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Toronto Sun
5 days ago
- Sport
- Toronto Sun
George Springer's timely dinger sparks Blue Jays to another road win over Twins
George Springer of the Blue Jays celebrates his go-ahead two run home run against the Twins during the eighth inning at Target Field in Minneapolis, Saturday, June 7, 2025. Photo by Matt Krohn / Getty Images The Blue Jays are enjoying this view near the top of the AL East knowing better times await if they are able to sustain these good vibes. 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 The team is definitely on a roll as its ascent has taken them six games above .500 (35-29) for the first time this season. The New York Yankees remain atop the division, but the Jays can now be characterized as a legitimate contender, at least based on how well they've been playing and how they've been able to step up in the biggest of moments. The latest example was provided by a rejuvenated George Springer, who went deep for a two-run blast in the eighth inning to help give the visitors their 5-4 win over the host Minnesota Twins. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. It was Springer's club-leading 10th dinger of the season. Toronto endured a scoreless drought of five innings before Addison Barger led off the fateful eighth with a double. The following are three takeaways on a day the Jays once again showed their penchant for staging late comeback wins as they eye a series sweep Sunday, a day when closer Jeff Hoffman gave up his seventh homer of the season in saving his second game in a row. 1. Gausman of the hour Kevin Gausman is too good of a pitcher to be continually vexed by the Twins, who have had the veteran's number. The law of averages dictated Gausman would eventually have his day. Saturday, he began his outing by attacking the strike zone. He oozed confidence and pitched in a manner worthy of embracing the role of staff ace. 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. Even when Gausman wasn't getting the benefit of a call, he never flinched. Through three innings, Gausman was near flawless. His only blemish came on a walk that would be quickly erased when he induced a double play. Once through Minny's lineup and Gausman had recorded two strikeouts while throwing 41 pitches. The Jays could not have scripted Gausman's start any better. In total control and in total command, it was vintage Gausman. Out of nowhere, it began to unravel in the fourth inning in stunning rapidity. Gausman's first hit batter of the season, on an 0-2 pitch no less, scored the Twins' first run. The second run came on a Gausman walk. It could have been worse, but the damage was minimized when Gausman induced an inning-ending double play. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. At the end of the day, Gausman was doomed by the hit batter and a solo blast he surrendered to Matt Walner in the sixth inning that gave Minny its lead. The 104-pitch outing was a season-high for Gausman. He could have used more offence from his teammates. Read More 2. Can't catch me Backup catcher Tyler Heineman is making a strong case for additional playing time. With Alejandro Kirk on the roster and performing like his previous all-star form, the best Heineman can ask is for the occasional start behind the plate. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. By no means is he making people forget the days of Danny Jansen, but Heineman is nonetheless making a name for himself. Consider his first at-bat against Twins starter Chris Paddack, who gave up an RBI single to Nathan Lukes in the top of the first inning. Heineman hasn't gone yard since March 30, his one and only homer of the season in his previous 52 at-bats. In at-bat No. 53, Heineman took Paddack deep in the second inning for his second homer of the campaign. At this rate, Heineman is worthy of seeing the field more often. In Toronto's 9-1 home win over the Phillies, Heineman went 2-for-4 while knocking in three runs. When he went deep Saturday, Heineman raised his average to .415 while improving his OPS to a stellar 1.052, numbers no one expects the catcher to maintain. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The fact is he's looking more comfortable both at the plate and behind it. Heineman added a single in the seventh inning to give him a multi-hit game for a third straight outing. He would cap off the afternoon with a ninth-inning single to give him a three-hit game, his third of the season and first since April 20. 3. More thump from Vlad Perception is everything, or so it's been said, and the perception surrounding Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is that more must be summoned. Fairly or unfairly, his $500-million contract extension, which doesn't kick in until next season, has raised expectations. While it's commendable to record a career-high 34-game on-base streak, more thump is required from Vlad Jr, especially with the likes of Daulton Varsho (hamstring) and Anthony Santander (shoulder) on the injured list. