Tulowitzki fractures thumb as Orioles reclaim AL East lead from Blue Jays

Troy Tulowitzki suffered a chip fracture in his right thumb after being hit by a pitch on Sunday, and the Blue Jays lost to the Baltimore Orioles 6-2 in extra innings. 

Tulo has a "small little chip fracture" in right thumb per Gibbons #BlueJays

— @bnicholsonsmith

Troy Tulowitzki (thumb) hoping to avoid DL but would have to be able to throw & grip a bat. Today he wasn't able to grip a bat #BlueJays

— @bnicholsonsmith

"A little sore, it obviously got me pretty good," Tulowitzki said. "It's blown up.

"We'll see how he feels tomorrow and the next couple days," manager John Gibbons said.​

"I'll get up, come to the field, see how it feels, and hopefully get some inflammation out of there," said Tulowitzki. "I could throw, but wasn't able to grip a bat. If I was able to go, I definitely would have been in there."

Meanwhile, the Baltimore Orioles are back in first place in the American League East division and the win column.

Jonathan Schoop hit a go-ahead single while Adam Jones launched a three-run home run in the 12th inning to help Baltimore beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-2. The win snapped a five-game skid for the Orioles and gave them a 1/2 game lead over Toronto for first in the division.

Baltimore Orioles' Jonathan Schoop turns a double play in the first inning and would single home the go-ahead run in the 12th inning of an eventual victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. (Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)

"We outlasted them," said Jones. "They grinded, we grinded, [it was] a good game to go into an off day, a much-needed win."

Jones' three-run homer came off Jesse Chavez and also helped the Orioles (59-45) avoid a three-game sweep. Franklin Morales (0-1) was charged with the loss.

Baltimore closer Zach Britton pitched a scoreless ninth and 10th before Mychal Givens did the same in the 11th. Givens (8-1) was credited with the victory.

Sanchez still stellar

Toronto starter Aaron Sanchez pitched seven solid innings allowing two runs, four hits and two walks. The 24-year-old leads the American League with a 2.71 earned-run average.

"[It] just sucks we couldn't pull that one out at the end, they're a good team," said Sanchez.

Baltimore starter Chris Tillman pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing two runs while scattering five hits and striking out six.

Newly-acquired reliever Joaquin Benoit, Roberto Osuna, Jason Grilli and Brett Cecil pitched four scoreless innings for Toronto (59-46), but Morales struggled out of the gate in the 12th.

He issued a four-pitch walk to Pedro Alvarez to begin the inning before Alvarez moved to second on a balk and scored on Schoop's single. After J.J. Hardy walked, Chavez came on in relief and gave up a no-doubter to Jones, his 20th of the season.

The Blue Jays drew first blood in the second after Devon Travis delivered with an RBI fielder's choice that scored Russell Martin.

Toronto Blue Jays Troy Tulowitzki grimaces after being hit by a pitch in the sixth inning against the Baltimore Orioles in a 6-2 loss. (Fred Thornhill/The Canadian Press)

Troy Tulowitzki led off the fourth by greeting Tillman's first pitch with an absolute rocket off the facade of the 500 level at Rogers Centre. The solo shot was Tulowitzki's 18th homer of the season, giving Toronto a 2-0 lead.

Tulowitzki was hit on the fingers of his right hand by Tillman in the sixth inning. The shortstop was in considerable pain but played on for a bit before being removed following the seventh.

Sanchez had just 73 pitches through six scoreless innings, but Baltimore got to him in the seventh. Chris Davis led off with a walk and Mark Trumbo followed with a double. Davis scored on an RBI groundout by Alvarez and Trumbo plated after a Matt Wieters sacrifice fly to tie the game at 2-2.

"I thought there was a couple questionable calls all night, maybe one or two that at bat, that changes my approach to Davis there," said Sanchez. "With that being said, any time you issue a lead off walk they come back to haunt you."

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Tulowitzki fractures thumb as Orioles reclaim AL East lead from Blue Jays

Ryan Cochrane, Hugues Fournel added to Canadian Olympic team for men's K2 200m

[unable to retrieve full-text content]

Canoe Kayak Canada selected Ryan Cochrane and Hugues Fournel to the Canadian Olympic team on Sunday after receiving two additional quota spots for the men's K2 200-metres event at the Rio Games.

Ryan Cochrane, Hugues Fournel added to Canadian Olympic team for men's K2 200m

Trained by assassins, Vancouver's Richard Weinberger looks to clean up in Rio's dirty water

By Karin Larsen, CBC News

Vancouver's Richard Weinberger has heard the all stories about the dirty and dangerous waters off Copacabana Beach where body parts have washed up and testing has revealed unsafe viral and bacteria counts.

But on August 16, he'll happily dive in and spend almost two hours fully immersed, in a quest to win a second Olympic medal in open water swimming. 

"You think Rio is bad," asks Weinberger, laughing. "There's places 20 times worse."

Weinberger missed gold by just 5 seconds at the London Olympics. (Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

His worst list includes an ocean race in Mexico were biblical swarms of sand flies left swimmers covered in bites.

"I was in bad condition after that," he said. "You're itching for days and days."

Then there was Barcelona, where he emerged at the finish line with painful welts all over his arms and legs from fighting through schools of stinging jellyfish.

And, perhaps the worst of the worst, a freshwater race, also in Mexico, which put two of his teammates in hospital and left Weinberger sick as a dog, fighting a gastrointestinal infection for weeks.

"I was almost hospitalized too because of just how much bacteria was in the water," he said.

"Generally, swimming in sea water you don't get sick like that because it self cleanses. But fresh water, that's what can get you."

