Sports
Guerrero, Jays pound MLB-best Rays 20-1, score 10 off position players
Toronto Blue Jays’ Daulton Varsho (25) and Kevin Kiermaier, right, congratulate Danny Jansen, who had hit a two-run home run off Tampa Bay Rays Christian Bethancourt during the ninth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 23, 2023, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)
St. Petersburg
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had six RBIs and the Toronto Blue Jays stopped a five-game losing streak with a 20-1 rout of the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night, scoring their last 10 runs off position players.
Guerrero put Toronto ahead with an RBI single off Taj Bradley (3-1) in the first, had a run-scoring single in the fifth that opened a 10-0 lead and hit a 423-foot grand slam in a nine-run ninth against Luke Raley.
All 12 Toronto batters in the game had hits, and the Blue Jays finished with 27 hits — their most since getting 29 against Boston in a 28-5 win last July 22.
Tampa Bay entered with the second-fewest runs allowed in the majors at 170 and gave up its most since a 20-8 loss at Boston on Aug. 11, 2021.
George Springer had four hits, and Bo Bichette, Whit Merrifield, Guerrero and Danny Jansen had three apiece. Springer hit his seventh homer, a solo drive in the third.
José Berríos (4-4) allowed one run, five hits and two walks, striking out five.
YANKEES 6, ORIOLES 5, 10 INNINGS
NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge hit a tying homer in the ninth inning and rookie Anthony Volpe drove in the winning run with a sacrifice fly in the 10th against Bryan Baker (3-2) as streaking New York rallied past Baltimore.
Harrison Bader homered to begin New York’s comeback from an early 4-0 deficit, and Judge took Gerrit Cole off the hook for his first loss in 11 starts this season.
Back home from a 6-1 trip, the Yankees (30-20) won their fifth straight in a series opener between AL East rivals.
Cedric Mullins and Gunnar Henderson homered off Cole for Baltimore, which was coming off a three-game sweep at Toronto.
Michael King (1-1) pitched two hitless innings for the win, striking out three.
DODGERS 8, BRAVES 1
ATLANTA (AP) — Bobby Miller allowed one run over five innings in his big league debut and Los Angeles beat Atlanta.
J.D. Martinez and Jason Heyward homered for the Dodgers, who also got three RBIs from Will Smith.
Spencer Strider (4-2) fanned 11 hitters to increase his MLB-leading strikeout total to 97 — his fourth start this season with double-digit Ks and 10th of his young career. He allowed four runs, two earned, in six innings.
Miller (1-0) surrendered four hits, walked one and struck out five while consistently reaching 100 mph with his fastball.
RANGERS 6, PIRATES 1
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Texas’ Nathan Eovaldi pitched a complete game for the second time in five starts after throwing just two in the first 226 of his major league career.
Eovaldi (6-2) allowed six hits, struck out five and walked one, his fifth straight start of at least seven innings.
Josh Jung hit his 11th home run of his first full season in the majors to give the Rangers a five-run lead in the eighth.
Texas has won four of five. Pittsburgh has split its last eight games after losing 11 of 12 and has not won a series since taking two of three at Washington on April 29 and 30.
Rich Hill (4-4) gave up five runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings with a season-high nine strikeouts.
PADRES 7, NATIONALS 4
WASHINGTON (AP) — Juan Soto hit his ninth homer and had three hits to begin a three-game visit to his former team as San Diego beat Washington.
Jake Cronenworth followed Soto’s seventh-inning solo shot with a two-run homer two batters later as the Padres scored four times off Nationals reliever Erasmo Ramirez (2-2).
San Diego’s Yu Darvish (3-3) allowed back-to-back homers to CJ Abrams and Lane Thomas in the fifth inning, but no other damage in a six-inning effort.
Josh Hader worked a scoreless ninth for his 12th save in 14 chances.
