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Blue Jays miss chance to build on momentum after avoidable loss to Mariners – Sportsnet.ca

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3 years ago

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TORONTO – All night, the Blue Jays appeared to be on the brink of breaking out offensively, and when Lourdes Gurriel Jr. finally hit a game-tying home run in the eighth, a fourth consecutive win seemed well within reach for the Blue Jays.

But with Patrick Murphy pitching and runners on the corners in the 10th inning, Dylan Moore hit a three-run homer deep over the left field wall at Buffalo’s Sahlen Field. With that, a team that’s struggled in close games faltered in the late innings once again, missing an opportunity to build further momentum and enduring an avoidable loss as a result.

Despite a 10th-inning rally of their own, the Blue Jays lost 9-7, falling to 2-5 in extra innings and 41-37 on the season.

“We scored enough to make it a game, it just wasn’t enough there at the end,” manager Charlie Montoyo said afterwards.

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From the start, the Blue Jays were in trouble as Steven Matz’s first start in 18 days was a brief one – the left-hander allowed four earned runs on five hits before exiting after just 2.2 innings. While he did top out at 95.1 m.p.h., his average fastball velocity was down 1.1 m.p.h. compared to his yearly average and he generated just four swinging strikes.

“My velocity was a tick down today, the life on my fastball wasn’t quite there, the curveball wasn’t as sharp and the command was up in the zone a bit as well,” Matz explained. “That’s what I mean when I say the sharpness on pitches, that little extra life on pitches, just wasn’t there.”

Though he tested positive for COVID-19, Matz said he was largely asymptomatic. Still, he had to isolate for 10 days after the test, and his regular throwing routines were thrown off as a result. From Montoyo’s perspective, Matz’s stuff wasn’t as lively as usual because of that absence.

“It looked like rust,” Montoyo said. “He wasn’t sharp, (but) I’m expecting him to be sharp next time because now he’s had this outing.”

Ben Nicholson-Smith is Sportsnet’s baseball editor. Arden Zwelling is a senior writer. Together, they bring you the most in-depth Blue Jays podcast in the league, covering off all the latest news with opinion and analysis, as well as interviews with other insiders and team members.

Once Matz exited, the Blue Jays turned to Trent Thornton, who allowed two runs of his own, and Anthony Kay, who looked sharp over four scoreless innings while striking out five. But by then, the damage had been done, and though the Blue Jays kept adding baserunners, they didn’t convert enough of them as the game unfolded.

To be fair, ­­­­­the game wouldn’t have been as close as it was without a big offensive game from Gurriel Jr., who got the start at first base Wednesday with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at DH. Before hitting his game-tying homer, Gurriel Jr. also brought the Blue Jays to within one with a fifth inning single.

The difference between wins and losses is minuscule on nights like this, as the Blue Jays know all too well. But if there’s an antidote to losses in close games, it’s quality relief pitching. With that in mind, the more the Blue Jays can add to their pitching staff, the better they’ll be able to withstand those disruptions and let their offence do its thing.

To be fair, it sounds as though the Blue Jays see it that way, too. At this stage, GM Ross Atkins is open to starting pitching, relief pitching or defence – anything to keep the opposition from scoring.

“The run prevention category will take up the bulk of our focus,” Atkins said.

For instance, the right starter could bump Ross Stripling to more of a long relief role and better equip the Blue Jays to handle nights like Wednesday. Along those lines, further bullpen upgrades would mean the Blue Jays can ease rookies like Murphy in instead of immediately relying on them in leverage.

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With relievers Rafael Dolis, Ryan Borucki and Julian Merryweather all trending in the right direction, some bullpen help is coming from within. More immediately, the addition of submariner Adam Cimber will help.

“Elite soft contact, elite ground balls and strike throwing ability,” Atkins said of Cimber. “What we see as three elite weapons in the four-seam, two-seam and slider were very attractive in addition to it being a unique look for our bullpen.”

But with Nate Pearson’s status still uncertain, it’s hard to count on much from him at this point. The Blue Jays continue seeking opinions on the groin strain that forced him to the triple-A injured list in case there’s a reason Pearson’s groin has already sidelined him twice this season.

