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Surging Blue Jays continue to close in on Yankees in AL playoff race – Sportsnet.ca

Published

3 years ago

September 9, 2021

TORONTO – Now is the time for the Toronto Blue Jays to get greedy.

By winning the first two games of their series against the Yankees, they had already assured themselves of a split in the Bronx – never an easy feat. With six consecutive wins and victories in nine of their last 10 games entering play Wednesday, they had convincingly reinserted themselves into a race that very nearly left them behind.

But why stop there? In a closely contested American League playoff picture, it’s possible 90-plus wins will be required to advance. With that in mind, the Blue Jays still have lots of work to do, all of which adds significance to the 6-3 win they managed at Yankee Stadium Wednesday night.

Thanks to a solid outing from Alek Manoah, some excellent relief pitching and offensive contributions from some of their biggest stars, the Blue Jays closed to within 1.5 games of the Yankees. Meanwhile, a Boston win over the Rays keeps the Blue Jays 2.0 games back of the Red Sox, who overtake the Yankees for the top AL wild card spot.

Yes, it’s scoreboard watching season for the 76-62 Blue Jays – and the way they’re now playing, their AL East rivals will need to keep a close watch on them, too. The Blue Jays’ win Wednesday gives them seven in a row with 24 games remaining over the next three and a half weeks.

“It’s pretty huge,” Manoah said afterwards. “The guys are swinging the bat really good. The bullpen’s throwing the crap out of it. Starting pitching’s been amazing. Can’t win any championships in September. Just have continue to play good ball and keep it going the whole way.”

The resurgent offence that’s fueled many of the Blue Jays’ recent wins wasn’t entirely there against 23-year-old Yankees right-hander Luis Gil. But even though they only connected for seven hits, the Blue Jays walked 11 times, including a 13-pitch base on balls by Teoscar Hernandez in the fifth.

To the Blue Jays’ credit, they made most of their hits count. Marcus Semien drove in two with a fourth-inning single that gave the Blue Jays an early lead. But with two out and two on in the bottom of the fifth inning, Brett Gardner pulled a 3-2 pitch down the right field line, and the game was tied once again.

At times this year, the Blue Jays have had trouble adding on late runs, but that wasn’t the case this time. Hernandez drove Semien home with a single in the seventh and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. started another rally with a triple to right field in the eighth.

Jarrod Dyson promptly replaced Gurriel Jr. on the bases and scored moments later when another Blue Jays newcomer, Jake Lamb, hit a sacrifice fly. Then in the ninth, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. pulled an Aroldis Chapman fastball over the left field wall for his 41st home run of the season, a hit that raised his MLB-best batting average to .320.

Despite allowing the Gardner home run, Manoah recovered to pitch 5.2 innings while allowing just three earned runs. And even though the effort didn’t end nearly as well as it began, it’s worth appreciating how far he has come since debuting at Yankee Stadium on May 27. Since then, the excitement of a big-league debut has been replaced by the focus that a playoff race demands while the results have remained impressive.

“These games mean a lot more than my debut meant,” Manoah said. “So just continue to go out there and give it my all. Doesn’t matter what day it is.”

“He was outstanding,” Montoyo added. “I trust him. The more pitches he throws, the better he gets. He gave us a chance on a day there was no room for error.”

On a night Manoah didn’t get through the sixth inning, the Blue Jays needed plenty of help from their bullpen especially since Tim Mayza was unavailable after pitching in consecutive games.

Trevor Richards entered with two on and two out in the sixth to strike out Gary Sanchez and he returned to record the first two outs of the seventh before turning the ball over to Adam Cimber, who struck out Anthony Rizzo to preserve the Blue Jays’ narrow lead. From there, Jordan Romano closed it out for his 16th save of the season.

“If we’re gonna do this thing we’ve got to be all in,” Cimber said. “We’re all locked in right now and excited for this push … Everyone’s having fun and letting loose. Whatever happens happens and we’re enjoying ourselves.”

Before the game, the Blue Jays activated Julian Merryweather, who emerged early in the season as an intriguing late-inning relief option with a four-pitch mix before hitting the injured list with an oblique strain on April 13. Nearly five months later, he’s back – and while relying on Merryweather might be imprudent, his strike-throwing ability and plus pitches are at least enough to inspire hope.

Next up, the Blue Jays will face Nestor Cortes Jr., a crafty left-hander who keeps hitters off-balance with an unpredictable delivery. But with Jose Berrios set to start the series finale for the Blue Jays, they have a legitimate chance at a rare four-game sweep in the Bronx.

“Pitching’s keeping us in the games,” Montoyo said. “Our five starters are doing awesome which means we have a chance to win every night.”

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Champions Trophy host Pakistan says it’s not been told India wants to play cricket games elsewhere

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

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.”

Pakistan hosted last year’s Asia Cup but all India games were played in Sri Lanka under a hybrid model for the tournament. Only months later Pakistan did travel to India for the 50-over World Cup.

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.

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Dabrowski, Routlife into WTA doubles final with win over Melichar-Martinez, Perez

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

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.

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Winger Tajon Buchanan back with Canada after recovering from broken leg

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.

The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.

Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.

There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.

Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.

But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.

The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”

The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.

Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.

Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.

Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.

Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.

“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”

“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.

Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.

Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.

The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.

Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.

Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.

Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.

Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.

Canada Roster

Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).

Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).

Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).

Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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