Struggling on all accounts, Blue Jays suffer blowout loss to Angels - Sportsnet.ca | Canada News Media
Connect with us

Sports

Struggling on all accounts, Blue Jays suffer blowout loss to Angels – Sportsnet.ca

Published

2 years ago

 on


TORONTO – After a high-stress win in Boston late Thursday night, the Toronto Blue Jays arrived home at 4 a.m., grabbed whatever sleep they could and returned to the ballpark for more.

While the short turnaround was less than ideal, playing through fatigue is part of the challenge, especially at this point in the season. Ideally, the Blue Jays would have overcome it, building on the momentum of their 6-1 road trip with a win behind No. 5 starter Mitch White.

What followed was far from ideal, however. The Blue Jays got in their own way from start to finish Friday, pitching poorly, making matters worse with their gloves and managing only six hits on the way to a 12-0 loss to the Angels in front of 40,754 at Rogers Centre.

“You flush it,” manager John Schneider said. “It’s one bad day in the last eight. And you move on. It was not our best brand of baseball and that’s all right.”

The first hints of trouble appeared in the first inning when an amped-up Vladimir Guerrero Jr. made a throwing error that allowed Mike Trout to reach base. White would escape the inning without allowing any runs, but Guerrero Jr.’s aggressiveness backfired again when he got caught stealing in the bottom of the first.

Yet what happened three batters later was perhaps more troubling for the Blue Jays. Teoscar Hernandez, who had x-rays on his left foot after fouling a ball off of it in New York last weekend, fouled another pitch off that same area. Initially he stayed in the game, but he took the field gingerly in the top of the second and appeared unable to reach full speed when a Shohei Ohtani fly ball soared over his head for a triple.

“It was just mis-read,” Schneider said. “And you put that on top of fouling the ball off of his foot twice, we just wanted to be careful.”

Following a dugout discussion with Schneider between innings, Hernandez exited with what the team is calling a left foot contusion. He still appeared to be in discomfort after the game, but x-rays were once again negative and he’s considered day to day.

Making matters worse, the Blue Jays challenged a Jo Adell single on which the left fielder was clearly safe and two batters later Guerrero Jr. looked at second instead of taking an easier out at first on an Andrew Velazquez bunt single.

Granted, lopsided losses happen if you play 162 times, and there’s likely little to be gained from over-analyzing these mistakes. Big picture, Guerrero Jr. has been a vastly improved defensive first baseman and as odd as the Hernandez route looked in real time, the bruised foot adds crucial context to that play.

With better defence behind him, White may have finished the night with fewer than seven earned runs, but realistically he wasn’t at his sharpest on his way to allowing eight hits and three walks. If nothing else, he completed five innings for the first time since being traded to the Blue Jays – a welcome development for a team coming off an extra innings game.

After allowing five runs in the second, he resolved to pitch as deep into the game as possible.

“It wasn’t a good one,” White said afterwards. “As soon as I get punched in the face there, it’s like ‘it’s going to be a grind and you just have to be ready’ … it’s about protecting the bullpen.”

Of course there were still four innings to cover once White left, which opened the door for Yusei Kikuchi. The left-hander walked the leadoff hitter on four pitches – something he’s done in each of his three relief appearances – then struck out six of the next eight hitters he faced. But he also allowed two home runs, including a two-run shot by Trout.

Given the early command issues and continued home run problems, Kikuchi shouldn’t be used in high-leverage moments, but Schneider offered plenty of praise for the left-hander afterwards.

“A lot of really good things,” he said. “Just two mistakes, really … he saved our bullpen and (I) really couldn’t have been happier with the way he threw the ball.”

With the game out of hand, Whit Merrifield pitched the ninth inning, allowing the second of Adell’s two home runs while sparing the bullpen from further use.

While Hernandez’s mobility is now in question, the Blue Jays are optimistic about the progress of George Springer, who felt good after throwing from the outfield to the bases in pre-game drills Thursday. If his right elbow continues healing at this rate, he could be playing centre field at some point during the current homestand.

With 38 games left in the season, the 68-56 Blue Jays must weigh the need for rest against the need for wins right now. It’s not a new balancing act, but the Blue Jays are starting to approach it a little differently.

“We want him to be the best version of himself and we don’t want to take away from anything he’s doing offensively,” Schneider said. “But if he’s good to go at this point – we’re almost in September – if he’s good enough, he’s good enough.”

If nothing else, the Blue Jays have Springer’s bat in the lineup and given what’s awaiting Saturday, they’ll need it. Facing Alek Manoah in front of a sellout crowd Saturday afternoon will be the reigning American League MVP, Shohei Ohtani.

Adblock test (Why?)



Source link

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Sports

Champions Trophy host Pakistan says it’s not been told India wants to play cricket games elsewhere

Published

1 day ago

 on

November 8, 2024

By

 

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:

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

Dabrowski, Routlife into WTA doubles final with win over Melichar-Martinez, Perez

Published

1 day ago

 on

November 8, 2024

By

 

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.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

Winger Tajon Buchanan back with Canada after recovering from broken leg

Published

1 day ago

 on

November 8, 2024

By

 

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

Continue Reading

Trending

Exit mobile version