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. As well as Barger has been slugging, he remains a very enticing and explosive player because his body of work isn't big enough to make a complete judgment. When the Jays beat former closer Jordan Romano and the visiting Phillies on Kirk's walk-off hit, it was Vlad Jr. who stole second, his first base swipe of the season, before scoring the winning run in Toronto's 2-1 victory. With two outs and two runners on base in a one-run game, Vlad Jr. hit into an inning-ending groundout to end the seventh at Target Field. Vlad Jr. came through with two outs in the ninth when he scored Heineman on a single to provide the Jays with that all-important add-on run. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. All eyes will be on Bowden Francis in Sunday's series finale (2:10 p.m. EDT first pitch), a beleaguered right-hander who will be making his 13th start of the season; in his latest outing, Francis gave up two homers to the visiting Phillies in 1.2 innings to increase his season total to 17, tied for the MLB-high in dingers yielded with Tampa's Zack Littell. Olympics Toronto & GTA Columnists Opinion Editorial Cartoons
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Thunder vs. Timberwolves score, recap: Minnesota gives OKC its worst loss of the season, cuts series deficit to 2-1
Some people expected the Timberwolves to bounce back. No one expected what they did to the Thunder in Game 3. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn) Only one team looked ready to play in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves, and it wasn't the team with a 2-0 lead. After lopsided losses in Games 1 and 2, the Timberwolves got on the board with an out-of-nowhere 143-101 demolition of the Thunder. The 42-point margin was OKC's worst loss of the season, and the 143 points scored set a playoff franchise record for Minnesota.. Advertisement Anthony Edwards clearly entered the game on a mission after a subpar Game 1. The Minnesota star notched 16 points and two assists in the first quarter, single-handedly outscoring the Thunder. The Timberwolves finished the frame 34-14, OKC's lowest-scoring quarter of the season, and kept pounding them from there. Edwards finished the game with 30 points on 12-of-17 shooting, 9 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals. The most telling stat for the Timberwolves as a team might have been that they had 16 points off turnovers in the first quarter, after posting 10 in all of Game 2. By halftime, the Timberwolves were up by 31. By the end of the third quarter, they were up 37. Their lead peaked at 45. It was an impressive response after the Thunder bullied them in Oklahoma, with every member of the rotation showing increased aggression on defense. For OKC, the problems started with a season-low 14-point night from newly crowned MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Advertisement Even with the Thunder's dominance this season, their offense needs him to be a consistent difference-maker with the ball, and Minnesota's adjustments kept him contained pretty much all night. Defenders kept picking him up at mid-range on drives, taking away a vital part of his game and leaving the rest of OKC's offense needing to improvise. Notably, Gilgeous-Alexander reached the free-throw line only four times, with chants of "Free-throw merchant" raining down from the Minnesota crowd. He shot 4 of 13 from the field, with 6 assists and 4 turnovers. No other Thunder player scored more than 13 points, and it was the first time the team lost the turnover battle since March 25. Game 4 is scheduled for Monday at the Target Center, where the Timberwolves can either even the series or get pushed to the brink. Judging from how they looked Saturday, the Thunder have some significant changes to make.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Thunder vs. Timberwolves score, recap: Minnesota gives OKC its worst loss of the season, cuts deficit to 2-1
