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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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Fernandez and Dabrowski headline Canadian lineup for Billie Jean King Cup Finals

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9 hours ago

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September 16, 2024

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TORONTO – Singles star Leylah Fernandez and doubles specialist Gabriela Dabrowski will anchor Canada’s five-player lineup when the team tries to defend its Billie Jean King Cup title in mid-November.

The 26th-ranked Fernandez, the 2021 U.S. Open finalist from Laval, Que., is the lone Canadian in the top 100 of the WTA Tour’s singles rankings.

Dabrowski, from Ottawa, is ranked fourth on the doubles list. The 2023 U.S. Open women’s doubles champion won mixed doubles bronze with Felix Auger-Aliassime at the recent Paris Olympics.

Marina Stakusic of Mississauga, Ont., returns after a breakout performance last year, capped by her singles win in Canada’s 2-0 victory over Italy in the final. Vancouver’s Rebecca Marino is also back and Bianca Andreescu, the 2019 U.S. Open champion from Mississauga, Ont., returns to the squad for the first time since 2022.

“Winning the Billie Jean King Cup in 2023 was a dream come true for us, and not only that, but I feel like we made a statement to the world about the strength of this nation when it comes to tennis,” Canada captain Heidi El Tabakh said Monday in a release. “Once again, we have a very strong team this year with Bianca joining Leylah, Gaby, Rebecca and Marina, making it an extremely powerful team that is more than capable of going all the way.

“At the end of the day, our goal is to make Canada proud, and we’ll do our best to bring the same level of effort and excitement that we had in last year’s finals.”

Fernandez, who beat Jasmine Paolini to clinch Canada’s first-ever title at the competition, is ranked No. 42 in doubles.

Canada, which received an automatic berth as defending champion, will play the winner of the first-round tie between Great Britain and Germany on Nov. 17 at Malaga’s Martin Carpena Arena.

Australia, Italy and wild-card entry Czechia also received first-round byes. The tournament, which continues through Nov. 20, also includes host Spain, Slovakia, the United States, Poland, Japan and Romania.

Stakusic is up 27 spots to No. 128 in the latest world singles rankings. Marino is at No. 134 and Andreescu, the 2019 U.S. Open champion, is ranked 167th.

Canada will look to become the first team since Czechia in 2016 to successfully defend its Billie Jean King Cup title.

Malaga will also host the Nov. 19-24 Davis Cup Final 8. The Canadian men qualified over the weekend with a 2-1 victory over Great Britain in Manchester.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 16, 2024.

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Penguins re-sign Crosby to two-year extension that runs through 2026-27 season

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9 hours ago

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September 16, 2024

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PITTSBURGH – Sidney Crosby plans to remain a Pittsburgh Penguin for at least three more years.

The Penguins announced on Monday that they re-signed the 37-year-old from Cole Harbour, N.S., to a two-year contract extension that has an average annual value of US$8.7 million. The deal runs through the 2026-27 season.

Crosby was eligible to sign an extension on July 1 with him entering the final season of a 12-year, $104.4-million deal that carries an $8.7-million salary cap hit.

At the NHL/NHLPA player media tour in Las Vegas last Monday, he said things were positive and he was optimistic about a deal getting done.

The three-time Stanley Cup champion is coming off a 42-goal, 94-point campaign that saw him finish tied for 12th in the league scoring race.

Crosby has spent all 19 of his NHL seasons in Pittsburgh, amassing 592 goals and 1,004 assists in 1,272 career games.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 16, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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Slovenia’s Tadej Pogacar wins Grand Prix Cycliste de Montreal

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20 hours ago

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September 16, 2024

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MONTREAL – Tadej Pogacar was so dominant on Sunday, Canada’s Michael Woods called it a race for second.

Pogacar, a three-time Tour de France champion from Slovenia, pedalled to a resounding victory at the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montreal.

The UAE Team Emirates leader crossed the finish line 24 seconds ahead of Spain’s Pello Bilbao of Bahrain — Victorious to win the demanding 209.1-kilometre race on a sunny, 28 C day in Montreal. France’s Julian Alaphilippe of Soudal Quick-Step was third.

“He’s the greatest rider of all time, he’s a formidable opponent,” said Woods, who finished 45 seconds behind the leader in eighth. “If you’re not at your very, very best, then you can forget racing with him, and today was kind of representative of that.

“He’s at such a different level that if you follow him, it can be lights out.”

Pogacar slowed down before the last turn to celebrate with the crowd, high-five fans on Avenue du Parc and cruise past the finish line with his arms in the air after more than five hours on the bike.

The 25-year-old joined Belgium’s Greg Van Avermaet as the only multi-time winners in Montreal after claiming the race in 2022. He also redeemed a seventh-place finish at the Quebec City Grand Prix on Friday.

“I was disappointed, because I had such good legs that I didn’t do better than seventh,” Pogacar said. “To bounce back after seventh to victory here, it’s just an incredible feeling.”

It’s Pogacar’s latest win in a dominant year that includes victories at the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia.

Ottawa’s Woods (Israel Premier-Tech) tied a career-best in front of the home crowd in Montreal, but hoped for more after claiming a stage at the Spanish Vuelta two weeks ago.

“I wanted a better result,” the 37-year-old rider said. “My goal was a podium, but at the same time I’m happy with the performance. In bike racing, you can’t always get the result you want and I felt like I raced really well, I animated the race, I felt like I was up there.”

Pogacar completed the 17 climbs up and down Mount Royal near downtown in five hours 28 minutes 15 seconds.

He made his move with 23.3 kilometres to go, leaving the peloton in his dust as he pedalled into the lead — one he never relinquished.

Bilbao, Alaphilippe, Alex Aranburu (Movistar Team) and Bart Lemmen (Visma–Lease) chased in a group behind him, with Bilbao ultimately separating himself from the pack. But he never came close to catching Pogacar, who built a 35-second lead with one lap left to go.

“It was still a really hard race today, but the team was on point,” Pogacar said. “We did really how we planned, and the race situation was good for us. We make it hard in the last final laps, and they set me up for a (takeover) two laps to go, and it was all perfect.”

Ottawa’s Derek Gee, who placed ninth in this year’s Tour de France, finished 48th in Montreal, and called it a “hard day” in the heat.

“I think everyone knows when you see Tadej on the start line that it’s just going to be full gas,” Gee said.

Israel Premier-Tech teammate Hugo Houle of Sainte-Perpétue, Que., was 51st.

Houle said he heard Pogacar inform his teammates on the radio that he was ready to attack with two laps left in the race.

“I said then, well, clearly it’s over for me,” Houle said. “You see, cycling isn’t that complicated.”

Australia’s Michael Matthews won the Quebec City GP for a record third time on Friday, but did not finish in Montreal. The two races are the only North American events on the UCI World Tour.

Michael Leonard of Oakville, Ont., and Gil Gelders and Dries De Bondt of Belgium broke away from the peloton during the second lap. Leonard led the majority of the race before losing pace with 45 kilometres to go.

Only 89 of 169 riders from 24 teams — including the Canadian national team — completed the gruelling race that features 4,573 metres in total altitude.

Next up, the riders will head to the world championships in Zurich, Switzerland from Sept. 21 to 29.

Pogacar will try to join Eddy Merckx (1974) and Stephen Roche (1987) as the only men to win three major titles in a season — known as the Triple Crown.

“Today gave me a lot of confidence, motivation,” Pogacar said. “I think we are ready for world championships.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 15, 2024.

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