We win one in extras, thank God Vlad didn’t fall when he stumbled after third base.
Stop me if you’ve heard this one:
The Jays got an excellent start from their starting pitcher Alek Manoah. Alek was terrific through 6 innings, allowing just 1 hit and hitting a batter (though as Alek calmly suggested to the plate umpire, it seemed that Willi Castro moved his knee into the path of the ball), with 7 strikeouts.
He did seem to tire in the seventh, when he gave up 3 singles, with 1 strikeout, leaving the game with runners on the corners and 1 run in.
Trevor Richards relieved and got a ground ball to short, hit just a little too softly for a double play, so the tying run scored.
Joakim Soria pitched a scoreless eighth, even after walking the leadoff hitter. But two strikeouts (the first helped out by Derek Hill trying, and failing, to bunt) and a fly out got him out of the inning.
Jordan Romano started the ninth. He gave up a 1-out single but that was it. Romano came back out for the tenth (see below).
Offensively? Well, we’ve had more hits (12) than we’ve had most games lately, but they just added up to 3 runs. 12 hits were offset by a 2 for 9 night with RISP.
We got:
A run in the sixth: Alejandro Kirk hit his 4th home run of the season.
A run in the seventh: Randal Grichuk got a “single” on a popup that the Tigers’ second baseman lost in the sky. Two outs later Bo singled him home. Vlad followed with another single but Kirk couldn’t keep the inning going.
And then the run in the 10th, see below.
Dickerson (who hadn’t really grown on me) had 3 hits, including the game-winning. Bo and Lourdes had 2 each (Bo had a steal and was caught steal, though replays seemed to suggest he was safe). Lourdes also had 2 walks.
Everyone in the starting lineup had a hit, except for Santiago Espinal, who came out of the game with a hip flexor strain. You’ll likely remember that Kirk missed a month with that injury earlier in the season, but I’d imagine there are different grades of that strain. I’m hoping it won’t be as bad for Santiago.
We did manage to score the Manfred Man (Vlad) in the tenth. Corey Dickerson singled to left, Vlad read it well but then stumbled a bit when he rounded third. Still, he was safe with a bit to spare. Lourdes Gurriel walked to put runners on first and second, but Teoscar popped out.
Romano stayed in the game for the bottom of the tenth. Zack Short came in as Manfred Man. But Zack was thrown out 6-5 trying to get to third on a ground ball to short. Zack got a late start going to third, and Bo made a very nice throw. Willi Castro hit a fly to medium right field. A strikeout ended the game and, I’m not sure I believe it myself, Jays win in extras.
Jays of the Day: Romano (.553 WPA, good of Charlie to put him out for the second inning), Dickerson (.380), Soria (.112), and Manoah (.099). Gurriel deserves an honorable mention.
Suckage: Randal (-.348), Semien (-.140), Teoscar (-.142). Vlad had the number too, but scoring that run was big, and I worried that he would have waited to make sure it wasn’t caught.
Tomorrow is a 1:00 Eastern start. Berrios has to have a much much better start than his last. Matt Boyd starts for the Tigers.
We had 473 comments in the GameThread. I led us to a much-appreciated win.
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