Some people expected the Timberwolves to bounce back. No one expected what they did to the Thunder in Game 3. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn) Only one team looked ready to play in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves, and it wasn't the team with a 2-0 lead. After lopsided losses in Games 1 and 2, the Timberwolves got on the board with an out-of-nowhere 143-101 demolition of the Thunder. The 42-point margin was OKC's worst loss of the season, and the 143 points scored set a playoff franchise record for Minnesota.. Advertisement Anthony Edwards clearly entered the game on a mission after a subpar Game 1. The Minnesota star notched 16 points and two assists in the first quarter, singlehandedly outscoring the Thunder. The Timberwolves finished the frame 34-14, OKC's lowest-scoring quarter of the season, and kept pounding them from there. Edwards finished the game with 30 points on 12-of-17 shooting, nine rebounds, six assists and two steals. The most telling stat for the Timberwolves as a team might have been that they had 16 points off turnovers in the first quarter, after posting 10 in all of Game 2. By halftime, the Timberwolves were up by 31. By the end of the third quarter, they were up 37. Their lead peaked at 45. It was an impressive response after the Thunder bullied them in Oklahoma, with every member of the rotation showing increased aggression on defense. For OKC, the problems started with a season-low 14-point night from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Advertisement Even with the Thunder's dominance this season, their offense needs him to be a consistent difference-maker with the ball, and Minnesota's adjustments kept him contained pretty much all night. Defenders kept picking him up at mid-range on drives, taking away a vital part of his game and leaving the rest of OKC's offense needing to improvise. Notably, Gilgeous-Alexander reached the free throw line only four times, with chants of "Free throw merchant" raining down from the Minnesota crowd. He shot 4-of-13 from the field, with six assists and four turnovers. No other Thunder player scored more than 13 points, and it was the first time the team lost the turnover battle since March 25. Game 4 is scheduled for Monday at the Target Center, where the Timberwolves can either even the series or get pushed to the brink. Judging from how they looked Saturday, the Thunder have some significant changes to make.
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bronze statue of Joe Mauer unveiled by Minnesota Twins outside Target Field
Former Minnesota Twins player Joe Mauer's children Chip, Emily and Maren unveil a statue honoring their father before a baseball game between the Minnesota Twins and the Detroit Tigers Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn) Former Minnesota Twins player Joe Mauer speaks after his statue was unveiled before a baseball game between the Minnesota Twins and the Detroit Tigers Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn) Former Minnesota Twins player Joe Mauer speaks after his statue was unveiled before a baseball game between the Minnesota Twins and the Detroit Tigers Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn) Former Minnesota Twins player Joe Mauer speaks after his statue was unveiled before a baseball game between the Minnesota Twins and the Detroit Tigers Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn) Former Minnesota Twins player Joe Mauer's children Chip, Emily and Maren unveil a statue honoring their father before a baseball game between the Minnesota Twins and the Detroit Tigers Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn) Former Minnesota Twins player Joe Mauer speaks after his statue was unveiled before a baseball game between the Minnesota Twins and the Detroit Tigers Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn) Former Minnesota Twins player Joe Mauer speaks after his statue was unveiled before a baseball game between the Minnesota Twins and the Detroit Tigers Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Twins unveiled a bronze statue of Hall of Fame catcher Joe Mauer at Target Field before Sunday's game against the Detroit Tigers. Mauer spoke as the statue was unveiled outside a gate beyond right field. He joined Rod Carew, Harmon Killebrew, Kirby Puckett, Tony Oliva, Kent Hrbek, manager Tom Kelly and owners Carl and Eloise Pohlad with a statue outside the ballpark. Advertisement Designed by Minnesota artist Bill Mack, the statue is just over 8 feet tall and weighs more than 800 pounds. Mauer batted .306 with 143 homers and 906 RBIs with Minnesota from 2004-18. He was voted to baseball's Hall of Fame on the first ballot in 2024. 'Obviously, it was a big summer last year, going into Cooperstown — that was just an unbelievable experience. But to see myself here, this isn't going to be moving for a long time,' Mauer said. 'Here in my home state of Minnesota, I was always proud to put on this uniform, to play for this club, and to go out there and try to win every night with my teammates.' The first overall pick in the 2001 amateur draft, Mauer played 15 seasons for his hometown club. He won three American League batting titles, was voted the 2009 AL MVP, was picked for six All-Star games and earned three Gold Gloves. A severe concussion late in the 2013 season led to a move to first base in 2014. ___ AP MLB:
