it is a wonder that so many of those teams allow the sport to continue

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Seattle has struggled to win on the road over the last month, losing 10 straight capped by a ninth-inning meltdown in the Mariners series-opener against the Kansas City Royals.Some strong pitching and a bit of fortune helped them break their long road skid Friday night.Hisashi Iwakuma pitched into the seventh inning, Seattle scored the go-ahead runs on Yordano Venturas wild pitch and the Mariners held on to beat the World Series champions 3-1 to even the four-game set.Iwakuma (9-6) allowed one run, five hits and three walks over 6 2/3 innings, striking out six. He kept the Royals off balance with his usual herky-jerky delivery, the only run he allowed coming on Cheslor Cuthberts base hit in the fourth inning.Overall I was able to make good pitches, location-wise, and execute when I needed to, change speeds, go back and forth, Iwakuma said through an interpreter. Especially with the breaking ball I was able to go from strike to ball and they were chasing those pitches and it made it very helpful from my end.Steve Cishek, who blew the save the previous night, allowed Salvador Perezs homer in the ninth before finishing off the inning. It was his 21st save of the season.Yesterday was tough. I felt really good yesterday. Its just baseball, he said. I wanted a chance to go back out there and, if I had the chance, give the team the win to make up for it. It got a little sketchy there. I didnt think he hit that that well, but, you know, I was able to finish it off.Ventura (6-6) was nearly as stingy as Iwakuma, giving up only a sacrifice fly to Ketel Marte in the fifth, before things unraveled for him after Seth Smiths single and Robinson Canos double in the sixth.Nelson Cruz stepped to the plate and nearly gave Seattle a three-run homer, sending a pitch soaring down the right-field line. First base umpire CB Bucknor initially signaled home run, then signaled foul ball, then decided that he wasnt quite sure and met with the rest of the umpires.I lost it. I think that happened to the umpire, too, Cruz said. I had no clue.After a review, the ball was declared foul and Nelson dug in again.This time, Venturas pitch got past Perez and bounded away, allowing Smith to score from third base and tie the game 1-all. Perez threw the ball away trying to get him out at the plate, allowing Cano to also score -- the star catcher was given an error on the play.I was pitching good up to that point, I got two quick outs in that inning, Ventura said. I lost concentration and got a little bit behind the count, gave up a couple of hits and then came that play.The Mariners used three relievers to get the game to Cishek, who bounced back from Perezs home run to retire Paulo Orlando and Cuthbert and help snap Seattles road losing streak.Thats the beauty of baseball, Cishek said. You play so many games that if you have a bad outing you have an opportunity to get back out there the next night.HOME SWEET HOMERoyals manager Ned Yost has given up trying to explain his clubs bizarre home-road split -- they began the day 28-11 at Kauffman Stadium, best in the majors, but are just 16-30 away from the spacious ballpark. They average five runs at home and just over three on the road. Its puzzling, Yost said, but theres not anything you can point to other than were just not producing.TRAINERS ROOMFelix Hernandez will return July 20 against the White Sox. He is slated for a rehab start with Class-A Everett on Sunday. When asked what directions he would give Hernandez upon his return, manager Scott Servais replied: Go pitch. Have fun. Hernandez went on the DL on June 1 with a right calf strain.UP NEXTRoyals RHP Edinson Volquez tries to continue his dominance of Seattle when the teams continue their four-game set Saturday. Volquez is 4-0 with a 2.38 ERA in six career starts against the Mariners. Hell face Mariners LHP Wade Miley, who is 0-2 since his return from a left shoulder injury. Miley is 4-1 with a 2.91 ERA against the Royals, throwing a shutout against them on April 30. Wholesale NHL Jerseys . - The Oakland Raiders re-signed offensive lineman Khalif Barnes on Friday. NHL Jerseys China . -- Quarterback Will Finch threw for 252 yards and three touchdowns, and Yannick Harou rushed in two scores as the No. https://www.cheapnhljerseysjustwholesale.com/ . PETERSBURG, Fla. NHL Jerseys . Louis Cardinals. Victorino is batting sixth and playing right field after missing two games because of back tightness. Cheap NHL Jerseys . This should be celebrated because it will not always be this way. With the amount of money given to players by their clubs these days, it is a wonder that so many of those teams allow the sport to continue to take away many of their assets so they can play for a different team in the middle of their season. FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- The New York Jets are a banged-up bunch.Wide receiver Brandon Marshall and center Nick Mangold were among 12 players who sat out practice Wednesday.Its alarming to see so many (on the injury report), coach Todd Bowles said. Hopefully by (Thursday) and Friday we get a couple of these guys back.The Jets (2-5) play the winless Browns (0-7) at Cleveland on Sunday.Marshall has been dealing with a sore foot since being pulled down by his facemask against Buffalo in Week 2 and having his left leg bend awkwardly beneath him. He said his knee is doing fine, but its the foot that continues to be sore.Its not concerning, Marshall said. I mean, Ive been dealing with it all year. ... Its just one of those things, man. Its football, a lot of reps, so sometimes you get sore.Mangold sprained his right ankle against Baltimore last Sunday and was walking gingerly through the locker room Wednesday with the ankle heavily taped.HHes sore right now, so well see how he feels, Bowles said.dddddddddddd Nick heals pretty good sometimes. I dont know if hell heal in time.Also sitting out of practice were defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson (ankle), running back Bilal Powell (turf toe), left tackle Ryan Clady (shoulder), linebacker Bruce Carter (quadriceps), tight end Kellen Davis (hip), linebacker Darron Lee (ankle), offensive tackle Brent Qvale (neck), cornerback Buster Skrine (knee) and tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins (ankle).Defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson was excused from practice for a personal matter, but Bowles expected him back Thursday.Running back Matt Forte (knee), CB Darrelle Revis (ankle) and safety Antonio Allen (Achilles) were limited.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '