TORONTO – For a while there, the Blue Jays were on their way to a near-perfect weekend. When they took a 6-1 lead into the fourth inning, they seemed poised to power their way to a sweep over the Rangers and open the season 3-0 for the first time since 1996.
But after three effective innings, Hyun-Jin Ryu struggled in the fourth, allowing four consecutive hits, the last of which ricocheted off his hamstring and chased him from the game. By the end of the inning, six Rangers had scored and Texas was leading, 7-6. At that point a strong bullpen effort might have kept the game close, but Blue Jays relievers allowed five more runs on the way to a 12-6 loss, the team’s first of the season.
“Today I wasn’t able to do what I had to do,” Ryu said afterwards via interpreter. “In my next outings I’m sure I’ll do what starters have to do and pitch into the fifth, sixth and seventh inning.”
All told, Ryu was charged with six earned runs on five hits in 3.1 innings – a disappointing debut for an accomplished pitcher who also struggled down the stretch in 2021. His fastball averaged 90.1 m.p.h., a slight increase compared to last year, but Rangers hitters had no trouble squaring his off-speed pitches up, hitting four balls at least 100 m.p.h. in the fourth inning alone.
“He lost it there,” manager Charlie Montoyo said. “He threw too many pitches over the heart of the plate and that’s a good hitting team. They made him pay.”
On Friday, a strong effort from the bullpen helped the Blue Jays overcome a rough start from Jose Berrios, but Toronto’s relievers struggled Sunday with Julian Merryweather, Ross Stripling, David Phelps and Tayler Saucedo all allowing earned runs. If there’s a silver lining to be found in the lopsided loss, it’s that Jordan Romano and Yimi Garcia got the day off after pitching in consecutive games.
Under different circumstances, the story of the game might have been Matt Chapman, who made multiple strong plays on defence while also hitting his first home run as a Blue Jay. In fact, all it took was one inning for Chapman to make an impact on the game.
In the top of the first, Marcus Semien led off with a ground ball between third and short. Chapman ranged to his left, spun and threw on target to first base for an out many third basemen simply don’t record. After that defensive play, Montoyo approached Chapman in the dugout.
“I used to play infield and I consider myself a good infielder,” Montoyo told Chapman. “But I was nothing like you. The plays that you make are not that easy and that’s why you’re a Gold Glover.”
Just a few minutes later, Chapman made his offensive presence known, too. With two runners on and two out in the bottom of the first, he stepped into a 97 m.p.h. fastball and sent it 432 feet to centre field for his first hit as a Blue Jay, a three-run home run.
With those two plays, the Blue Jays witnessed the full potential of Chapman, who’s under contract with the Blue Jays for two seasons. A three-time Gold Glove winner, he brings elite defensive skills to a position that attracts a lot of ground balls – especially when Ryu is pitching.
“He’s shown a lot of good defensive plays,” Ryu said. “As a pitcher I’m trying to get a lot of ground balls. He’s been a big help for us.”
And though Chapman’s offensive numbers dropped off last year, there’s hope that he can continue tapping into the power that once allowed him to hit 36 home runs in Oakland.
Including Chapman, four Blue Jays homered Sunday. George Springer led off the game with a solo shot, Danny Jansen hit his second of the season in the second inning and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit one a career-long 467-feet to centre field in the third.
“I don’t know many people who can do that,” Montoyo said. “He’s one of them.”
Through three games the Blue Jays now have seven home runs and 20 runs scored. As expected, this team can slug with anyone.
Before the game, the Blue Jays officially promoted speedy outfielder Bradley Zimmer while optioning utility player Gosuke Katoh to triple-A to create space on the roster. After a weekend in which the Blue Jays used their bullpen extensively, it’s possible more roster moves will be needed as the week progresses.
From here, the Blue Jays fly to New York, where they’ll play four games against the Yankees. It’ll be a significant test – and to pass it they’ll need more consistent starting pitching than they’ve gotten so far.
“Of course it’s going to be a challenge,” Montoyo said. “That’s just what we get in the American League East.”
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
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.