So by Weinberg's reasoning, 10 kilometres in the Rio ocean should be a swim in the park, all things considered.

Rio Olympic open water competitors will do four laps of a 2.5 kilometre course in the waters off Copacabana Beach. (Felipe Dana/The Associated Press)

It's also a race he feels he has a decent shot at winning. 

To prepare he's put in countless hours at Vancouver's seaside Kitsilano pool, weaving in and out of the recreational swimmers.

In heavy training he was racking up as much as 22 kilometres in a single day, and 100 kilometres a week.

To put that in perspective, it takes 730 lengths of huge Kits pool to cover 100 kilometres, the kind of mileage guaranteed to induce what swimmers refer to as "black line fever" — the mind-numbing and unavoidable consequence of having to stare at the bottom of a pool for endless laps.

"That's the hardest part," Weinberger admits. "Keeping my head focused and not getting bored. I try not to think of going home and playing video games, which is what I would prefer to do."

Open water swimmers have to get used to contact and dirty tricks that can occur while swimming in a pack. (The Associated Press)

The monotony is part of the reason coach Steve Price reason recruited two part-time training partners for Weinberger.

Hau-Li Fan and William Walters are good swimmers in their own right, but with Weinberger their job is to play the disrupters.

Price believes the eventual gold medal winner in Rio will be the swimmer who can best maintain stroke efficiency for the entire 10 kilometre distance, something that can be very difficult in a race usually won or lost in the chaotic confines of the pack, and where physical contact and dirty tricks — including being pulled on, pushed down or even punched — are a given.

"It can get pretty rough," said Price. "So [Fan and Walters] swim behind and beside Richard during training. They'll try and cut in front of him and create the conditions you have to deal with in open water swimming."

Fittingly, Weinberger has nicknamed his training mates "The Assassins."

"The Assassins don't normally go the same mileage as me but they'll throw on the fins [so they can keep up] and come in on one of my sets," he said. "They'll battle me, swim on either side and squish me so I have to practice holding my stroke."

Weinberger says he is tougher than most of his competitors and is hoping for big waves and cold water conditions on race day in Rio. ((Sang Tan/Associated Press) )

"They've meant a lot to me," he added. "I haven't had a training partner for five or six years. To do this all alone can be really lonely."

Weinberger won't be lonesome in Rio. Like in London, he expect a pack of 10 swimmers to break away in the final two kilometres of the race. He then expects the final 200 meters to be a churning frenzy, with as many as six swimmers sprinting for the medals.

Weinberger has raced in Rio twice and loves the course. In his mind the only thing that could make it better is punishing conditions — bad weather, cold water and heavy seas.

"I always hope for the toughest conditions because I know I can handle them better than my competitors," he said matter-of-factly.

Consider it the result of being trained by assassins. 

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Trained by assassins, Vancouver's Richard Weinberger looks to clean up in Rio's dirty water

Indians acquire Andrew Miller from Yankees

The Indians have acquired left-handed reliever Andrew Miller from the New York Yankees, a trade that signals Cleveland's seriousness about winning the World Series this year.

Cleveland will send four players, including highly touted outfielder Clint Frazier, to New York in exchange for Miller, one of baseball's best set-up men. The Indians have been lacking a quality reliever in the seventh and eighth innings, and Miller fills that void.

With a 4 1/2 game lead in the AL Central, the Indians feel these moves can help them win their first World Series since 1948. The club has resisted parting with top prospects in the past, but team owner Paul Dolan and the front office believe this is a year worth going for it.

The Indians are also feeding off a positive vibe in the city started when the Cavaliers, their next-door-neighbours in Gateway Plaza, won the NBA championship last month to end Cleveland's 52-year title drought.

New York's decision to move Miller comes after the team traded closer Aroldis Chapman to the Chicago Cubs.

Possessing a nearly unhittable slider, the 31-year-old Miller is 6-1 with a 1.39 ERA.

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Indians acquire Andrew Miller from Yankees

IOC president Thomas Bach to speak in Rio

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IOC president Thomas Bach to speak in Rio

Rio 2016 countdown: 5 days to go, 5 stories to watch

[unable to retrieve full-text content]

The 2016 opening ceremony is just a mere five days away. In the spirit of counting down, here are five story lines of what and who to follow throughout the Summer Games.

Rio 2016 countdown: 5 days to go, 5 stories to watch

Road to Rio: Can sprinter Andre De Grasse live up to big expectations?

There is a moment in almost every track and field season when a sprinter knows he or she can find that extra gear to push harder, the instant speed and desire merge into pure drive, that fraction of a second when peak performance just happens.

A 10 year-old Andre De Grasse holds up a first-place ribbon after an elementary school race in Ontario. (Kimberley Fernandes-Nudds)

En route to his first Olympics, Canadian sprinter Andre De Grasse is predicting when that moment will come. "It's the big show that really counts," he told CBC. "It's the Olympics that count. That's where you need to peak."

The 21-year-old from Markham, Ont., is barely a few years into a serious athletics career. But after a breakout season in 2015, De Grasse has travelled a somewhat bumpy path in 2016.

And so everything about this year has been about making sure that peak performance can be delivered come August.

It's a Road to Rio that CBC has been documenting since the new year, beginning with exclusive behind-the-scenes access to the set of De Grasse's first ad campaign shoot. It happened in January, shortly after he signed an unprecedented first contract for a track and field athlete, an $11.25 million U.S. deal with Puma.

Shoe deal brings big bucks

The photo and video shoot was in Kingston, Jamaica where De Grasse was in the company of former 100 metre world record holder Asafa Powell and reigning Olympic champion in the sprints, Usain Bolt.

