Blue Jays face Dodgers next as quest to conquer MLB's best continues
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Yes, following a Southern California off day on Thursday to relish in teeing off on the Colorado Rockies for three days prior, it's a tough (and compelling) three-game weekend series against the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers that's up next for the Jays.
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While the challenge ratchets up significantly, a confident group of Jays have no reason to apologize for rediscovering their stroke and offensive flair in the thin air of Denver against a miserable Rockies outfit.
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There isn't a player on the Jays roster who will read too much into the bloated numbers in the Mile High City. But, at the same time, there's no need to dismiss it either. Not every team that ventures into Coors Field does what the Blue Jays did over three dominating days. And not many in baseball have as varied an offensive attack as the Jays do when things are firing.
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There will be some who will want to suggest it's an early World Series preview — a notion that frankly is a little much for the second week of August. But entering action Thursday, both teams were division leaders, with the Jays having the best record in the American League and the reigning champion Dodgers the third-best mark in the National League.
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It starts on Friday when two of the most accomplished active starting pitchers in the game — the Jays' Max Scherzer and the Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw — face each other. Next up its Chris Bassitt vs. Blake Snell followed by Eric Lauer against Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
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CTV News
41 minutes ago
- CTV News
Clement hits ninth-inning homer as Blue Jays hold on to beat Dodgers 5-4
Toronto Blue Jays' Ernie Clement runs the bases after hitting a home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh) LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani led off the game with his 41st homer, but Ernie Clement hit the tiebreaking homer leading off the ninth inning, and the American League-leading Toronto Blue Jays hung on to avoid a series sweep with a 5-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday. Mason Fluharty earned his first career save in spectacular fashion after replacing erratic Jays closer Jeff Hoffman in the ninth with the bases loaded and one out. The rookie left-hander struck out Ohtani with a full-count breaking ball before getting Mookie Betts on a game-ending grounder. After Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a tying homer and Addison Barger followed with a go-ahead shot for Toronto off struggling Blake Treinen in the eighth inning, Clement hit the first pitch from Alex Vesia (2-2) in the ninth into the left-field bleachers. Hoffman (7-4) walked Freddie Freeman with the bases loaded to blow Toronto's lead in the eighth, and he walked three of the Dodgers' first four batters in the ninth. Ohtani drove Eric Lauer's fourth pitch 400 feet. The three-time MVP's third homer in four games tied him with Philadelphia's Kyle Schwarber for the National League lead. Freeman also homered in the first. Ohtani had two hits and was intentionally walked twice. The Dodgers' bullpen wasted another strong start by Tyler Glasnow, who yielded two runs on four hits and four walks while pitching into the sixth and striking out eight. Glasnow's winless streak stretched to 10 starts since March 31 despite his 1.82 ERA since coming off the injured list. KEY MOMENT Guerrero and Barger homered on juicy, belt-high sweepers from Treinen, while Clement put a great swing on a well-thrown low slider from Vesia. KEY STAT Ohtani, who only became an everyday leadoff hitter after joining the Dodgers last season, has already hit 23 career homers to start a game, including an MLB-leading 11 this season. UP NEXT Yoshinobu Yamamoto (10-7, 2.51 ERA) opens another Freeway Series for the Dodgers in Anaheim on Monday. José Berríos (8-4, 3.89 ERA) takes the mound in Toronto against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday. ___ AP MLB: Greg Beacham, The Associated Press
The Province
2 hours ago
- The Province
Flaws and all, no-quit Blue Jays persevere for wild win over World Series champs
Blue Jays reliever Mason Fluharty celebrates after getting Mookie Betts on a game-ending, bases-loaded groundout to preserve a 5-4 win over the Dodgers on Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025, in Los Angeles. Photo by Wally Skalij / AP photo September is still a ways off, as is baseball's most important month, October. But we're deep enough in the season to see them both. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors And with that in mind, the mere prospect of what the Blue Jays bats did late on what turned to be a spellbinding late Sunday afternoon at Dodger Stadium has to be cause for some salivation for this never-quit group. It was a 5-4 Blue Jays win, loaded with flaws as it was, that in the end was defined by the grit and perseverance that has propelled the team to what is now a 69-50 record. That it concluded with yet an unlikely hero in a season loaded with them — a pitcher saving the day against one of the greatest hitters of all time — only added to the magnificence of the moment for the Jays, who avoided a sweep at the hand of the World Series champs. That would be reliever Mason Fluharty, who came on in the ninth inning with the bases loaded and one out for the biggest two outs of his young career. First up was a money strikeout of Shohei Ohtani — who swung over top of an 83-mph sweeper on a 3-2 pitch — followed by a ground-ball out by Mookie Betts to end it. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. It served up an emotional celebration for the Jays and assuredly a festive long flight home from the West Coast for a team that must be starting to believe something special is happening. But back to the late-game highlights and heroics after the Jays seemed headed for a third consecutive meek defeat, one which would have been one of the more demoralizing losses of the season. First it was Vlad Guerrero Jr. with his now team-leading 19th homer of the season to tied the game in the eighth inning followed by Addison Barger, the next man to the plate, with his 18th to give the Jays the lead. After the Jays allowed the Dodgers to get back square in the bottom half, Ernie Clement took the first pitch he faced in the ninth and knocked it into the seats for what turned out to be the game-winning homer. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The 5-4 victory, in a game that by the end was thick with a playoff feel, was an extra large one for the Jays on a number of fronts. Not so fast though, as closer Jeff Hoffman, showing the rust of not having pitched in a week, walked in the equalizer in the eighth. It would have been easy for the Jays to go quietly after that, but that would be against the DNA of this group. In many ways, the win will feel like one of the most important of the season for the Jays. 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3 hours ago