DIAMONDBACKS 4, PHILLIES 3
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Corbin Carroll singled in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning for his third hit and Arizona beat Philadelphia for its ninth victory in 11 games.
At 29-20, Arizona moved nine games over .500 for the first time since Sept. 11, 2018, when it was 77-68.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. extended his hitting streak to 16 games — the longest active run in the majors — with a leadoff double in the eighth off Seranthony Dominguez (1-2). After advancing to third on a passed ball by J.T. Realmuto, Gurriel scored on Carroll’s single to left through a drawn-in infield.
Reliever Jose Ruiz (2-0) got the win and Miguel Castro earned his fifth save with clean ninth.
GIANTS 4, TWINS 3
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Michael Conforto doubled to spark a sixth-inning rally and hit the go-ahead two-run homer in the seventh as San Francisco rallied past Minnesota.
The Giants have won seven of eight. Alex Cobb (4-1) finished seven innings for the third time in four starts this month, working around a two-run home run by Byron Buxton in the first inning and a solo shot by Michael Taylor in the fifth.
With Jorge López (1-2) on the mound for the seventh, Thairo Estrada led off with a double and trotted home on Conforto’s 10th homer of the season.
Camilo Doval pitched a hitless ninth for his 13th save in 14 attempts.
ANGELS 4, RED SOX 0
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Mike Trout hit a two-run homer and Griffin Canning allowed two hits in seven innings as Los Angeles beat Boston.
Mickey Moniak homered for the second straight game and Matt Thaiss also went deep for the Angels, who have won three straight and four of five.
Canning (3-2) struck out five and walked three.
Brayan Bello (3-2) gave up Moniak and Thaiss’ solo homers in his seven innings. Trout homered in the eighth off Joely Rodriguez.
ROCKIES 5, MARLINS 4
DENVER (AP) — Charlie Blackmon doubled in a four-run fifth inning, Jurickson Profar extended his on-base streak to 31 games and Colorado spoiled 20-year-old Eury Pérez’s road debut for Miami.
Elías Díaz had three hits for Colorado. The Rockies have won the first two of the four-game set.
Pérez (1-1) allowed four runs — three earned — on four hits in 4 1/3 innings.
Garrett Cooper’s two-run homer with two outs in the sixth inning chased starter Austin Gomber (4-4). Soler’s RBI double in the ninth made it a one-run game, but Pierce Johnson closed it out for his 10th save.
MARINERS 3, ATHLETICS 2
SEATTLE (AP) — J.P. Crawford and Ty France hit back-to-back home runs in a three-run fifth inning, and Seattle sent Oakland to its sixth straight loss and 14th in 16 games.
The A’s dropped to 10-40, matching the 1932 Boston Red Sox and 1897 St. Louis Browns for the fourth-worst 50-game start in big league history.
Marco Gonzales (4-1) who allowed five hits in six inning with four strikeouts. Trevor Gott, Justin Topa and Paul Sewald pitched a hitless inning each. Sewald remained perfect in 10 save chances.
Luis Medina (0-3) took the loss.
CUBS 7, METS 2
CHICAGO (AP) — Christopher Morel, Matt Mervis and Seiya Suzuki homered and Chicago cooled off New York.
Mervis had three RBIs and Drew Smyly (5-1) pitched four-hit ball into the sixth inning.
Morel extended his homer streak to five games with a solo shot against Stephen Nogosek in the seventh. He became the first player with such a streak for the Cubs since Sammy Sosa in June 1998.
Tylor Megill (5-3) allowed six runs, four earned, in 3 2/3 innings for the Mets, whose five-game winning streak ended. Pete Alonso hit his big league-best 18th homer for New York.
BREWERS 6, ASTROS 0
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Joey Wiemer and Owen Miller homered, Colin Rea combined with four relievers on a five-hitter and Milwaukee stopped Houston’s eight-game winning streak.
Rea (1-3) gave up four hits in 5 1/3 innings. Houston was blanked for the second time.
