Latest Texas Sports

ASTROS-MARINERS

Saunders' infield hit lifts M's over Astros 3-1

SEATTLE (AP) Michael Saunders hit a two-run infield single in the seventh inning to lift the Seattle Mariners to a 3-1 win over the Houston Astros on Thursday night.

With the game tied at 1, the bases loaded, two outs and a full count, Saunders hit a chopper to first and narrowly outraced pitcher Tony Sipp, who was covering the bag. The batters were running on the pitch, allowing two runs to score. The play was upheld after a brief replay review.

Jose Altuve homered on the game's first pitch for the Astros, who have lost three in a row.

Dominic Leone pitched 1 2-3 innings for his first major league win in 16 appearances, and Fernando Rodney pitched a perfect ninth for his 12th save.

Houston starter Jarred Cosart had kept Seattle's offense largely bottled up until the seventh inning.

RANGERS-TIGERS

Rangers rout Tigers 9-2

DETROIT (AP) Shin-Soo Choo homered, Chris Gimenez had four hits and the Texas Rangers rolled to a 9-2 victory over the slumping Detroit Tigers on Thursday.

Texas was without Prince Fielder, who stayed home when the Rangers left for Detroit to face the big first baseman's former team. Fielder has been out because of a herniated disk in his neck.

Yu Darvish allowed two runs and six hits in seven innings, striking out six and walking three. The Rangers broke through quickly against Detroit rookie Robbie Ray, who lasted only 3 1-3 innings. Ray allowed seven runs, nine hits and four walks, and the AL Central-leading Tigers lost their fourth straight.

Ian Kinsler, who was traded to Detroit for Fielder in an offseason blockbuster, went 1 for 3 in his first game against the Rangers.

BIG12-OKLAHOMA-TEXAS TECH

Sooners rally to beat Texas Tech in Big 12 tourney

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Sheldon Neuse's single in the bottom of the ninth inning scored two and gave Oklahoma a 9-8 win over Texas Tech that eliminated the Red Raiders from the Big 12 tournament Thursday.

Neuse's single with the bases loaded and one out scored Craig Aikin and Colbey Carpenter. Aikin had four hits, Neuse knocked in four runs and Carpenter had three hits.

Kindle Ladd earned the win in one inning of scoreless relief for Oklahoma.

Tyler Nelsony had four hits and knocked in two runs for the Red Raiders.

Texas Tech led 8-3 heading into the bottom of the eighth inning. Cameron Smith, the losing pitcher, gave way to Dalton Brown in the bottom of the ninth, and Brown gave up the game-winning hit.

BIG 12-TCU-WEST VIRGINIA

TCU knocks off West Virginia in Big 12 tourney

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Preston Morrison threw a complete game and led TCU to a 6-2 win over West Virginia in the Big 12 tournament Thursday at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.

Morrison, the Big 12 Pitcher of the Year, allowed two runs on seven hits, struck out six and walked just one.

Dylan Fitzgerald had two hits and Garrett Crain and Jerrick Suiter each knocked in two runs for the second-seeded Horned Frogs (40-15). TCU advanced to Saturday's action and needs one more win to reach the final.

Bobby Boyd had two hits and Billy Fleming and Ryan McBroom each knocked in a run for West Virginia (28-25). Corey Walter lasted 7 2/3 innings and gave up six runs on four hits.

West Virginia will play Baylor Friday afternoon in an elimination game.

RANGERS-FIELDER

Fielder facing season-ending neck surgery

UNDATED (AP) Prince Fielder is expected to have neck surgery next week and miss the rest of the season.

Texas Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said Thursday that the herniated disk in Fielder's neck has gotten worse, and that Dr. Drew Dossett recommended surgery.

Daniels said the surgery is tentatively set for Tuesday. The GM says the team will get a second opinion, but expects the diagnosis to be confirmed.

Fielder had played in 547 consecutive games, then the longest active streak in the majors, before receiving a nerve root block injection Saturday to treat his neck.

Texas acquired Fielder last winter from Detroit in a trade for second baseman Ian Kinsler.

Fielder, who turned 30 earlier this month, had played all 162 games in four of the last five seasons.

RANGERS-OUTFIELD COLLISION

Rangers' Robertson shaken up in OF collision

DETROIT (AP) Texas center fielder Daniel Robertson has left Thursday's game against Detroit after colliding with right fielder Alex Rios while trying to make a diving catch in the third inning.

Ian Kinsler of the Tigers lifted a flyball to shallow right-center, and Robertson came charging in before diving headfirst in an attempt to make the play. Rios, meanwhile, came sliding in from the right, and the two collided on the ground. Neither was able to catch the ball, and Kinsler ended up on second.

Robertson remained down for a short while, and he eventually walked off the field and was replaced by Leonys Martin in center.

CUBAN-BIGOTRY COMMENTS

Mark Cuban apologizes to Trayvon Martin family

UNDATED (AP) Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has apologized to the family of Trayvon Martin for his choice of words in an interview regarding bigotry and prejudice.

Cuban spoke about the sensitive subjects in an interview with Inc. magazine, revealing some of his own prejudices. In the interview, he says he would walk to the other side of a street if he saw "a black kid in a hoodie and it's late at night" or if he encountered a "white guy, bald head, tattoos everywhere."

Hooded sweatshirts, or "hoodies," became a rallying emblem of sorts for protesters during the case involving Martin, the black teen from Florida who was shot and killed by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman in February 2012.

On Twitter, Cuban says he should have used different examples.

GAY-DRUMMOND

Former coach sues Tyson Gay, says he's facing ban

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) Track coach Jon Drummond coach says he's facing a lifetime ban over doping charges from the same organization that pursued Lance Armstrong.

Drummond made the statements in a lawsuit he filed this week against the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency and Tyson Gay, the former sprint champion serving a one-year suspension for using a banned substance.

Drummond, a former Olympic sprinter, accuses USADA and Gay of defamation by suggesting that he encouraged Gay to use creams with banned substances or HGH. Drummond said he tried to throw out potentially banned supplements and accused Gay of lying to investigators to win a lighter suspension.

Gay returned the silver medal he won at the 2012 London Olympics after testing positive.

No court date has been scheduled in the case.