Sports

Blue Jays summon just enough offence for exhilarating extra-innings win over Red Sox

Published

1 year ago

September 17, 2023

Blue Jays starter Chris Bassitt delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Red Sox at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023. Photo by Vaughn Ridley /Getty Images

Call it wishful thinking after a dramatic come-from-behind win that rode a full range of emotions — from disheartening, to desperate, to excruciating and ultimately exhilaration.

Or call the Blue Jays 4-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Saturday afternoon, a contest that sprawled over 13 innings and four hours and one minute — lucky, as some surely will.

But in the sugar-rush of a celebration following Whit Merrifield’s swinging bunt single to win it, Toronto starter Chris Bassitt is all-in on where his under-achieving team can go.

“I just think we’re playing our game of baseball,” Bassitt began in an impassioned soliloquy of his team’s DNA. “I know there’s been a lot of talk about hitting … We’re the best pitching staff in the big leagues and then we play, I think, the best defence in the big leagues.

“I think the hitting side of it all, the story of our hitters not being great, is skewed. I just think we’ve got to get multiple guys hot, that’s what makes great offences.

“As long as we keep pitching, keep playing defence the way we do, the hitting is going to come. It’s just a matter of when and hopefully it’s at the right time.”

Of course, those who follow, manage, micro manage and play for the Blue Jays have been waiting for it all season.

And had enough of those hitters arrived earlier on Saturday, extra innings would not have been necessary against a lightweight version of the Red Sox.

But perhaps Bassitt is right. Recent post-seasons have shown us that shut-down pitching can take teams to a deep and prosperous post-season run.

“We have four or five different guys that can easily do that.

“I’ve seen it,” Bassitt said. “If you don’t have pitching, you don’t have a chance. If you don’t play defence, you don’t have a chance. We have both. And then it’s just get the right hitters hot at the right time. It’s literally a three to four week stretch of what hitters can carry who.”

Whether the Jays can summon such production remains to be seen, but at least there were some signs before a celebratory sellout crowd of 42,276 that Toronto hitters are rousing from a season-long slumber.

As it has long been wished for, a potential revival starts with Vlad Guerrero Jr., whose solo homer in the seventh inning was his third long ball in as many games. It’s just the fourth time in his career that Guerrero has gone deep three consecutive and the first since 2021.

“What Vladdy’s done the last couple of days is a big boost,” said extra-innings hero. Merrifield. “Hitting is contagious, so hopefully a spark like that will get somebody else going and we can roll these last 13 games.”

There were other signs of life on Saturday, though it took a while, given that Red Sox starter Chris Sale was mowing down Jays hitters through the first six innings.

But despite having golden runners-in-scoring-position opportunities in innings eight through 12 and not being able to cash, there was hope.

There was Daulton Varsho’s RBI triple in the ninth to force extras, one that included a highlight-reel celebration at the bag.

There were rocket blasts from Bo Bichette and Davis Schneider in the 10th that found gloves rather than turf. And then there was Merrifield’s winner, a little lucky perhaps, but high on the clutch meter.

“Usually you kind of know when you have a swinging bunt,” Merrifield said of his first walk-off winner since 2019. “I had a feeling that it was a good chance nobody was going to throw me out.”

Manager John Schneider is well aware that more is needed from his offence but also knows that with 13 games remaining, a flawed win is as significant as a dynamic one.

“Loved the way it played out, just because of the result,” Schneider said. “There were chances for both sides. A couple of things you wish you would have done differently on the bases, but Bo hits a missile and Davis hits the ball hard … there were so many opportunities.

“And then a swinging bunt wins it. That’s baseball sometimes.

“A win is a win at this point. That’s a tough game to lose either way. You need breaks sometimes, especially in games like that ”

The Jays need them now, mainly because they have played themselves into a position of chasing rather than being chased. But taking the first two against Boston set up an opportunity to move back into the third AL wild-card spot, pending how Seattle fared against the Los Angeles Dodgers on the West Coast late Saturday night.

With Texas losing in Cleveland, the Jays pulled to within half a game of the Rangers adding more wild to the wild-card sprint.

There were so many twists and turns in this one that perhaps it stands as a preview of more drama to unfold over the final two weeks of the season.

And in the bigger picture, perhaps the Bassitt bravado may eventually prove to be bang on, even if it is a development the team has been forecasting for months. Guerrero is certainly a potential trigger for any offence, Bichette is getting back up to speed and who knows, maybe George Springer’s bat will come around one of these days?

But for now, the Jays will take a huge, if fortuitous, triumph and see where it might take them.

“Our pitching is going to be able to keep us in every game,” Bassitt told the Toronto Sun earlier in the week. “I think we have the team, not to just get in the playoffs, but hopefully make a long run.

“We have the pitching to give us a chance every day.”