J.P. France (1-1) gave up two runs — one earned — and five hits in 5 2/3 innings.
WHITE SOX 4, GUARDIANS 2
CLEVELAND (AP) — Romy González’s two-run double off rookie starter Logan Allen (1-2) broke a 2-2 seventh-inning tie and sent Chicago past Cleveland.
Yasmani Grandal homered for the White Sox, who started 7-21 but have won six of eight.
Chicago’s rally helped Dylan Cease (3-3) win for the first time since April 10 — a span of eight starts. The right-hander went six innings, Keynan Middleton and Joe Kelly pitched an inning apiece, and Kendall Graveman worked the ninth for his fourth save.
CARDINALS 8, REDS 5
CINCINNATI (AP) — Paul Goldschmidt homered in his first two at-bats and St. Louis’ Adam Wainwright beat Cincinnati for the first time since 2019.
The Cardinals have won 12 of 16 since starting the season 10-24.
Goldschmidt hit solo homers in the first and third innings off Graham Ashcraft (2-3).
Wainwright (2-0) allowed five runs in 5 2/3 innings.
ROYALS 4, TIGERS 1
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Maikel Garcia had three hits, an RBI and a run and Kansas City beat Detroit to snap a four-game skid.
Mike Mayers allowed one run on six hits in 4 2/3 innings in his first start for the Royals. He struck out a career-high eight and walked one. Jose Cuas (3-0) was the winner, and Aroldis Chapman pitched a scoreless ninth for his second save.
Eduardo Rodriguez (4-4) allowed four runs — two earned — on eight hits in five innings.
TORONTO — Brad Treliving has a new gig. And the Maple Leafs have a new plan.
Treliving was named Toronto’s general manager Wednesday, less than two weeks after a jaw-dropping chain of events led to the firing of Kyle Dubas.
The 53-year-old Treliving left the Calgary Flames in April following nine seasons that included five playoff appearances and two 100-point campaigns.
“Brad brings a wealth of knowledge from his years of experience,” Leafs president Brendan Shanahan said in a release. “He has earned tremendous respect amongst his peers throughout his years in the NHL and has built excellent relationships at all levels within the game.”
Treliving joins the Leafs at a crucial juncture in the wake of Shanahan’s stunning Dubas dismissal on May 19.
The Original Six franchise, whose Stanley Cup drought stands at 56 painful years, won a playoff series for the first time in nearly two decades with a victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning this spring, but then bowed out to the Florida Panthers.
Dubas, who had been Toronto’s GM since 2018 and didn’t have a contract beyond June 30, suggested at a bizarre end-of-season press conference on May 15 he wasn’t sure he wanted to remain in the role — at least in part because of the stress on his young family.
A roller-coaster five days followed, with Shanahan ultimately firing the 37-year-old despite previously wanting to keep his GM, and the now-unemployed executive eventually indicating to his boss he wished to stay.
Treliving is the third GM — joining Dubas and Hall of Famer Lou Lamoriello — hired in Toronto by Shanahan, whose so-called “Shanaplan” aimed at getting the storied franchise back on its feet when he came on board in 2014 has seen unparalleled regular-season success, but just that solitary series victory in eight attempts.
“I’m thrilled to join an Original Six team and recognize how much the Maple Leafs mean to this community,” Treliving, who will meet the media alongside Shanahan on Thursday, said in the statement announcing his hire as the 18th GM in franchise history.
“This is a very exciting day for my family and I.”
The Penticton, B.C., product also has a lot to chew on as he settles into Scotiabank Arena.
Treliving, who served in the Phoenix Coyotes’ front office for seven seasons before arriving in Calgary, will have to decide the future of Dubas loyalist and head coach Sheldon Keefe, while stars Auston Matthews and William Nylander can sign contract extensions with one year remaining on their current deals as of July 1.
