Sports

Jays Annihilate Defunct Franchise 12-1

Published

1 year ago

June 25, 2023

I don’t have a ton to say about the Blue Jays today except that that Kikuchi was great and everybody else did a good job. So let’s talk about the A’s. Their run differential is now -224, which a) would have been in the bottom three in any of the last five full seasons, after 80 games, and b) puts them on pace for -454, which would shatter the modern record of -349, by the 1932 Boston Red Sox (and whose owner was forced into selling the team that winter, I’m just saying). They’re also on pace for 41 wins, which would pass the 2003 Tigers for the worst record by a non-expansion team in the integration era (the original Mets did go 40-120 in 1962). It’s a slap in the face to the city of Oakland to have a storied franchise leave town with a deliberately garbage effort like this. The stadium in Vegas may not open for a couple more years, but already there is no major league baseball being played in Oakland.

Yusei Kikuchi was excellent today. He didn’t allow a baserunner until there was one out in the fourth (seconds after someone in the booth said the word “perfect”, you’d think professionals would know better). He shrugged it off, though, and struck out the next two batters.

The A’s did get on the board in the sixth. Tony Kemp lead off with a home run into the visitors’ bullpen, but again Kikuchi bounce back to retire the next three A’s.

Ultimately, he’d pitch seven innings of one run ball, issuing two walks and two hits and striking out eight. It was his longest and probably best outing for the Blue Jays, and arguably the second best of his five season MLB career (the best by far being his complete game shutout of the Jays back in August of 2019).

Trent Thornton (who is with the Jays right now, to my surprise) took over for the eighth. He gave up a leadoff single to Conner Capel, but got a fielder’s choice and a double play ball to efficiently exit the inning.

The game long over, Bowden Francis was asked to sweep up and turn off the lights. He issued a walk, but got a strikeout and a couple of pop outs to end it.

George Springer did his usual thing, welcoming Luis Medina to the Rogers Centre with a leadoff bomb to claim an early 1-0 lead. The homer was his 55th to lead off a ball game, passing Alfonso Soriano for sole possession of second place on that leaderboard (Rickey Henderson, with 82, is miles in front).

Whit Merrifield followed up with a walk, and Vladimir Guerrero jr brought him home on a line single to the gap that centre fielder Esteury Ruiz misplayed, allowing Merrifield to score from first and Guerrero to take second.

They added a third run in the second. Santiago Espinal and Kevin Kiermaier walked, and Tyler Heineman bunted for a single to load the bases with nobody out. Springer grounded into a double play, but it did allow Espinal to come home.

In the fourth, Matt Chapman took a two out walk, and a Cavan Biggio single and Espinal walk loaded them up. A Medina wild pitch allowed Chappy to score (making it 4-0), but Kevin Kiermaier struck out to prevent the Jays from really cracking it open.

Medina finally worked a clean inning in the fourth, working around a Springer walk and making a terrific stab to catch a Bo Bichette liner that was otherwise a hit. The fifth was similar, with a walk to Biggio but no more runs.

Ken Waldichuk took over in the sixth. Ruiz blew another read, misplaying a Kiermaier liner that probably should have been a single into a triple. Springer hit a deep sac fly, almost his second homer of the day, to stretch the lead back to four.

They got some insurance in the seventh, thanks in part to Oakland’s truly awful outfield defence. Bo got on with an infield single. Vlad liner a double off the base of the right field wall that Brent Rooker possibly could have gotten to or at least cut off with a decent route, and Espinal scored them on a ground rule double to centre facilitated by another questionable route by Ruiz. With that, they matched yesterday’s total of 7 runs.

There was an odd moment in the eighth. Tyler Heineman pulled up with what looked like a cramp after a foul tip, forcing Danny Jansen to step into a full count. He walked, went to second on a Springer single, third on a Merrified ground out, and scored on a Bichette single into left field. That was the end of the line for Waldichuk. Yacksel Rios was brought in to face Vlad, who grounded out but brought Springer in. Rios then walked Chapman and gave up a laser of a home run to Biggio, pushing the score to 12-1.

Jays of the Day: Kikuchi (0.222) and Vlad (0.100) had the number, but like yesterday it was a team effort. The only Jays in negative territory were Bichette and Biggio, both of whom had a couple of hits (including a homer for Biggio!) but struck too late, after the Jays win probability was effectively 100%.

Relocated (to the back of the plane): nobody

The bay area squads switch now, with the Giants coming to town for a three game set after tomorrow’s off day. Starters haven’t been announced yet, but we’ll get things rolling at 7:07pm ET on Tuesday night.

Source link

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.

___

AP cricket:

Source link

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.

Source link

Sports

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).

—

Follow @NeilMDavidson on X platform

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

Source link