Andre De Grasse during a Kingston, Jamaica photo shoot for Puma in January. De Grasse recently signed a contract with the shoe company for more than $11 million US. (Stephanie Jenzer/CBC)

Paul Doyle, who signed De Grasse during the off season and sealed the shoe deal, explained, "It's the best there's ever been and I mean, we had the perfect storm … Bolt approaching the end of his career, (Puma) needed De Grasse."

At the time, the life of the young sprinting phenom was undergoing tremendous upheaval. Going from student athlete to pro, he had just moved his training base from UCLA to an elite facility in Phoenix: a new environment coupled with a new coach, and big expectations to deliver on the track.  

"I'm going to try my best, live up to the challenge, live up to the hype," De Grasse told CBC. "I'm definitely just looking forward to this year and see what I can pull off with the fastest guys in the world."

As part of his Road to Rio, CBC also travelled with De Grasse to a Canadian relay camp in Florida and to his new living and working base in Phoenix, where he told CBC about sometimes getting surprise early morning visits by doping control officers.

Andre De Grasse: "I know I'm clean."0:37

An entirely new team

CBC was behind the scenes to witness a setback, likely the result of a lingering injury from a punishing 54 races as a student athlete last year.

This year the pacing and number of races as a professional have been very different, carefully calculated by an entirely new team, including Canadian coach Stuart McMillan of the Altis training group in Phoenix.

Andre De Grasse leads during the senior men's 200 metre semifinals at the Canadian Track and Field Championships in Edmonton on July 10. (Canadian Press)

McMillan has had to craft a competitive schedule that doesn't over-race the sprinter in order to keep him healthy, but not under-compete him either, so he's in peak condition for the Olympics.

This schedule is designed to set up "varying levels of pressure and chaos through the season," McMillan explained, "so going to the Olympics isn't something that's ridiculously unique."

The formula appears to be working.

Andre De Grasse's coach: "He's lucky no coaches have screwed him up."0:53

'I was battling aches and pains'

CBC was with De Grasse for his first top tier IAAF Diamond League meet in Europe in June, where his season turned around. He won the 200 metre sprint, at the same time speaking frankly about being hurt in May.

"I was battling aches and pains, I wasn't in any shape to run," De Grasse told CBC in Birmingham. "There were ups and downs, and you just try to keep going and not worry about what people are saying."

Andre De Grasse holds the Canadian flag after winning the gold medal in the men's 100 metre final at the 2015 Pan Am Games in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/Canadian Press)

De Grasse has won several 100 metre races recently, including at the Canadian Olympic trials in Edmonton in 9.99 seconds, just below that magic 10-second mark that seems to separate the sprinting superstars from the rest of the field.

"It's been a whirlwind," De Grasse said in Edmonton.  "I never expected to be in this position right now, making my first Olympic team. It's a dream come true for me. I just want to keep the momentum going towards Rio, make myself proud and this country."

As part of CBC's special documentary presentation of De Grasse's story, the network will also reveal a new chapter, a moment the young sprinter had almost forgotten.

Watch Road to Rio: The Andre De Grasse Story on CBC News Network on Saturday at 5:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. and again on Sunday at 12:30 a.m. You can also watch the full documentary below.

Andre De Grasse's Road to Rio22:34

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Road to Rio: Can sprinter Andre De Grasse live up to big expectations?

3-person panel to decide which Russian athletes will go to Rio

[unable to retrieve full-text content]

A three-person International Olympic Committee panel will make a final ruling on which individual Russian athletes are allowed to compete in the Rio de Janeiro Games.

3-person panel to decide which Russian athletes will go to Rio

Halep reaches 2nd straight Rogers Cup final

Simona Halep is in the final of the $2.4 million US women's Rogers Cup for a second straight year.

The fifth seed from Romania defeated second-seed Angelique Kerber of Germany 6-0, 3-6, 6-2 in a semifinal Saturday at Uniprix Stadium in which the she dominated the first half, saw Kerber take over midway through the second set, then took over again in the third.

Halep will play in the final on Sunday against the winner of a later semifinal between 10th seeded Madison Keys of the United States and qualifier Kristina Kucova of Slovakia.

In last year's final in Toronto, Halep retired in the third set with an illness, handing the win to unseeded Belinda Bencic of Switzerland. Her march to that final included a win over Kerber. Halep has beaten Kerber all four times they met on hard courts, but lost their two matches on other surfaces.

The two players took turns either dominating or struggling, with only a few games where both players looked sharp at once.

Kerber, the reigning Australian Open champion, looked lost in the opening set, losing her first two service games thanks to an erratic serve that included three double faults. More than once the left-hander made gestures of frustration on court after misfired shots.

She gave up another break point on a double fault to fall behind 2-3 in the second set, but then broke straight back. It was Halep making angry swings that didn't quite connect with the ground after a shot into the net as Kerber held service for 4-3.

Kerber won six games in a row, including a service break to start the third set, but then Halep took over again with a break to tie it 2-2 and go on a run of six consecutive game wins to end the match.

In the final game, Kerber fought off four match points, but then saw her final shot hit the net cord and drop perhaps a centimetre outside the line.

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Halep reaches 2nd straight Rogers Cup final

Russia to appeal blanket Rio Olympics ban on weightlifters

[unable to retrieve full-text content]

Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutkov told Match TV that the country plans to immediately appeal the decision to ban all eight of its weightlifters from the Rio de Janeiro Olympics for doping.

Russia to appeal blanket Rio Olympics ban on weightlifters

Doping investigator faces 'deluge of requests' on Russians

[unable to retrieve full-text content]

The author of the report that that accused Russia's sports ministry of overseeing doping among Olympic athletes in more than two dozen summer and winter sports has been inundated with requests to name the individuals implicated.