AROUND THE BASES

Don’t look now, but a team that is playing its final 15 games against the AL East has now won seven of its past 10 against divisional opponents … Bassitt reached career highs in games started (31) and innings (186.2) with Saturday’s seven innings of work.

Source link

Sports

Sports betting roundup: NFL and college football were all about the favourites

Published

13 hours ago

November 4, 2024

Anne Joseph

The past weekend of football was all about the favourites.

The favoured teams went 13-1 straight up and 10-4 against the spread in the NFL. In college football, the three most teams bet at the BetMGM Sportsbook in terms of number of bets and money all won and covered. All three were favourites.

Trends of the Week

The three most bet college teams that won and covered on Saturday were Ohio State (-3.5) vs. Penn State, Indiana (-7.5) at Michigan State and Oregon (-14.5) at Michigan. Penn State has now lost seven straight home games as underdogs. The Nittany Lions were up 10-0 in the first quarter and were 3.5-point favourites at the time. The Buckeyes won 17-10.

In the NFL, the three most bet teams in terms of number of bets and money were the Washington Commanders (-4) at the New York Giants, the Detroit Lions (-2.5) at the Green Bay Packers and the Buffalo Bills (-6) vs. the Miami Dolphins. All three teams won, but only two of the three covered the spread as Buffalo beat Miami 30-27.

When it came to the players with the most bets to score a touchdown on Sunday, only two of the five reached the end zone — Chase Brown (-125) and Taysom Hill (+185). David Montgomery (-140), Brian Robinson Jr. (+110) and AJ Barner (+500) did not score.

Upsets of the Week

The biggest upset in the NFL was the Carolina Panthers coming from behind to beat the New Orleans Saints 23-22. New Orleans closed as a 7-point favourite and took in 76% of the bets and 79% of the money in against-the-spread betting. The Saints fired head coach Dennis Allen following the loss. They have now lost seven straight games after starting the year 2-0.

Arguably the biggest upset in college football was South Carolina beating No. 10 Texas A&M 44-20 at home. Texas A&M closed as a 2.5-point favourite and took in 59% of the bets and 58% of the money.

Coming up

Right after the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the New York Yankees to win the World Series, odds for the 2025 World Series were released.

The Dodgers have the best odds at +400, while the Atlanta Braves and Yankees are next at +800.

The Baltimore Orioles and Philadelphia Phillies round out the top five, both at +1100.

___

This column was provided to The Associated Press by BetMGM online sportsbook.

___

AP sports:

Source link

Sports

Longtime rivals Ovechkin, Crosby join Necas as NHL’s three stars of the week

Published

13 hours ago

November 4, 2024

Anne Joseph

NEW YORK – Washington Capitals left-wing Alex Ovechkin, Carolina Hurricanes centre Martin Necas and Pittsburgh Penguins centre Sidney Crosby have been named the NHL’s three stars of the week.

Ovechkin had a league-leading five goals and nine points in four games.

The 39-year-old Capitals captain has 14 points in 11 games this season, and his 860 career goals are just 34 shy of Wayne Gretzky’s record.

Necas shared the league lead with nine points (three goals, six assists) in three games.

Crosby factored on seven of the Penguins’ eight total goals scoring four goals and adding three assists in three appearances. The 37-year-old Penguins captain leads his team with 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in 13 games this season.

Crosby and Ovechkin, longtime rivals since entering the league together in 2005-06, will meet for the 70th time in the regular season and 95th time overall when Pittsburgh visits Washington on Friday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 4, 2024.

Source link

Sports

Oliveira, Mitchell named as finalists for CFL outstanding player award

Published

5 days ago

October 31, 2024

Anne Joseph

TORONTO – Running back Brady Oliveira of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Hamilton Tiger-Cats quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell are the finalists for the CFL’s outstanding player award.

Oliveira led the CFL in rushing this season with 1,353 yards while Mitchell was the league leader in passing yards (5,451) and touchdowns (32).

Oliveira is also the West Division finalist for the CFL’s top Canadian award, the second straight year he’s been nominated for both.

Oliveira was the CFL’s outstanding Canadian in 2023 and the runner-up to Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for outstanding player.

Defensive lineman Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund of the Montreal Alouettes is the East Division’s top Canadian nominee.

Voting for the awards is conducted by the Football Reporters of Canada and the nine CFL head coaches.

The other award finalists include: defensive back Rolan Milligan Jr. of the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Montreal linebacker Tyrice Beverette (outstanding defensive player); Saskatchewan’s Logan Ferland and Toronto’s Ryan Hunter (outstanding lineman); B.C. Lions kicker Sean Whyte and Toronto returner Janarion Grant (special teams); and Edmonton Elks linebacker Nick Anderson and Hamilton receiver Shemar Bridges (outstanding rookie).

The coach of the year finalists are Saskatchewan’s Corey Mace and Montreal’s Jason Maas.

The CFL will honour its top individual performers Nov. 14 in Vancouver.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 31.

Source link