Blue Jays humiliated as host Rays roll to three-game sweep in Tampa
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The Jays might be longing for the days when their depth behind the plate was amongst the best in baseball, a stable of catchers featuring Danny Jansen, Alejandro Kirk and Gabriel Moreno.
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Moreno was traded to Arizona, while Jansen's road out of Toronto has landed the veteran in Tampa following a pit stop in Boston.
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Kirk has been fine, but he can't catch every day and certainly not on a stifling day game following a night game.
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When Tyler Heineman took two foul tips flush off his mask last Thursday against the San Diego Padres, one knew some kind of residual effect would be felt.
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Perhaps to the surprise of no one, the Jays placed Heineman on the seven-day concussion injured list before Sunday's first pitch.
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The Jays started Ali Sanchez, who was called up, while lefty pitcher Josh Walker was designated for assignment.
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3. Clase closed
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If you recall, the piece the Jays received when they shipped reliever Yimi Garcia to Seattle at last year's trade deadline was Jonatan Clase.
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Clase isn't an everyday player, at least for now, but he has shown flashes of evolving into one. He can put the ball in play, is more than capable of stealing bases and isn't a bad outfielder.
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With any youthful player, so much resides between the ears.
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There's no better teacher than experience and the hope is Clase learns from an unconventional route he took in left field. The hope is he learns from getting picked off at first base after reaching base on a single.
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Given the brutality of Sunday, the hope is the Jays quickly forget what happened the last three games, which came after the Jays swept San Diego to complete a 5-4 homestand.
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The Blue Jays will play the host Texas Rangers on the U.S. Memorial Day holiday in what is shaping up as a pitchers' duel with Kevin Gausman facing Jacob DeGrom; in his most recent outing, Gausman went seven scoreless innings in a masterful performance against the Padres; Gausman (4-4, 4.03 ERA) will be making his 11th start of the season Monday; first pitch is scheduled at 4:05 p.m. with the following two games of the three-game series to begin at 8:05 p.m. in Arlington, Texas.
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Winnipeg Free Press
23 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Alexander, defence lead Alouettes past Argonauts 28-10 to open CFL season
MONTREAL – Davis Alexander threw for one touchdown and 205 yards as the Montreal Alouettes defeated the Toronto Argonauts 28-10 to open their Canadian Football League season on Friday. Montreal (1-0) earned its revenge after the visiting Argonauts defeated the Alouettes 30-28 in last year's East Division final en route to their 19th Grey Cup title. Alexander — in his first game since the Alouettes traded '23 Grey Cup MVP Cody Fajardo — rushed for 50 yards on four attempts to improve to 5-0 as a starter in the CFL. The 26-year-old quarterback also threw one interception on a warm, hazy night as prairie wildfire smoke drifted into Quebec on Friday. Tyson Philpot caught one touchdown pass, Issac Adeyemi-Berglund returned a fumble into the end zone, and Caleb Evans rushed for a major before 21,480 at Molson Stadium. The Alouettes' defence held the Argos to just 34 rushing yards, and Alexandre Gagné tied a CFL single-game record with seven special teams tackles. Veteran QB Nick Arbuckle, last year's unexpected Grey Cup MVP, threw for one touchdown, two interceptions and 273 yards on 20-for-32 completions for Toronto (0-1). The Argonauts lineup featured 13 different starters compared to last year's championship game. Toronto also started a second consecutive season without starting QB Chad Kelly, who broke his tibia and fibula late in last year's East final. Montreal kicker Jose Maltos went 2-for-3 with a rouge. Toronto's Lirim Hajrullahu went 1-for-1 on a 45-yard field goal. Montreal took a 15-3 lead heading into halftime when Adeyemi-Berglund returned a fumble 17 yards into the end zone after Shawn Oakman laid out