Doping investigator faces 'deluge of requests' on Russians

Countdown to Rio: Can Andre De Grasse live up to big expectations?

There is a moment in almost every track and field season when a sprinter knows he or she can find that extra gear to push harder, the instant speed and desire merge into pure drive, that fraction of a second when peak performance just happens.

A 10 year-old Andre De Grasse holds up a first-place ribbon after an elementary school race in Ontario. (Kimberley Fernandes-Nudds)

En route to his first Olympics, Canadian sprinter Andre De Grasse is predicting when that moment will come. "It's the big show that really counts," he told CBC. "It's the Olympics that count. That's where you need to peak."

The 21-year-old from Markham, Ont., is barely a few years into a serious athletics career. But after a breakout season in 2015, De Grasse has travelled a somewhat bumpy path in 2016.

And so everything about this year has been about making sure that peak performance can be delivered come August.

It's a Road to Rio that CBC has been documenting since the new year, beginning with exclusive behind-the-scenes access to the set of De Grasse's first ad campaign shoot. It happened in January, shortly after he signed an unprecedented first contract for a track and field athlete, an $11.25 million U.S. deal with Puma.

Andre De Grasse: "I know I'm clean."0:37

Shoe deal brings big bucks

The photo and video shoot was in Kingston, Jamaica where De Grasse was in the company of former 100 metre world record holder Asafa Powell and reigning Olympic champion in the sprints, Usain Bolt.

Andre De Grasse during a Kingston, Jamaica photo shoot for Puma in January. De Grasse recently signed a contract with the shoe company for more than $11 million US. (Stephanie Jenzer/CBC)

Paul Doyle, who signed De Grasse during the off season and sealed the shoe deal, explained, "It's the best there's ever been and I mean, we had the perfect storm … Bolt approaching the end of his career, (Puma) needed De Grasse."

At the time, the life of the young sprinting phenom was undergoing tremendous upheaval. Going from student athlete to pro, he had just moved his training base from UCLA to an elite facility in Phoenix: a new environment coupled with a new coach, and big expectations to deliver on the track.  

"I'm going to try my best, live up to the challenge, live up to the hype," De Grasse told CBC. "I'm definitely just looking forward to this year and see what I can pull off with the fastest guys in the world."

As part of his Road to Rio, CBC also travelled with De Grasse to a Canadian relay camp in Florida and to his new living and working base in Phoenix, where he told CBC about sometimes getting surprise early morning visits by doping control officers.

Andre De Grasse's coach: "He's lucky no coaches have screwed him up."0:53

An entirely new team

CBC was behind the scenes to witness a setback, likely the result of a lingering injury from a punishing 54 races as a student athlete last year.

This year the pacing and number of races as a professional have been very different, carefully calculated by an entirely new team, including Canadian coach Stuart McMillan of the Altis training group in Phoenix.

Andre De Grasse leads during the senior men's 200 metre semifinals at the Canadian Track and Field Championships in Edmonton on July 10. (Canadian Press)

McMillan has had to craft a competitive schedule that doesn't over-race the sprinter in order to keep him healthy, but not under-compete him either, so he's in peak condition for the Olympics.

This schedule is designed to set up "varying levels of pressure and chaos through the season," McMillan explained, "so going to the Olympics isn't something that's ridiculously unique."

The formula appears to be working.

Andre De Grasse's Road to Rio22:34

'I was battling aches and pains'

CBC was with De Grasse for his first top tier IAAF Diamond League meet in Europe in June, where his season turned around. He won the 200 metre sprint, at the same time speaking frankly about being hurt in May.

"I was battling aches and pains, I wasn't in any shape to run," De Grasse told CBC in Birmingham. "There were ups and downs, and you just try to keep going and not worry about what people are saying."

Andre De Grasse holds the Canadian flag after winning the gold medal in the men's 100 metre final at the 2015 Pan Am Games in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/Canadian Press)

De Grasse has won several 100 metre races recently, including at the Canadian Olympic trials in Edmonton in 9.99 seconds, just below that magic 10-second mark that seems to separate the sprinting superstars from the rest of the field.

"It's been a whirlwind," De Grasse said in Edmonton.  "I never expected to be in this position right now, making my first Olympic team. It's a dream come true for me. I just want to keep the momentum going towards Rio, make myself proud and this country."

As part of CBC's special documentary presentation of De Grasse's story, the network will also reveal a new chapter, a moment the young sprinter had almost forgotten.

Watch Road to Rio: The Andre De Grasse Story on CBC News Network on Saturday at 5:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. and again on Sunday at 12:30 a.m. You can also watch the full documentary below.

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Countdown to Rio: Can Andre De Grasse live up to big expectations?

Stampeders insane comeback ends in OT victory over Lions

Rene Paredes kicked a 42-yard field goal in overtime before defensive back Tommie Campbell picked off a Jonathon Jennings pass in the end zone to seal a thrilling 44-41 win for the Calgary Stampeders over the B.C. Lions on Friday night.

Trailing 41-26 late in the fourth quarter, the Stampeders rallied with two touchdowns and a two-point convert to tie up the score and send the game to overtime.

Calgary quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell started the comeback by leading the Stamps on a seven-play, 94-yard drive that culminated with a 42-yard touchdown pass to Greg Wilson, his second TD of the game.

Stamps cornerback Ciante Evans then picked off an errant pass by Jennings and ran it back 18 yards to the B.C. 32-yard line.

