Kraken to fill roster in today's NHL Expansion Draft

First came the NHL’s announcement that Seattle would get an expansion franchise. Then came the team name followed by a coach and GM. By day’s end, the Kraken will have players to don the uniforms this season.

Today is the NHL expansion draft when the Kraken can sign one player away from 30 other teams in the league. Seattle must take at least 14 forwards, 9 defensemen and three goalies and at least 20 who are under contract for next season.

Some of the top players left unprotected and available to Seattle are Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price, St. Louis Blues forward Vladimir Tarasenko, Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin, and Nashville Predators forwards Ryan Johansen and Matt Duchene.

About 4,000 fans are expected at Gasworks Park along Lake Union for today’s announcement. The Expansion Draft presented by Upper Deck is on ESPN-2.

Former AppleSox Marco Gonzales had a much-better outing in Denver last night where the Mariners topped the Rockies 6-to-4…

Gonzales pitched 5-solid innings to earn his first victory since April 15th. He allowed 2-runs on 6-hits with three strikeouts and three walks. The two runs came in the bottom of the 5th on Connor Joe’s first Major League home run.

Seattle countered in the top of the 6th with Cal Raleigh at the plate, looking for his first Major League RBI after getting his first career-base hit earlier in the game…

Dylan Moore followed suit with a 2-run shot to give the Mariners its first lead…

Ty France provided some much-needed run support in the Mile-High City in the top of the 7th…

C.J. Cron hit a 2-run home run in the 8th but Kendall Graveman was able to get the Rockies out in the 9th for the save. Manager Scott Servais talked about Marco’s day on the mound and Cal getting his first hits…

Seattle was wrapping up the quick, 2-game series today at Colorado with the Rockies rudely greeting Kenyan Middleton with 5-runs in the first inning. We’ll have the wrap up of today’s game on Wake Up Wenatchee Valley tomorrow morning here on the NCWLIFE Channel.

Seattle’s win helped them keep pace with the rest of the American League West as the A’s beat the Angels 6-nothing. Matt Olson was 2-for-3 with a home run while James Kaprielian and three relievers kept Los Angeles’ offense quiet.

Tarik Skubal and three relievers held Texas to 1-run on 4-hits as Detroit topped the Rangers 4-1.

Jose Altuve homered twice and Kyle Tucker had a 2-run shot in a 5-run 5th inning for Houston as the Astros beat Cleveland 9-to-3.

Solid pitching and timely hitting helped Wenatchee to a 7-1 win at Walla Walla last night…

Cole Hatton pitched 5-innings to earn his first victory of the season, allowing 1-run on 5-hits with 5-strikeouts and 3-walks. Michael DeFelippi held the Sweets in check in his 1-inning of relief and Skylar Hales worked the final three innings to earn the save.

Wenatchee opened the scoring in the top of the first on Adam Grob’s RBI-triple. The ‘Sox added two more in the 4th on an error by the catcher and sacrifice fly by Garrett Cutting.

Walla Walla had cut the lead to 3-1 in the 5th before Wenatchee played add-on in the 9th, scoring 4-runs on 2-run singles by John Newman and Dakota Duffalo.

The two teams play again tonight at 6:35 and you can hear all the action with Joel Norman on Sunny FM.

In other West Coast League play last night, Leo Mosby’s 2-run home run capped a 4-run 3rd inning for Portland as the Pickles beat Cowlitz 8-to-2.

In Yakima, Noah Williamson was 2-for-4 with a run, RBI and triple to lead the Pippins over Bend 4-to-2.

Tanner Jacues’ solo home run led to a 4-run 5th inning for Ridgefield as the Raptors beat Port Angeles 6-to-2. Carson Walters worked 5-and-two-thirds innings of relief with 8-strikeouts for the win.

Joey Dixon pitched six shutout innings while striking out 9 to lead Bellingham over the Northwest Star Academy 6-nothing. Malakhi Knight’s 3-run home run in the bottom of the 2nd would be all the offense the Bells would need on the night.

Wenatchee’s win over Walla Walla brought the AppleSox to within a game of the Sweets in the chase for the second-half playoff spot. Yakima Valley is already in the post-season with its 1st half title, so it’s a battle between the AppleSox, Sweets, Bells and Lefties for the final playoff spot in the North Division.

Ridgefield’s win last night was its 5th-straight in West Coast League play.

Wenatchee and Walla Walla play again at Borleske Stadium tonight at 6:35. Also, it’s Bend at Yakima Valley; Ridgefield at Port Angeles; Portland at Cowlitz; and Bellingham hosting the Northwest Star Academy.