERS

4-2The Seattle Sounder FC set to take on the raining EPL champions Chelsea FC. In just the third minute Chelsea break away McEachran steals the ball from Montero then sends a through ball to Lukaku who receives it shoulder to shoulder with Jeff Parke and he muscles past Parke knocking him over near the 6 yard box then hits a shot far post and scores 1-0 Chelsea. In the 11th minute Hazard with the ball brakes past not one not 2 but 3 defender before taking a shot inside the box that deflects off the leg of Sounder defender John Kennedy Hurtado and into the opposite side of the net unlucky for the Sounders as Meredith can’t adjust to make the save 2-0. In the 14 th minute don’t count out the Sounders Montero steals a pass from the defense then makes a B line for the goal he sends rocket low as it roles past the keeper Hilario to put the Sounders with in one. In the 32 minute the Sounders strike again Evans slides to win a loose ball and passes to Rosales, from the side line sends a cross to the right hand corner of the box Montero take a beautiful touch to settle the ball then cuts across the middle and sends a left footed shot low past 2 defenders and Hilario into the far post an excellent shot 2-2 the boys from Seattle have turned this into a game. In the 40th minute however was were Chelsea took over Marin dribbling down the line beats Alonso then sends a shot towards the goal that deflects off the knee of Jeff Parke and Meredith can’t recover 3-2 Chelsea. In the 44th minute Chelsea strike again Marin plays a through ball to Lukaku, Lukaku has a one on one with Meredith he jooks to his left Meredith dives but form the awkward angle Lukaku sends a roling shot into the net to score making it 4-2 in the first half. The 2ns half provided no goals but equal excitement for Sounders fans. In the 66 th minute leaving the game number 7 Eddie Jhonson replaced by number 24 ROOOOOdgERRRr LEEEvque. Leveque will retire after this game but not before after the game being carried on his teammates shoulders on a lap around the filed a 2nd standing ovation for Leveque. In an interview after the game Leveque said. “It’s been an amazing soccer experience and I really couldn’t have scripted it any better,”  “It was a great game. A good connection with all of the people the fans, the teammates.” I just wanted to say thank you guys. You guys are absolutely amazing. There is no better place to be a soccer player in the world,”  “Thank you so much and I can’t wait to join you guys and cheer on that team over there on to an MLS Cup title and Open Cup.” 4-2 final.