Two plays later, Bakari Grant hauled in a 12-yard TD pass from Mitchell, who promptly tossed a strike to Anthony Parker in the end zone for a two-point convert to make it 41-41.

Mitchell went 29 for 44 for 364 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Tory Harrison ran for a TD for the Stamps, while Paredes finished with five field goals and Rob Maver booted a single

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Stampeders insane comeback ends in OT victory over Lions

Milos Raonic knocked out of Rogers Cup by Gael Monfils

Canada's Milos Raonic was upset by France's Gael Monfils 6-4, 6-4 in the quarter-finals of the Rogers Cup.

No. 10 Monfils will play top-seeded Novak Djokovic in the semifinals of the tournament at York University's Aviva Centre on Saturday.

Monfils and Raonic had solid back-and-forth through both sets, with both using big serves to pin each other to the baseline.

Fourth seeded Raonic tried to be aggressive, charging to the net but Monfils's slicing volleys painted the line behind Raonic.

Djokovic fended off Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic 7-6 (6), 6-4 on Friday in the quarter-finals of the Rogers Cup.

Top-seeded Novak Djokovic defeated Tomas Berdych in straight sets to advance to the semifinal of the Rogers Cup, in Toronto on Friday. (Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)

Berdych showed impressive grit against the world No. 1 Djokovic in the first set, coming back from a 5-2 deficit to tie it 5-5.

Mental errors dogged Berdych throughout the match, giving up several points on forehands into the net.

Djokovic had dominated their professional series before Friday's match, winning 24 matches to Berdych's two.

In the second set, Djokovic seemed to be favouring his right shoulder and his serve lost some of its speed and accuracy.

Despite those struggles, Djokovic fended off Berdych — in part thanks to the ongoing errors of his opponent, including on the match point.

Berdych was scheduled to partner with fellow Czech player Radek Stepanek against Canadians Daniel Nestor and Vasek Pospisil immediately after his singles match with Djokovic.

Nishikori, Wawrinka also advance

Earlier Friday, Japan's Kei Nishikori beat Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 to advance to the men's semifinal of the Rogers Cup.

Nishikori has now reached four ATP Masters 1000 semifinals this year, having made the final four in Miami, Madrid and Barcelona. The third-seeded Nishikori will face No. 2 Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland on Saturday.

Stan Wawrinka, of Switzerland, reacts while playing against Kevin Anderson, of South Africa, during men's quarter finals Rogers Cup tennis action in Toronto on Friday, July 29, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette (THE CANADIAN PRESS)

"Stan, you know, has a great serve, great backhand," said Nishikori, who has lost three of his four previous matches against Wawrinka on the ATP Tour. "Yeah, he's tough player, but I have beaten him before.

"Try to play good tennis like I did in the third set against Dimitrov. I know I have to be a little bit more aggressive to beat him."

Nishikori said he struggled in the second set against Dimitrov because he eased up a little and stopped dictating the pace of play.

"I didn't do it in the second set, and beginning of the third set I didn't do it," said Nishikori. "So I tried to take a little bit more risk and tried to be more aggressive and hit and come in sometimes.

"I knew I was struggling with his slice a little bit, so I tried to move my feet and everything worked well after that game."

Earlier Friday, Wawrinka topped South Africa's Kevin Anderson 6-1, 6-3 in their quarter-final matchup.

"It was a really good match, I think. I start really well the first game," said Wawrinka. "Showed me that I was ready, aggressive, moving really well. It's one of the best match of the year I played.

"I was calm. Serving really good. Mixing a lot. Especially in moving well, in general. I think I was reading the game well, good in defence, find a way how to come back and attack."

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Milos Raonic knocked out of Rogers Cup by Gael Monfils

Blue Jays beat Orioles to move within 0.5 games of AL East lead

The Toronto Blue Jays had three solo homers in the first inning and scored three more runs in the third to pick up a 6-5 victory over the Baltimore Orioles at Rogers Centre on Friday night.

Jose Bautista led off the game with his 13th of season and first since coming off the disabled list on Monday. Edwin Encarnacion and Troy Tulowitzki also homered in the first as the Jays knocked three out in one inning for the second time this season.

Marco Estrada (6-4) went six innings and gave up three earned runs in striking out six to register his first win since beating the Philadelphia Phillies on June 15.

Toronto (58-45) is now just a half game back of the Orioles (58-44) for the division lead in the American League East.

Kevin Gausman (2-8) had an adventurous three-inning start. In addition to the three homers surrendered in the first, he also walked three Blue Jays and threw two wild pitches.

Baltimore scored twice in the first inning and then tied the game in the third thanks to some opportunistic base-running from Manny Machado.

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Blue Jays beat Orioles to move within 0.5 games of AL East lead

PGA Championship: Streb shoots 63 to grab share of lead with Walker

Robert Streb became the latest player to shoot 63 in a major, and hardly anyone noticed in a PGA Championship with endless action across Baltusrol on Friday.

Streb was on the far end of the rain-soaked course when he holed a 20-foot birdie putt on his last hole, the par-3 ninth, to become the 28th player with a 63 in a major. It was the fourth 63 at Baltusrol, following Jack Nicklaus and Tom Weiskopf in the opening round of the 1980 U.S. Open and Thomas Bjorn in the third round at 2005 PGA.

It gave Streb a share of the lead with Jimmy Walker (66), and they tied the 36-hole record at the PGA Championship at 131.

Most of the crowd was at the par-5 closing holes at Baltusrol, and there was no shortage of entertainment.

Defending champion Jason Day went on a tear after taking a double bogey on No. 7 by making seven birdies over his next eight holes and having a chance at 63. He needed birdies on the final two holes, both pars, but instead drove left next to the hospitality tents, and then hit an iron into right rough off the tee at No. 18. He had to settle for two pars and a 65.