“It’s starting to feel as though there could be something underlying (with) the nature of this reoccurrence, but at the same time we still have no evidence of that after multiple opinions,” Atkins said. “There’s the potential of it.”

At this point Pearson’s “frustrated, but coping with it well,” according to Atkins, who says the Blue Jays are hopeful their top pitching prospect will return this year. But it’s also possible some sort of surgery will be required depending on what else the Blue Jays learn.

With or without Pearson, there’s work to do on this team. The Blue Jays are acting and talking like a team intent on making further improvements, so the opportunity here isn’t lost on the front office. What they do with it over the next month or so will be nearly as intriguing as what happens between the lines.

“I feel like there’s going to be more opportunities for us and we’re very hopeful that we’ll be able to execute on them, but feel like we’re in a good position,” Atkins said. “I feel like Charlie Montoyo and his staff and our players have earned the right for us to continue to complement this group. We’ll work hard to do that.”

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Red Wings sign Moritz Seider to 7-year deal worth nearly $60M

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8 hours ago

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September 19, 2024

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DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Red Wings made another investment this week in a young standout, signing Moritz Seider to a seven-year contract worth nearly $60 million.

The Red Wings announced the move with the 23-year-old German defenseman on Thursday, three days after keeping 22-year-old forward Lucas Raymond with a $64.6 million, eight-year deal.

Detroit drafted Seider with the No. 6 pick overall eight years ago and he has proven to be a great pick. He has 134 career points, the most by a defenseman drafted in 2019.

He was the NHL’s only player to have at least 200 hits and block 200-plus shots last season, when he scored a career-high nine goals and had 42 points for the second straight year.

Seider won the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie in 2022 after he had a career-high 50 points.

Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman is banking on Seider, whose contract will count $8.55 million annually against the cap, and Raymond to turn a rebuilding team into a winner.

Detroit has failed to make the playoffs in eight straight seasons, the longest postseason drought in franchise history.

The Red Wings, who won four Stanley Cups from 1997 to 2008, have been reeling since their run of 25 straight postseasons ended in 2016.

Detroit was 41-32-9 last season and finished with a winning record for the first time since its last playoff appearance.

Yzerman re-signed Patrick Kane last summer and signed some free agents, including Vladimir Tarasenko to a two-year contract worth $9.5 million after he helped the Florida Panthers hoist the Cup.

___

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Veterans Tyson Beukeboom, Karen Paquin lead Canada’s team at WXV rugby tournament

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9 hours ago

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September 19, 2024

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Veterans Tyson Beukeboom and Karen Paquin will lead Canada at the WXV 1 women’s rugby tournament starting later this month in the Vancouver area.

WXV 1 includes the top three teams from the Women’s Six Nations (England, France and Ireland) and the top three teams from the Pacific Four Series (Canada, New Zealand, and the United States).

Third-ranked Canada faces No. 4 France, No. 7 Ireland and No. 1 England in the elite division of the three-tiered WXV tournament that runs Sept. 29 to Oct. 12 in Vancouver and Langley, B.C. No. 2 New Zealand and the eighth-ranked U.S. make up the six-team WVX 1 field.

“Our preparation time was short but efficient. This will be a strong team,” Canada coach Kevin Rouet said in a statement. “All the players have worked very hard for the last couple of weeks to prepare for WXV and we are excited for these next three matches and for the chance to play on home soil here in Vancouver against the best rugby teams in the world.

“France, Ireland and England will each challenge us in different ways but it’s another opportunity to test ourselves and another step in our journey to the Rugby World Cup next year.”

Beukeboom serves as captain in the injury absence of Sophie de Goede. The 33-year-old from Uxbridge, Ont., earned her Canadian-record 68th international cap in Canada’s first-ever victory over New Zealand in May at the Pacific Four Series.

Twenty three of the 30 Canadian players selected for WXV 1 were part of that Pacific Four Series squad.

Rouet’s roster includes the uncapped Asia Hogan-Rochester, Caroline Crossley and Rori Wood.

Hogan-Rochester and Crossley were part of the Canadian team that won rugby sevens silver at the Paris Olympics, along with WXV teammates Fancy Bermudez, Olivia Apps, Alysha Corrigan and Taylor Perry. Wood is a veteran of five seasons at UBC.

