TORONTO – The noise from the tumultuous start to this Toronto Blue Jays-New York Yankees series quieted Wednesday, the game on the field keeping a lid on the volatile mix of emotion, suspicion and mistrust lingering between the clubs.
Chris Bassitt, fighting through a sinus infection, was brilliant in duelling Gerrit Cole deep into the night, adding seven shutout frames to a scoreless innings streak now at 27 innings — third-longest in franchise history. Leverage relievers on both sides walked tightwires in and out of trouble until Wandy Peralta finally fell, knocked down by a Danny Jansen three-run homer in the bottom of the 10th for a 3-0 Blue Jays victory.
After Jordan Romano followed a clean ninth with another zero in the 10th, striking out Anthony Rizzo with runners at second and third to keep the game 0-0, Whit Merrifield opened the bottom half with a grounder up the middle that Anthony Volpe booted for New York’s third error of the night.
That left runners on the corners for Alejandro Kirk, who grounded into a five-man infield for the first out before Jansen, with his second walk-off hit of the week, sent Peralta’s first pitch over the wall in left to electrify a crowd of 27,431.
The win gives the Blue Jays a chance to split this four-game set Thursday when Jose Berrios starts against Nestor Cortes.
“It’s definitely an exciting feeling,” Jansen said of his homer, the only hit with runners in scoring position in a 1-for-17 night. “We knew coming in that it’s two good teams going at it. Every game is important, so you know it’s going to be a battle throughout. Try to build momentum off it.”
In that way, the game marked a return to relative normalcy after the heightened vigilance and scrutiny that followed when Sportsnet broadcast cameras captured both Aaron Judge and Jake Bauers taking sideways glances moments before Jay Jackson delivered in the eighth inning of Monday’s opener.
Tuesday’s 6-3 Yankees win was a total Gong Show, with coaches from both sides screaming at one another, Domingo German getting ejected after umpires found a foreign substance on his hand and Judge capping things off with a go-ahead two-run shot.
Blue Jays finally take advantage of Yankees fielding mistakes to pull out walk-off win
As intriguing as all that was, the baseball tribalism that flowed, as a result, was similarly compelling, from the rationalizers eager to rally behind Judge and excuse away his actions Monday to the angrily aggrieved ready to point out one side’s infractions while overlooking another’s.
One example came during John Schneider’s pre-game session, when he was asked if Jay Jackson’s admission to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic that he was tipping pitches changed his perspective on what happened, as if that’s supposed to negate the bigger-picture wrongs.
“No,” Schneider replied. “Not for me.”
For others, though, it did, and lost is how different things can be true at the same time.
The Blue Jays need to be tighter in what they’re doing on the field – the club immediately flagged Jackson’s tipping and doubled down on catcher positioning – and the Yankees’ base coaches shouldn’t be way down the lines peeking in on opposing pitchers and passing along what they see.
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Somewhat overlooked in the ensuing discourse is that while video of the sketchy peeks brought the Yankees’ shenanigans into the public eye, their actions are of little surprise within the game, the Blue Jays included.
The sport’s fraternity of players, coaches and executives is small and they talk. Bringing attention to the matter forced Major League Baseball to get involved and after some back and forth Tuesday, Yankees base coaches Travis Chapman at first and Luis Rojas at third were locked into the coaches’ boxes all night Wednesday without incident.
The focus may also lead to increased awareness by other clubs against the Yankees down the road, although their reputation for identifying tells and tendencies largely precedes them.
What transpired in Toronto this week will only turn up the heat between the clubs.
‘Just trying to hit something in the air’: Jansen on mindset before hitting walk-off homer
“Whenever there are two good teams that are familiar with one another, yeah, it can get a little competitive and heated at times, and probably do or say some things that you wouldn’t say if it wasn’t in the heat of the moment,” said Schneider. “You can say that about basically any team in our division right now.”
Sure, but about the Yankees more than anyone, which is what made Wednesday’s win so satisfying for the Blue Jays.
Bassitt was masterful from the first pitch onward, allowing two batters to reach only once, in the second. He allowed three hits, a walk and hit a batter – it was Anthony Rizzo, clearly by accident, in the sixth – while striking out seven.
That he put himself within seven innings of matching Dave Stieb for the longest shutout streak in team history while battling illness only underlines his toughness.
Pitcher
Innings
Year
Dave Stieb
34
1988-89
Roger Clemens
33
1998
Chris Bassitt
27
2023
Tom Henke
26.2
1989
Scott Downs
26
2008
Brett Cecil
26
2015
Paul Quantrill
25
2000-01
Mark Eichhorn
24
1986
Ricky Romero
24
2009
Roy Halladay
24
2009
“He’s a total pro,” said Schneider.
With the Blue Jays already down Vladimir Guerrero Jr., day-to-day with right knee discomfort after an MRI revealed no structural damage, and Kevin Kiermaier unavailable battling the viral infection still lingering in the clubhouse, they couldn’t afford to lose Bassitt, too.
But that was never on the table, the right-hander saying, “if I don’t make a start, there’s something really wrong.”
So he took the mound with plan to cope with the head pressure amplified every time his heart rate rose, manipulating the pitch clock, even taking one violation intentionally, and strategically using mound visits to buy recovery time.
“Basically, I tried to pitch like a zombie today,” he quipped.
Whatever it is worked, as for the third consecutive start he flipped the Blue Jays’ fortunes, having already thrown seven shutout frames in Pittsburgh after a four-game sweep at the hands of Boston and throwing a complete-game shutout versus Atlanta coming off two losses in Philadelphia.
Blue Jays’ Bassitt implements clever game management to overcome sickness and Yankees
“I’ve been around long enough to not make a big issue out of just like, two losses,” Bassitt said of his work as stopper. “As dumb as it is, young me would have lost tonight’s game. I would have went in there, overthrown, walked guys, gave up hits and we would have lost. Being around long enough to not panic and just relax, we’ve got today’s game and that’s it. We can’t change the past. That was it.”
The same applied for the relievers behind him, Yimi Garcia and Tim Mayza dodging traffic in the eighth, Romano following with a clean ninth before getting Rizzo after an intentional walk of Judge in the 10th. Jansen then made it count.
“We’re battling,” said Bassitt. “Sickness-wise, we’ve got guys playing through some stuff. Seeing guys pick each other up is pretty awesome.”
For a Blue Jays team that needed a win on the field after so much energy expended in other ways, it very much was.
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.
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.
