The Mariners are back tonight in their series opener against the Detroit Tigers.

Seattle’s offense has bloomed since reloading at the trade deadline.

They’ve scored at least six runs in seven of their last nine games and sit one game over the Astros for first place in the AL West.

It’s an opportune time to grow that lead against a Tigers club that has lost six of its last seven.

Luis Castillo will look to get the M’s off to a strong start tonight.

Coverage begins at 5:30 and first pitch is at 6:40 on KPUG.

 

Meanwhile, a division rival for the Tigers is making history in all the wrong ways.

The Chicago White Sox lost their 21st straight game last night to tie the longest losing streak in American League history.

Chicago, who was swept by the Mariners just last week, won their last game on July 10.

They’re approaching the all-time record of 23 straight losses, set by the Phillies back in 1961.

 

Bellingham’s sole representative at the Paris Olympics found success this morning.

2021 Sehome High School alum Jonas Ecker and his teammate Aaron Small finished third in the 500-meter kayak heats quarterfinal to qualify for the semis on Friday, when they’ll have a chance to compete for a medal.

Ecker will also race individually in the 1,000-meter heat event at 1:40 a.m. tomorrow.

 

The United States are still holding a comfortable lead at the Games with 86 total medals, nearly 30 more than second-place China.

They also eclipsed China for the most gold medals with 24.

Both U.S. basketball teams are nearing the finish after the men blew out Brazil this afternoon to advance to the semi-finals against Serbia.

The women’s team is looking to extend its Olympics winning streak to 59 straight games in tomorrow’s semifinals match against Nigeria.

And the U.S. women’s soccer team narrowly defeated Germany 1-0 in extra time this afternoon.

They’ll play against Brazil for the gold medal on Saturday.

 

The Bellingham Bells have clinched a playoff spot.

The Bells have officially qualified for the West Coast League postseason with Victoria’s loss yesterday and will host at least one playoff game this weekend; either on Saturday or Sunday.

Playoff tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday at bellstickets.com and can also be bought in-person at their office in Barkley Village.

 

It comes as the Bells were beaten in a marathon match last night.

They fell to the Springfield Drifters 13-12 in a 12-inning game that lasted over four and a half hours.

The Bells picked up 15 hits, but fell just short after the Drifters won on a walk off walk.

The Bells sit 2.5 games behind Wenatchee for first place in the North Division, but because the AppleSox already won the first-half division title, the Bells would be second-half winners if the season ended today.

The Bells are currently tied with Edmonton for second in the division, but Bellingham owns the head-to-head tiebreaker. 

They only have two games left in the regular season to maintain their positioning.

First pitch for tonight’s game in Springfield is at 6:35.