The 37-year-old Paquin, who has 38 caps for Canada including the 2014 Rugby World Cup, returns to the team for the first time since the 2021 World Cup.

Canada opens the tournament Sept. 29 against France at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver before facing Ireland on Oct. 5 at Willoughby Stadium at Langley Events Centre, and England on Oct. 12 at B.C. Place.

The second-tier WXV 2 and third-tier WXV 3 are slated to run Sept. 27 to Oct. 12, in South Africa and Dubai, respectively.

WXV 2 features Australia, Italy, Japan, Scotland, South Africa and Wales while WXV 3 is made up of Fiji, Hong Kong, Madagascar, the Netherlands, Samoa and Spain.

The tournament has 2025 World Cup qualification implications, although Canada, New Zealand and France, like host England, had already qualified by reaching the semifinals of the last tournament.

Ireland, South Africa, the U.S., Japan, Fiji and Brazil have also booked their ticket, with the final six berths going to the highest-finishing WXV teams who have not yet qualified through regional tournaments.

Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team WXV 1 Squad

Forwards

Alexandria Ellis, Ottawa, Stade Français Paris (France); Brittany Kassil, Guelph, Ont., Guelph Goats; Caroline Crossley, Victoria, Castaway Wanderers; Courtney Holtkamp, Rimbey, Alta., Red Deer Titans Rugby; DaLeaka Menin, Vulcan, Alta., Exeter Chiefs (England); Emily Tuttosi, Souris, Man., Exeter Chiefs (England); Fabiola Forteza, Quebec City, Stade Bordelais (France); Gabrielle Senft, Regina, Saracens (England); Gillian Boag, Calgary, Gloucester-Hartpury (England); Julia Omokhuale, Calgary, Leicester Tigers (England); Karen Paquin, Quebec City, Club de rugby de Quebec; Laetitia Royer, Loretteville, Que., ASM Romagnat (France); McKinley Hunt, King City, Ont., Saracens (England); Pamphinette Buisa, Gatineau, Que., Ottawa Irish; Rori Wood, Sooke, B.C., College Rifles RFC; Sara Cline, Edmonton, Leprechaun Tigers; Tyson Beukeboom, Uxbridge, Ont., Ealing Trailfinders (England);

Backs

Alexandra Tessier, Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, Que., Exeter Chiefs (England); Alysha Corrigan, Charlottetown, P.E.I., CRFC; Asia Hogan-Rochester, Toronto, Toronto Nomads; Claire Gallagher, Caledon, Ont., Leicester Tigers (England); Fancy Bermudez, Edmonton, Saracens (England); Julia Schell, Uxbridge, Ont., Ealing Trailfinders (England); Justine Pelletier, Rivière-du-Loup, Que, Stade Bordelais (France); Mahalia Robinson, Fulford, Que., Town of Mount Royal RFC; Olivia Apps, Lindsay, Ont., Lindsay RFC; Paige Farries, Red Deer, Alta., Saracens (England); Sara Kaljuvee, Ajax, Ont., Westshore RFC; Shoshanah Seumanutafa, White Rock, B.C., Counties Manukau (New Zealand); Taylor Perry, Oakville, Ont., Exeter Chiefs (England).

—

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 18, 2024.

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Vancouver Canucks star goalie Thatcher Demko working through rare muscle injury

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9 hours ago

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September 19, 2024

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PENTICTON, B.C. – Vancouver Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko says he’s been working his way back from a rare lower-body muscle injury since being sidelined in last season’s playoffs.

The 28-year-old all star says the rehabilitation process has been frustrating, but he has made good progress in recent weeks and is confident he’ll be able to return to playing.

He says he and his medical team have spent the last few months talking to specialists around the world, and have not found a single other hockey player who has dealt with the same injury.

Demko missed several weeks of the last season with a knee ailment and played just one game in Vancouver’s playoff run last spring before going down with the current injury.

He was not on the ice with his teammates as the Canucks started training camp in Penticton, B.C., on Thursday, but skated on his own before the sessions began.

Demko posted a 35-14-2 record with a .918 percentage, a 2.45 goals-against average and five shutouts for Vancouver last season.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.

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