TORONTO – In the span of 53 seconds Wednesday evening, home runs on consecutive pitches gave the Blue Jays a narrow lead and the chance to end a challenging road trip with a comeback win. It didn’t take much longer than that for the Blue Jays’ bullpen to blow it.
With that, a three-city road trip that began with high hopes ended with yet another devastating loss and the Blue Jays will return home to Toronto on the fringes of the wild card race while they manage some significant injuries and attempt to navigate the late innings without enough relievers deserving of trust.
The road trip started well enough with wins in two of the first three games against the Angels. But a loss in the series finale in Anaheim resulted in a series split, and things would only get worse in Seattle.
Not only did the Blue Jays lose two of three to the Mariners, they lost George Springer to an injury the team initially hoped might be minor. Again, though, things deteriorated. A grade 1 left knee sprain forced Springer to the injured list for an undetermined period of time and the Blue Jays lost the opener at Nationals Park.
Still, they had a chance to return home on a winning note. Thanks to Corey Dickerson, who tied the game 4-4 with a two-run home run in the top of the seventh inning, and Marcus Semien, who was circling the bases less than a minute later while a stunned Ryne Harper looked on, the Blue Jays were able to hand their bullpen a lead late in the game.
But Brad Hand immediately allowed two home runs as the Nationals scored four in the seventh on their way to an 8-5 win and a two-game series sweep over Toronto. As if to reinforce just how completely the Blue Jays lost the Hand trade, Riley Adams, the 25-year-old catcher who went to Washington in the deadline deal for the left-hander, collected two more hits after homering against his former team Tuesday.
“Most of the guys in the bullpen are kind of struggling right now,” manager Charlie Montoyo said afterwards. “I trust Brad Hand to make an adjustment. He’s been around. He’s been a closer before. He’s been good and bad and of course today he was not good. That’s a fact, but I trust he can make an adjustment and do better next outing.”
All in all, an awful way to end a frustrating 3-6 trip. Not only are the Blue Jays a worse team (no Springer), they have a worse record (63-56) and less time remaining to make up ground (43 games remain after Wednesday). Under those circumstances, their playoff odds (21.8 per cent entering play Wednesday, according to FanGraphs) are dropping at an uncomfortably quick pace.
“We are human,” starter Jose Berrios said. “We go out there and compete as a team … we just go out there and play hard. And yeah, that’s what I’ve got in mind every time I go out there. I want to do my best and help the team try to bring a win.”
While Berrios had only thrown 88 pitches when he exited, he told Montoyo he was ready to hand it over to the bullpen after five on a humid day in D.C.
Of course there’s still some time for the Blue Jays to make a run. They have a deep rotation, including Berrios, who pitched five strong innings of two-run baseball Wednesday. And even without Springer, their lineup is powerful, as evidenced by the four home runs they hit. Teoscar Hernandez hit the first of the day and the Blue Jays would later get home runs from Dickerson and Semien, who hit two.
To deny the potential for further hot streaks would be reactive rather than rational. But as Wednesday’s loss reminded anyone watching, there’s just not enough trustworthy relief pitching on this staff right now. Activating Tim Mayza helps in that regard, as does parting ways with Rafael Dolis, whose command issues cost him his roster spot before the game, but season-long issues can’t be reversed with one move.
“Somebody’s got to step up,” Montoyo said. “Our bullpen needs to start doing better. But the mood in there is still good,” Montoyo said, gesturing toward the visiting clubhouse. “We played good last time we were home so maybe that’s going to get us going on the right track.”
More encouraging for the Blue Jays was the big-league debut of Kevin Smith, the 25-year-old infield prospect who batted .286/.371/.576 with 19 home runs at triple-A before striking out in his big-league debut Wednesday. Like the recently-promoted Otto Lopez, Smith has the versatility to play both the infield and outfield if needed.
By Wednesday night the Blue Jays will be back in Toronto with an off-day to reset before the Detroit Tigers arrive for a three-game weekend series. It’s another opportunity against a far lesser team, only this time the Blue Jays aren’t quite as well positioned to take advantage of it.
“We’ve got to get back to pitching well,” Montoyo said. “That’s how we’re going to win games.”
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.
