The Mariners fell to the Atlanta Braves 5-2 this afternoon in the final game of their series.

The Braves used a four-run fourth inning to get their sole win of the series in T-Mobile Park.

Emerson Hancock allowed five runs, with only one of them earned, through three and two-thirds innings in the start.

That makes it 19 straight games where a Mariners starter has allowed two earned runs or less.

The M’s bullpen finished the game strong with over five innings of one-hit ball.

Julio Rodriguez, Ty France, Jorge Polanco and Seby Zavala all picked up multiple hits, but the Mariners failed to capitalize, going just 2-11 with runners in scoring position.

Despite today’s loss, the Mariners have won five consecutive series going into Friday’s matchup against their division-rival Houston Astros.

 

Speaking of the Astros, they announced today that they’re sending former MVP Jose Abreu to the minors.

The 37-year-old is on the second season of a three year, nearly $60 million contract.

He is hitting .099 with just one extra-base hit in 77 plate appearances this season.

The division-worst Astros have gotten off to a disappointing 10-19 start to the season.

 

Elsewhere in the AL West Division, the Los Angeles Angels suffered a major blow.

Three-time MVP Mike Trout is getting surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee.

Angels manager Perry Minasian says Trout will be out indefinitely, though the team believes he will be able to return this season.

It’s the fourth straight season that the star outfielder has been sidelined by a major injury.

 

The Sounders picked up a much-needed win last night.

Raul Ruidiaz scored his fifth and sixth goals of the season and Seattle held on for a 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Union.

The game was played as a makeup for their previous match on March 9 that was stopped due to heavy rain.

It was the Sounders’ first win since April 6, as they improved to 2-5-3 on the season.

 

Western Washington University’s softball team begins their postseason journey tomorrow.

They’re hosting Saint Martin’s at noon in the first game of the GNAC Championships that are being held at Viking Field right here in Bellingham.

The 13th nationally ranked Vikings hold the second seed in the conference tournament, which will run through Saturday afternoon.

It comes as Western dominated the conference awards that were announced yesterday.

Three Vikings earned 1st Team All-GNAC honors, including sophomore shortstop Hailey Rath, who was selected as the GNAC Player of the Year.

Two more players were named to the 2nd Team All-GNAC and another two made honorable mention.

Sheryl Gilmore capped off the accolades by winning Coach of the Year after leading the Vikings to a program-record 39 wins.