Arbuckle with 32 seconds left in the second quarter. The play stood after review — instead of being ruled an incomplete pass — despite the fact Arbuckle released the ball before Oakman's hit. The league ruled that Arbuckle did not have a throwing motion before the ball left his hands. Things only got worse for the Argos as James Letcher Jr. returned a kickoff 67 yards to open the second half. Alexander then ran 12 yards and completed three passes to set up Evans' one-yard QB sneak into the end zone as the Alouettes took a 22-3 lead 4:29 into the half. Derek Slywka intercepted Alexander's deep pass with five minutes remaining in the third quarter for his first pick in the CFL. Alexander appeared to injure himself late in the third quarter when a Toronto defensive lineman fell on his legs. He rolled round on the field, holding his left knee in pain, but ultimately stood up on his own and returned to play on the next drive. Toronto finally scored a touchdown with 10:47 remaining when D'Verick Daniels fought his way into the end zone after catching a pass for 11 yards. Arbuckle's 47-yard bomb deep to David Ungerer III set up the score to cut Montreal's lead to 22-10. The Alouettes went ahead 25-10 after Alexander led a drive to Toronto's 23, leading to a Maltos field goal from 31 yards out. Tyrice Beverette, a nominee for defensive player of the year last season, intercepted Arbuckle's throw with 2:33 left to all but seal the result. Montreal opened the scoring eight minutes in with a rouge after Maltos missed a field goal from 38 yards out following a botched snap. Alexander aired out a pass into the end zone for Philpot, but the ball fell just out of his reach. Alexander and Philpot made good on their next attempt. The two connected for Montreal's first touchdown of the season on a 26-yard pass deep into the end zone with 2:01 remaining in the first quarter to take an 8-0 lead. The Argos, meanwhile, struggled to generate momentum on offence. Toronto reached the Montreal 28 six minutes into the second quarter, but Arbuckle threw an interception picked off by defensive back Lorenzo Burns. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Arbuckle made a couple big completions, including a 35-yard throw to Coxie, to reach the Montreal 39 on the ensuing drive. Toronto, however, settled for a field goal after two incompletions. UP NEXT Alouettes: Visit the Ottawa Redblacks next Friday. Argonauts: Host the Calgary Stampeders on June 14. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 6, 2025.
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
‘We can't live in fear': Vancouver prepares for large-scale weekend events after Cirque du Soleil crash
Several large events and festivals are taking place this weekend and police are ramping up security as fears remain high. Police are gearing up for a weekend filled with large-scale festivals in Vancouver, just six weeks after the Lapu-Lapu Day attack. The festivities also come in the wake of a frightening incident at Pacific Coliseum, during which a driver apparently in the midst of mental health crisis crashed into the entrance during a Thursday performance of Cirque du Soleil: Crystal. The Vancouver Police Department said more than 300 additional officers will be deployed across the city from Friday to Sunday, using the newly acquired median barriers expedited last month for the Vancouver Marathon. On Saturday, the B.C. Lions kick off their season with a performance by Snoop Dogg before the game. A festival is also scheduled for Terry Fox Square to welcome the more than 50,000 fans. The team's president, Duane Vienneau, said parts of Robson and Beatty streets will be closed to traffic and lined with archer barriers to help secure the area. 'We're safety first,' said Vienneau. Vienneau and others responsible for holding events across the city have been working to ensure that everyone attending is safe – and feels safe. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to flood Commercial Drive on Sunday for Italian Day on the Drive, and similar to the B.C. Lions home opener, archer barriers will stretch across closed roads to prevent vehicles from getting near crowds. 'We can't live in fear,' said Melissa De Genova, vice-president of the Italian Day Festival Society board. 'We have the utmost confidence in the VPD and the city has been very diligent in the planning.' Other events taking place this weekend in the Lower Mainland include the West Vancouver Community Cultural Fest, Burnaby Heights Hats Off Day, Doors Open Richmond, and Car Free Day Newton in Surrey. The Surrey Police Service told CTV News it is prepared to welcome the expected crowd of 5,000 to the latter event.
