Sports

Gaviglio collapse leads to latest flop at the Trop in Blue Jays loss – Toronto Sun

Published

4 years ago

July 26, 2020

We’ll save the question for just what is an ideal spot for Blue Jays reliever Sam Gaviglio for another day and perhaps a more extensive body of work in 2020.

But let’s go with what was pretty much apparent on Saturday afternoon down at Tropicana Field: That the right-hander with a fastball that touches 90 mph when it is really humming, probably isn’t best suited to the eighth inning of a 1-1 ball game.

With weary early-season arms in the bullpen drastically limiting his options, Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo took a shot on a pitcher he has had an affinity for in his time with the Jays and trotted Gaviglio out in that high-leverage spot under the St. Pete, Fla., dome.

And by doing so, the manager and his hungry young team paid the price.

A walk, a balk and a bases-clearing triple allowed by Gaviglio in the eighth turned a 1-1 game into 4-1 win Rays win to even up the three-game season-opening series at a victory apiece.

The Gaviglio gas can move — a decision Montoyo feels he essentially had to do given the workload his bullpen got in Friday’s opener — wasted a strong starting effort from starter Matt Shoemaker, who took to the mound in a regular-season game for the first time in more than 15 months.

It also denied the Jays a chance to take back-to-back road wins against a Rays team coming that is coming off a playoff appearance in 2019 and predicted by many to get back to the post season again this year.

“I said he would be used in a high-leverage situation and it was a high-leverage situation,” Montoyo said of Gaviglio, who managed just one out but gave up two walks and two hits before being removed. “He didn’t have it. He wasn’t locating his stuff. He didn’t located his pitches and he paid the price.”

Montoyo couldn’t account for Gaviglio’s off outing, given his belief in the pitcher, and you can debate the manager’s assessment of right hander. But in fairness to Montoyo, his options beyond leaving in A.J. Cole — who had breezed through an easy seventh inning — were limited.

In the 6-4 win at the Trop the night before, he had used up some of that set up firepower with Jordan Romano, Anthony Bass and Rafael Dolis all getting work and unavailable to pitch on short rest.

“That’s why Sammy was in that situation, of course,” Montoyo said.

The Jays clearly didn’t help themselves on offence as Rays starter Ryan Yarbrough pitched 5.1 shutout innings at them.

The price for such losses will be dearer than most years given the shortened season and the heightened playoff implications attached to each game. But the Jays aren’t about to beat themselves over one frustrating loss just yet.

Still, one of the measuring sticks of a developing team will be how they respond late in tight games. While this one could have gone either way, the Jays fell to 7-11 in games that were tied through seven innings through the start of the 2019 season.

REALLY GOOD SHOE

It was quite an afternoon for Shoemaker, who was making his first start in 15 months and went six strong innings allowing just three hits and one run.

The right-hander — who suffered a season-ending knee injury in a rundown against Oakland last April, allowed back-to-back singles in the first but not another hit until Ji-Man Choi touched him for a double in the sixth.

“It’s exciting to say the least,” Shoemaker said of returning to action. “We’re finally back to baseball. Building back up and getting ready and back where we all want to be. The adrenaline was flowing.”

The latest outing was the 10th consecutive effort in which Shoemaker allowed five hits or fewer. A veteran leader in the clubhouse, the right hander certainly has shown the potential of forming a nice one-two punch at the front of the rotation with free agent signee, Hyun-Jin Ryu.

“I’m really happy about his outing,” Montoyo said. “He was outstanding. Having Ryu and Shoemaker … that’s good news.”

GAME ON

The Rays winning blow came from the bat of Brandon Lowe, who drove in two with an eighth-inning triple …
The lone Jays run came off the bat of Reese McGuire, whose solo blast in the seventh tied the game at 1-1. The eighth homer of the catcher’s career ensured that Shoemaker wouldn’t take the loss … Shoemaker was replaced by A.J. Cole who breezed through a three-up, three-down seventh on just 10 pitches … When Cavan Biggio reached with a first-pitch single in the second inning, it extended his on-base stretch to an MBL-best 31 games. It’s also the longest streak by a Jay since Jose Bautista reached 33 in 2016 …Right fielder Teoscar Hernandez went 0-for-4 at the plate to snap a 10-game hit streak … Clutch for Yarbrough was getting out of a bases-loaded jam in a 21-pitch fourth inning.

REVOLVING ROTATION

The coy hype preceding the debut of the Jays top pitching prospect Nate Pearson will continue until the club is through with its service time manipulation, likely some time in the middle of next week. But with Pearson still on the Taxi squad, Montoyo has to get creative with his starter in Sunday’s rubber match by starting Thomas Hatch. The Rays will counter with lefty ace, Blake Snell. Montoyo did say that it won’t be long before Pearson and lefty Ryan Borucki in game action. “They aren’t going to go too long there,” Montoyo said of the two pitchers that are on the taxi squad but have joined the team on the season-opening road trip. “We’re not going to do that to those guys. If we don’t think we are going to activate them soon, we are going to send them back.”

AROUND THE BASES

Dante Bichette (father of Bo) who was such a hit with batters as a guest instructor has been retained for the season and will appear in the Jays dugout as what the team is calling a major league coach … Lourdes Gurriel Jr. became the first Jays player to regularly wear a mask while at the plate and on the base paths … Losing a tight one at the Trop shouldn’t really come as a surprise to the Jays who are 3-9 in their last 12 at the St. Pete stadium and have a league worst .397 win percentage under the dome … Shoemaker, who was making his 99th career start, on playing in an empty stadium: “I have tunnel vision so it doesn’t bother me, but it’s noticeable. It’s definitely odd. We want sold out crowds and fans in the stands. We build off of that.”

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Sports

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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AP cricket:

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Sports

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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