Even so, the world's No. 1 player was in solid shape to try to join Tiger Woods as the only back-to-back PGA champions in the stroke-play era. Day was at 7-under 133 with Emiliano Grillo, who set the tone for an afternoon of birdies on his way to a 67.

By the end of the day, it was easy to overlook a familiar figure — Henrik Stenson, the British Open champion who made eagle on the 18th at the turn and polished off another 67. He was only four shots behind in his bid to match Ben Hogan as the only players to win two straight majors at age 40.

Phil Mickelson made the cut, and that might have been the most entertaining of all.

He began his round with a tee shot so far left that it sailed off the property, bounced along Shunpike Road and caromed to the left down Baltusrol Way. Wherever it finished, it was out-of-bounds, and Mickelson had to scramble for a triple bogey. He spent the rest of the day battling to get back, and he delivered on the 18th with a birdie to post a 70.

A dozen players were separated by five shots going into the weekend, a group that included Martin Kaymer and Patrick Reed, and even Rickie Fowler, who salvaged his round with a birdie-eagle finish.

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PGA Championship: Streb shoots 63 to grab share of lead with Walker

Erin McLeod will be cheering Canada from afar

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Canadian keeper Erin McLeod will be cheering her teammates on from Sweden, where she and wife Ella Masar McLeod play their club soccer.

Erin McLeod will be cheering Canada from afar

Mirim Lee continues impressive play heading into weekend

Mirim Lee followed her opening 10-under 62 with a 71 on Friday in the Women's British Open, leaving her a stroke ahead entering the weekend at tree-lined Woburn Golf Club.

A day after matching the tournament record and falling a stroke short of the major championship mark, the 25-year-old South Korean player had three birdies and two bogeys to reach 11-under 133.

"Today, the tee shot was a little bit difficult," Lee said. "I had issues with my tee shot. I think I putted OK. I had a couple of three-putts, but I think with some practice, I can overcome my mistakes."

Lee had two front-nine birdies, bogeyed the par-4 13th, birdied the par-5 15th and bogeyed the par-3 17th on the Marquess Course, the hilly, forest layout that is a big change from the seaside links that dominate the tournament rotation.

Three weeks ago at the U.S. Women's Open, Lee opened with a 64, then followed with rounds of 74, 76 and 73 to tie for 11th. The two-time LPGA Tour winner missed the cut in the ANA Inspiration to start the major year, and tied for fourth in the KPMG Women's PGA.

"I think it's just a result of all the hard work I put in and, I think, most importantly, I'm just trying to have fun," Lee said about her improved play in the majors. "That's what's making me feel comfortable.

Jutanugarn, Feng tied for 2nd

Thailand's Ariya Jutanugarn and China's Shanshan Feng were tied for second.

Jutanugarn had a 69. She won three straight events in May.

"I like this style so much," Jutanugarn said about the course. "I think it fits my game. I like the course. I like everything here."

Feng shot 68.

"I really like the course," Feng said. "Normally, my ball-striking is not bad, so I know I'm going to hit a lot of fairways and greens. It really matters if my putting is working or not. In the past two rounds, I think my putting has been really good, so I made a lot of birdies."

South Korea's Ha Na Jang (67) and 46-year-old Scot Catriona Matthew (65) were 9 under.

"I've been playing well all year," Matthew said. "Today, I just played really well. Hit 18 greens. Gave myself a lot of chances. The putts actually dropped today."

Sharp leads way for Canada

Hamilton's Alena Sharp was the top Canadian at 4 under after an even round of 72.

Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que., (71) was at 2 under while Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., (72) was at 1 under. All three Canadians will play on the weekend after finishing above the cut of 1 over.

Jang was upset about slow play on the back nine.

"It's like at the front nine, just play every hole, no slow play," Jang said. "But back nine is more windy and the more times, really late. And players a little tired, so walk slow, a little slow. The play at every hole, just stop on the tee box and second shot."

Mo Martin (68) was 8 under, and fellow American Stacy Lewis (70) followed at 7 under.

Martin won the 2014 tournament at Royal Birkdale.

"It's definitely a departure from links," Martin said. "Parts of it remind me of the Pacific Northwest but there are some linksy styles in there, some of the fescues, some of the bunkering. I just love it in England."

Lewis also is a past champion, winning at St. Andrews in 2013.

"Especially making the turn, I wasn't really in a good place," Lewis said. "Kind of rallied on the back and made three birdies to give myself a chance this weekend. I like where I am. Usually in these things, if you can get out there and post a number, that's usually what wins."

Charley Hull, the 20-year-old English star playing on her home course, had a 70 to move into a tie for 10th at 5 under. She had five birdies in a six-hole stretch in the middle of the round. "I kind of holed a few putts that I wasn't holing and I got up-and-down," Hull said. "I was pretty happy. I just kind of dug in."

The fast-playing Hull was put on the clock for slow play late in the round.

"It was a bit pointless, but it's stuff that you've got to deal with," Hull said.

Top-ranked Lydia Ko was tied for 56th at even par after a 70. She's coming off a victory two weeks ago in Ohio, her fourth LPGA Tour win of the year. She won the ANA Inspiration in April.

Henderson under par

Second-ranked Brooke Henderson was tied for 47th at 1 under after a 72.

Michelle Wie missed the cut with rounds of 76 and 73.

Third-ranked Inbee Park, the winner last year at Turnberry, is sidelined by a lingering left thumb injury. She hopes to be ready to compete for South Korea in the Olympics.