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Stanley Cup live updates: Panthers at Oilers Game 2
Florida Panthers' Seth Jones (3) checks Edmonton Oilers' Corey Perry (90) as Connor McDavid (97) watches during the first period in Game 2 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final, in Edmonton, on Friday, June 6, 2025. It's Friday, downtown Edmonton is hopping and the hometown Oilers have a 1-0 series lead over the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final. The mood in the city is upbeat. Join us and follow along as we keep you updated from Rogers Place for Friday night's Game 2. 7:40 p.m. - Panthers tie it up Panthers defenceman Dmitry Kulikov's point shot sails through traffic in front, including regular Florida crease dweeler Matthew Tkachuk, and past Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner to tie the game 3-3 8:23 into the second period. 7:18 p.m. - 1st intermission thoughts OMG WTF did we just see in that action-packed first period? Everything. Including a all-time Top 5 Connor McDavid move. His assist on Leon Draisaitl's power-play goal was one for the ages. I compare it to his undressing last year of Dallas Stars defenceman Miro Heiskanen on a similar toe drag and lightning quick puck deposit behind goalie Jake Oetinger. Watch this absolute filth: 7:04 p.m. - Penalty to Bouchard Oilers defenceman Evan Bouchard is called for cross-checking Panthers centre Tomas Nosek. 6:59 p.m. - Are there tackling penalties in hockey? Panthers defenceman Seth Jones is called for holding Oilers forward Corey Perry 15:13 into the first period when he essentially tackles his opponent in the Panthers crease in a move sometimes seen in wrestling. 6:53 p.m. - Draisaitl scores after filthy McDavid toe drag for assist This Connor McDavid move is up there with his all-time best. The Oilers captain takes a pass from fellow start Leon Draisaitl, deftly dekes and toe drags his way through two Panthers and sets up Draisaitl for a power play goal after a Sam Bennett penalty 24 seconds earlier. 6:50 p.m. - Bennett falls onto Skinner Panthers forward Sam Bennett is called for interference 7:47 into the first period when he falls into Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner 6:48 p.m. - Jones goal ties it Panthers defenceman Seth Jones buries a feed across Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner's crease from winger Eetu Luostarinen to knot the score at 2-2 11:37 into the first period. 6:42 p.m. - Oilers go up on Bouch Bomb Evan Bouchard unloads a wrist shot from the point through traffic in front of Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky to put the Oilers up 2-1 9:19 into the first period. 6:35 p.m. - Kane scores for Oilers Oilers winger Evander Kane streaks into the Panthers zone untouched and scores on goalie Sergei Bobrovsky 7:38 into the first period to tie the game 1-1. 6:27 p.m. - Penalty to RNH negates Oilers power play Just seconds after Panthers defenceman Aaron Ekblad tooka holding-the-stick penalty, Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is sent to the box for tripping. 6:24 p.m. - Panthers score first Forward Sam Bennett scores on the power play to open the scoring 2:07 into the game following a high-sticking penalty to the Oilers' Evander Kane. O Canada Fans sing 'O Canada' before the start of Game 2 of the Stanley Cup FInal on june 2, 2025, at Edmonton's Rogers Place. (Craig Ellingson/CTV News Edmonton) 6:18 p.m. - Canadian national anthem Oilers anthem singer Robert Clark, as per Edmonton tradition, has the crowd sing the bulk of 'O Canada.' Rogers Place Fans enter Edmonton's Rogers Place before Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers on June 6, 2025. (Craig Ellingson/CTV News Edmonton) 6:03 p.m. - Oilers' projected lineup Forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins • Connor McDavid • Corey Perry Evander Kane • Leon Draisaitl • Kasperi Kapanen Trent Frederic • Adam Henrique • Connor Brown Vasily Podkolzin • Mattias Janmark • Viktor Arvidsson Defence Mattias Ekholm • Evan Bouchard Darnell Nurse • Brett Kulak Jake Walman • John Klingberg Goal Stuart Skinner • Calvin Pickard Stanley Cup Game 2 Players for the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers warm up before Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final on June 6, 2025, at Edmonton's Rogers Place. (Craig Ellingson/CTV News Edmonton) 5:40 p.m. - Teams take warmup About a half hour before the puck is dropped to start the game, both teams spend almost 20 minutes limbering up in full equipment on the ice. The game will likely start between 6:10 p.m. and 6:20 p.m. Moss Pit Fans 'compete' in a dance-off in Edmonton's Ice District Moss Pit before Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final on June 6, 2025. (Geoff Hastings/CTV News Edmonton) 5:32 p.m. - Moss Pit fills up Hockey fans started filing into both the 'Moss Pit' and the Fan Park adjacent to Rogers Place in Edmonton's Ice District an hour before Friday night's Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final's start time of 6 p.m.