Matthews and Mitch Marner, who is two years out from unrestricted free agency, have full no-movement clauses ready to kick in the same day. Nylander will have a 10-team list.
The NHL draft is set for the end of June in Nashville, and the Leafs have 12 roster players primed to hit the free-agent market at noon ET on Canada Day.
The Flames, who missed the playoffs this season, won the Pacific Division in 2021-22 under Treliving’s guidance before falling to the Edmonton Oilers in the second round.
Johnny Gaudreau then blindsided the organization by leaving Calgary for the Columbus Blue Jackets in free agency last summer. Fellow star forward Matthew Tkachuk added another devastating body blow by informing the team he didn’t plan to re-sign.
Treliving, whose father, Jim, is the Boston Pizza chain owner and a former “Dragon’s Den” regular, subsequently dealt the winger to Florida as part of a package that included forward Jonathan Huberdeau and defenceman MacKenzie Weegar heading to southern Alberta.
Tkachuk, a Conn Smythe Trophy candidate as playoff MVP, and the Panthers open the Cup final against the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday.
Calgary went 362-265-73 during the regular season under Treliving, who served as co-GM of Canada’s gold-medal entry at the 2016 men’s world championships in Russia.
He also co-founded the Western Professional Hockey League in 1996 and served as the league’s vice-president and director of hockey operations.
Treliving helped with the merger of the WPHL and the Central Hockey League in 2001, and was then named CHL president — a position he held for seven years before joining the Coyotes.
Despite the departures of Gaudreau and Tkachuk, the Flames looked like contenders on paper ahead of the 2022-23 season.
The acquisition of Huberdeau, who inked an eight-year, US$84-million contract extension with the Flames last August, and the signing of centre Nazem Kadri was expected to fill the void left by Gaudreau and Tkachuk, but the mix wasn’t right for a group led by hard-nosed coach Darryl Sutter.
Huberdeau and Kadri finished well off their career-high points totals of the previous season — the former went from 115 with Florida to 55 in Calgary — while sub-par goaltending was an issue much of the campaign.
That chapter firmly closed, Treliving now turns his attention to Toronto.
Just like last summer, he has plenty on his plate.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 31, 2023.
___
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Ryan O’Reilly (90) protects the puck from Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman Victor Hedman (77) during second period NHL Stanley Cup playoff hockey action in Toronto on Thursday, April 27, 2023. O’Reilly is one of the names poised to hit the free agency market. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
By Joshua Clipperton
The NHL’s free-agent frenzy is back in its regular time-slot.
After three years of schedule disruptions because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the league’s signing period returns to July 1.
And while there might not be as many big names on the board as usual, general managers looking to upgrade or round out rosters should still have plenty of talent to choose from in the unrestricted free agent pool — from aging stars to role players to veteran goaltenders.
With a month to go until the opening bell sounds on Canada Day at noon ET, The Canadian Press takes a look at some of the names poised to hit the market:
RYAN O’REILLY (2022-23 salary cap hit: US$7.5 million)
The 32-year-old centre was acquired by Toronto from St. Louis in mid-February as part of a blockbuster deal prior to the NHL trade deadline. O’Reilly, who won the Stanley Cup with the Blues in 2019, helped the Maple Leafs win a playoff series for the first time since 2004 and remains a valuable asset down the middle. Limited by injuries last season, the 2019 Conn Smythe Trophy winner as post-season MVP registered 16 goals and 30 points in 53 games in 2022-23. He added three goals and nine points in 11 playoff contests.
PATRICK KANE (2022-23 salary cap hit: $10.5 million)
The 34-year-old winger bid farewell to the Chicago Blackhawks when he was shipped to the New York Rangers ahead of the deadline. The three-time Cup winner had 21 goals and 57 points in 73 games last season. He also scored once and assisted on five others in the Rangers’ first-round playoff exit. Kane is no longer the player who got the Conn Smythe nod in 2013 and the Hart Trophy three years later as NHL MVP, but can still drive offence from the wing.