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Flaws and all, no-quit Blue Jays persevere for wild win over World Series champs
Get the latest from Rob Longley straight to your inbox Blue Jays reliever Mason Fluharty celebrates after getting Mookie Betts on a game-ending, bases-loaded groundout to preserve a 5-4 win over the Dodgers on Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025, in Los Angeles. Photo by Wally Skalij / AP photo September is still a ways off, as is baseball's most important month, October. But we're deep enough in the season to see them both. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account And with that in mind, the mere prospect of what the Blue Jays bats did late on what turned to be a spellbinding late Sunday afternoon at Dodger Stadium has to be cause for some salivation for this never-quit group. It was a 5-4 Blue Jays win, loaded with flaws as it was, that in the end was defined by the grit and perseverance that has propelled the team to what is now a 69-50 record. That it concluded with yet an unlikely hero in a season loaded with them — a pitcher saving the day against one of the greatest hitters of all time — only added to the magnificence of the moment for the Jays, who avoided a sweep at the hand of the World Series champs. That would be reliever Mason Fluharty, who came on in the ninth inning with the bases loaded and one out for the biggest two outs of his young career. First up was a money strikeout of Shohei Ohtani — who swung over top of an 83-mph sweeper on a 3-2 pitch — followed by a ground-ball out by Mookie Betts to end it. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. It served up an emotional celebration for the Jays and assuredly a festive long flight home from the West Coast for a team that must be starting to believe something special is happening. But back to the late-game highlights and heroics after the Jays seemed headed for a third consecutive meek defeat, one which would have been one of the more demoralizing losses of the season. First it was Vlad Guerrero Jr. with his now team-leading 19th homer of the season to tied the game in the eighth inning followed by Addison Barger, the next man to the plate, with his 18th to give the Jays the lead. After the Jays allowed the Dodgers to get back square in the bottom half, Ernie Clement took the first pitch he faced in the ninth and knocked it into the seats for what turned out to be the game-winning homer. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The 5-4 victory, in a game that by the end was thick with a playoff feel, was an extra large one for the Jays on a number of fronts. Not so fast though, as closer Jeff Hoffman, showing the rust of not having pitched in a week, walked in the equalizer in the eighth. It would have been easy for the Jays to go quietly after that, but that would be against the DNA of this group. In many ways, the win will feel like one of the most important of the season for the Jays. Let's start with the fact that it avoided a sweep at the hands of the World Series champs, a verdict that seemed certain through the first 25 innings of the weekend series, a stretch in which the visitors had managed just four runs. Then there's the fact that even though they lost the series 2-1 to the Dodgers, trouncing the Colorado Rockies over three games last week made it a 4-2 road trip, an important statement given they were 2-6 in their previous eight contests. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. With the Boston Red Sox losing to the Padres a two-hour drive south in San Diego, it allowed the Jays to increase their lead in the AL East to four games over the Sox and a whopping 6.5 over the reeling New York Yankees. The biggest takeaway of hope, however, may have been the timely bomb unleashed by Guerrero, seemingly a moment the Jays and their fans have been waiting for since he signed his $500-million US contract extension in the spring. While Guerrero has been producing — and of late has been heating up — moments like Sunday's rally starter were what is expected of him. It's easy to dream on this team having success if and when Guerrero can deliver in critical phases such as that one. The victory, as stressful as it was, can't mask some of the flaws the Jays have endured of late, especially on the pitching side. They've given up far too many homers — two in the first inning from starter Eric Lauer on Sunday the latest — and a whopping 13 walks in this wild game. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. But finding ways to win against a tough opponent in an electric environment will help ease that sting. And add another jolt of confidence to a team already feeling it. BULLPEN BRILLIANCE In the first true wobble of an outing by Jays starter Lauer, who lasted just three innings, the bullpen came up huge for manager John Schneider and pitching coach Pete Walker. It started with Louis Varland, who kept the Dodgers off the board through 1.2 innings before Brayden Fisher finished off the fifth frame. Scoreless appearances from Seranthony Dominguez, Brendon Little and Yariel Rodriguez followed. It got rather challenging from there, shall we say, as closer Hoffman, inheriting two base-runners from Rodiguez, issued back-to-back walks in the eighth to tie it 4-4, and then walked the first Dodgers batter of the ninth, Andy Pages. After Hoffman had loaded the bases again, Schneider had seen enough and it was on to the lefty Fluharty for his unlikely, but mightily impressive, heroics. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. BYE GEORGE? It's certainly no coincidence that the Jays' offensive struggles are related to the now extended absence of one of the heartbeats of the team's offence this season, George Springer. The effects of the veteran's concussion, sustained in Baltimore on July 29, continue to confound the team. He has yet to appear in a minor-league rehab game as he continues to be unable to pass concussion protocols. The Jays had hoped that Springer would have been able to play for the Buffalo Bisons over the weekend but wasn't cleared to enter the lineup for any of the team's three games. With no triple-A games on Monday, the next opportunity for Springer to see any minor-league action is Tuesday. Columnists Toronto & GTA Toronto & GTA Columnists Toronto & GTA