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Mirim Lee continues impressive play heading into weekend

Rogers Cup serves Eugenie Bouchard some painful lessons

Pressure and expectations brought out the best and worst of Canada's Eugenie Bouchard at the women's Rogers Cup.

The Westmount, Que., native thrilled her hometown crowd with wins over higher-ranked Lucie Safarova and Dominika Cibulkova in the opening two rounds, then dashed their hopes by wasting a lead and losing a third-round match to unheralded Kristina Kucova, a hard-working Slovak who got to the main draw through the qualifying tournament.

After the defeat, Bouchard spoke of the pressure to win at home, to reach a quarter-finals and to come through in a match she was expected to win.

"I do think the pressure got to me a little bit, especially being here in Montreal, trying to make quarters," Bouchard said after the match. "Also, having all the attention on me three days in a row takes a lot of energy out of me. I was not able to control my emotions as well."

Kucova savours moment 

Bouchard won the first four games against Kucova and looked to be in control, but gradually lost it against an opponent who doggedly returned ball after ball. Waiting for the nervous favourite to make mistakes proved a solid strategy for Kucova, who was beside herself with joy after the upset win.

"This is my best moment so far in my tennis career," said 26-year-old Kucova, who shrieked and threw herself on the court on match point. "I was working for this moment all my life.

"I'm just so happy about it. I don't know if my life will change. I don't think so. But I will remember this moment, that I beat Genie in Montreal and I broke into the top 100."

Nerves a recurring theme

It was painful to watch for Bouchard's supporters, including Federation Cup team captain Sylvain Bruneau who leaves Monday night with Bouchard and doubles specialist Gabriella Drabowski of Ottawa for the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

He said pressure played "a big part" in Bouchard's exit.

"She started well and was not able to maintain it," said Bruneau. "And when it got a little tougher she had many, many missed opportunities and it just added up.

"At some point she got extremely frustrated. It was not good for her to focus on it but she knew deep down it was a match she should win. Then she got tense, a little tight and started to miss a little more. I noticed her ball speed on her serve and her movement went down a notch and her opponent went up. We saw the shift."

It has been a recurring theme for Bouchard this year.

In her breakthrough season in 2014, the athletic right-hander looked to have nerves of ice as she reached the semifinals of the Australian and French Opens and then became the first Canadian to reach the Wimbledon final.

But everything went south in 2015, where she struggled to win any match. She seemed to revive at the U.S. Open, but lost in the fourth round and then slipped on the locker-room floor and suffered a concussion.

This year, she has shown her old form in flashes, winning in early rounds only to stall. She reached finals in Malaysia and Hobart, a quarter-final in China, and the third round at Wimbledon, where she lost to Cibulkova.

Painful lessons 

"She's only 22," said Bruneau. "It's all about learning and getting better from these losses and I'm sure she will get something out of that match [with Kucova], as painful as it was.

"And I hope she gets something from the first two matches because there was a lot there."

It didn't help that Bouchard had to deal with a stomach problem after her second round match, although she said it was not a factor.

She also arrived to some negative press, with local columnists taking her to task for everything from her English-accented French, calling herself Genie instead of the French version Eugenie, saying at the Citi Open last week that she may stay in Washington to visit museums rather than go to the "craziness" in Montreal and generally not making more of an effort to connect with her hometown fans.

Bouchard did some fence-mending during the week, taking part in fan events, giving interviews and, most of all, playing well on court until running into Kucova.

"I think the media in Montreal are very tough with her," said Bruneau. "I'm biased because I know her well and I really like her.

"She's an outstanding girl. She's funny, charming, smart. I know sometimes she might say something at a press conference and people will pick on that, but sometimes she's treated a bit unfairly."

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Rogers Cup serves Eugenie Bouchard some painful lessons

Olympic village fire forces Australian athletes from building

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A fire in the Olympic village in Rio de Janeiro forced the Australian team to evacuate the building on Friday.

Olympic village fire forces Australian athletes from building

Ellie Black is coming back to the Olympics a different gymnast

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When Ellie Black went to the London 2012 games, she was 16 years old and a long shot to make the team. Heading into Rio 2016, she's 20 and has the leadership position she so heavily depended on four years ago.

Ellie Black is coming back to the Olympics a different gymnast

Swimming by the numbers: Ryan Cochrane hunting for elusive Olympic gold

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Ryan Cochrane will again be eyeing Olympic gold in Rio, something that has eluded the Canadian swimmer at two previous Summer Games. CBC Sports talked to Cochrane about the importance of numbers and time in his preparation.

Swimming by the numbers: Ryan Cochrane hunting for elusive Olympic gold

Canada's Damian Warner surges into decathlon's elite

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The first decathlon Damian Warner ever did was in terrible conditions, but he stuck with it, and now he's a Olympic gold-medal contender.

Canada's Damian Warner surges into decathlon's elite

Pavlyuchenkova survives 2nd-set letdown to upset Agnieszka Radwanska

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova survived a second-set letdown to upset fourth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-1 and advance to the quarter-finals of the US$2.4 million women's Rogers Cup in Montreal on Thursday.

Pavlyuchenkova, seeded 16th, let two match points slip away while leading 5-4 in the second set and then lost the game on a double fault. But she rebounded in the third to extend her longest run ever at the hardcourt event.

"I think I'm still recovering from the second set," she said in a courtside interview. "Basically, I thought I had the match in my pocket and lost it, so I'm happy with the mental side."

Radwanska won the Rogers Cup the last time it was held in Montreal in 2014.

Fifth-seeded Simona Halep, a finalist last year in Toronto, bulled past 14th seeded Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic 6-3, 6-3.