VLADIMIR TARASENKO (2022-23 salary cap hit: $7.5 million)
Another deadline acquisition by the Rangers, the winger had 18 goals and 50 points in 69 combined games with New York and St. Louis in 2022-23. Tarasenko, a Cup winner with O’Reilly and the Blues, put up a goal and three assists in the playoffs for the Rangers. The 31-year-old has played more than 75 contests just once in the past five seasons because of various injuries.
TYLER BERTUZZI (2022-23 salary cap hit: $4.75 million)
The 28-year-old winger combined to put up eight goals and 30 points in 50 games with the Detroit Red Wings and Boston Bruins in 2022-23. Bertuzzi, who had a 30-goal season in 2021-22, added 10 points in the Bruins’ first-round upset at the hands of the Florida Panthers. He’s also had injury trouble, appearing in a full slate of games just once in his five full NHL seasons.
DMITRY ORLOV (2022-23 salary cap hit: $5.1 million)
Shipped from Washington to Boston at the trade deadline, the 31-year-old leads the UFA defence corps after registering seven goals and 36 points in 66 games with the Capitals and Bruins. The left-shot blueliner had 17 points in 23 regular-season contests for Boston to go along with eight assists in seven playoff appearances.
MATT DUMBA (2022-23 salary cap hit: $6 million)
The 28-year-old defenceman appears poised to leave the Minnesota Wild after being drafted seventh overall by the organization in 2012. The right-shooting Dumba put up a career-low four goals and 14 points in 79 games in 2022-23.
DAMON SEVERSON (2022-23 salary cap hit: $4.166 million)
Another right-shot blueliner, the 28-year-old could be moving on from the New Jersey Devils after nine seasons. Severson had seven goals and 33 points in 81 games in 2022-23.
MICHAEL BUNTING (2022-23 salary cap hit: $950K)
The gritty winger finally broke through in the NHL with his hometown Maple Leafs thanks to consecutive 23-goal seasons. Drafted in the fourth round by Arizona in 2014, the fiery 27-year-old plays on the line, and sometimes crosses it, as witnessed by his three-game suspension in the playoffs with Toronto.
TRISTAN JARRY (2022-23 salary cap hit: $3.5 million)
The 28-year-old goaltender’s time in Pittsburgh could be coming to an end. A second-round pick of the Penguins in 2013, Jarry has a career save percentage of .914 to go along with a 2.65 goals against average.
FREDERIK ANDERSEN (2022-23 salary cap hit: $4.5 million)
The 33-year-old is coming off two solid seasons with the Carolina Hurricanes, including a .927 save percentage and a 1.83 GAA in the 2023 playoffs. Other goaltenders primed to potentially hit the UFA market include Adin Hill of the Vegas Golden Knights, Semyon Varlamov of the New York Islanders, Joonas Korpisalo of the Los Angeles Kings, and Cam Talbot of the Ottawa Senators.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 31, 2023.
___
How Major Media Suppressed My COVID Journalism
Succession Planning: Justin’s Excellent Chinese Adventure
18-year-old Adam Fantilli scores as Canada advances to final of ice hockey worlds
20 year old Red Deer man faces child pornography charges
-
2023 Election2 days agoUnited Conservatives jump out to early lead in tight Alberta election
-
National2 days agoAlberta United Conservatives win majority government, NDP makes inroads in Calgary
-
Addictions2 days agoParliament votes down Conservative motion against safe supply of drugs
-
Opinion2 days agoCould be a long day tonight — Cam needs coffee
-
National2 days agoCP News Alert: NDP Leader Notley wins seat in Edmonton-Strathcona
-
Community1 day agoGateway Christian students experience life changing trip to Dominican
-
Alberta2 days agoCanopy Growth signs deal with Indiva for Wana brand of edibles
-
2023 Election1 day agoCalgary, Edmonton mayors expect good relationship with re-elected UCP government