The 24-year Romanian will next face Svetlana Kuznetsova, the ninth seed who downed 12th seeded Czech Petra Kvitova 7-6 (2), 6-3.

Canada's Eugenie Bouchard is slated to play Kristina Kucova on Thursday night.

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Pavlyuchenkova survives 2nd-set letdown to upset Agnieszka Radwanska

Wawrinka, Monfils advance to Rogers Cup quarter-finals

France's Gael Monfils topped Belgium's David Goffin 7-6 (5), 2-6, 6-4, on Thursday in the third round of the Rogers Cup.

Goffin lost the match when he put a backhand into the net, with Monfils pumping his fist in celebration on the grandstand court at York University's Aviva Centre.

Monfils will play the winner of tonight's match between Canadian Milos Raonic and American qualifier Jared Donaldson in the quarter-finals.

Top-seeded Novak Djokovic was scheduled to face Radek Stempanek after Raonic's match on centre court.

Earlier in the day, second seeded Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland downed American Jack Sock 7-6 (3), 6-2.

Sock forced a tiebreak in the first set, even taking a 3-2 lead, but Wawrinka won four consecutive points to win the set.

In women's action in Montreal, fifth-seeded Simona Halep of Romania bulled past 14th seeded Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic 6-3, 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals.

Russian Daria Kasatkina upset seventh-seeded Roberta Vinci of Italy 7-5, 6-3 in another third round match at Uniprix Stadium.

Halep, who lost the Rogers Cup final to Belinda Bencic last year in Toronto, posted her third win over Pliskova this year. In her quarter-final, she will face the winner of a later match between Svetlana Kuznetsova and Petra Kvitova.

Kasatkina will play the winner between Elina Svitolina and Angelique Kerber.

Canada's Eugenie Bouchard is slated to play Kristina Kucova on Thursday night.

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Wawrinka, Monfils advance to Rogers Cup quarter-finals

Diana Taurasi seeks 4th straight Olympic basketball gold with U.S.

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Diana Taurasi has accomplished plenty on the hardcourt but, at 34, is as hungry for success as ever. At the Rio Summer Games, she’ll attempt to lead the United States women’s basketball team to a fourth straight Olympic title.

Diana Taurasi seeks 4th straight Olympic basketball gold with U.S.

5 rivalries to watch at Rio Olympics

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Every four years, the best athletes on the planet unite and as expected, some of the best rivalries in sports are born. Here are five rivalries to keep an eye on at the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics.

5 rivalries to watch at Rio Olympics

Michael Phelps determined to go out on his terms

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Having ended his career once in London on what he considered a sour note, Michael Phelps enters the Rio de Janeiro Olympics pool for his second swansong determined to bow out on his own terms.

Michael Phelps determined to go out on his terms

Raonic wins, Shapovalov eliminated at Rogers Cup

Canadian Milos Raonic downed Yen-Hsun Lu of Chinese Taipei 6-3, 6-3 on Wednesday evening in the second round of the Rogers Cup.

Raonic, from nearby Thornhill, Ont., will face American Jared Donaldson in the third round of the tournament.

Raonic relied on his booming serve, especially in the second set, and finished off the match with his eighth ace which Lu deflected high and wide.

Raonic had some trouble with his volleys and returns in the opening of the first set, so he started using his serve more heavily.

That shift in strategy gave him an 85 per cent serving efficiency in the first set and helped him pull away from Lu after they were tied 3-3.

In the second set, Raonic's success with the serve allowed him to be more aggressive, moving to the net more often and forcing Lu to make errors.

Raonic found his hometown crowd at York University's Aviva Centre to be somewhat of a distraction in the second set. He repeatedly complained to the chair umpire about conversations floating down to the court while he was serving or people walking in the aisles during the match.

Despite those distractions, a smile played across his face when some fans shouted "Another win for Milos!" referencing an episode of the 1990s sitcom Seinfeld.

He responded to the playful call from the centre-court crowd with his seventh ace of the night to take a 5-2 lead in the second set.

Shapovalov out

Canadian Denis Shapovalov fell to Grigor Dimitrov 6-4, 6-3.

The 17-year-old Shapovalov, from nearby Richmond Hill, Ont., had the crowd's support from the coin toss at centre court.

Shapovalov came out strong in the first set, working to a 3-3 tie with Dimitrov. But the veteran player pulled away, dominating with serves.

Down 5-2 in the second set, Shapovalov brought the fans to their feet and won the advantage with a between-the-legs forehand.

Dimitrov returned the trick shot, but Shapovalov fired back a forehand, screaming in celebration when it stayed in.

Dimitrov put the match away winning a break point, then pointed to the side of his head to indicate his mental toughness.

Djokovic struggles 

Earlier Wednesday, world No. 1 Novak Djokovic survived a scare from Gilles Muller and held on for a 7-5, 7-6 (3) win. Although he seemed tired and sometimes frustrated in the heat, Djokovic insisted that it was worth playing in Canada despite his busy ATP schedule.

"I actually think that Toronto is a great way for me to prepare for the Olympic Games and what's coming up after that," said Djokovic, who noted that since he was upset in the third round at Wimbledon he had extra time off. "But also, you know, I enjoy my time in this tournament that I always love playing.

"I enjoy Canada, both cities, Toronto and Montreal, and the past results in history shows that I have a good time on Canadian soil, so I try to get the best out of it."

Although many top players have backed out of playing at the Rio Games — including Roger Federer and Raonic — because of the potential risk of being exposed to the Zika virus or lingering injuries, Djokovic confirmed on Wednesday that he was committed to playing for Serbia at the international event.

Djokovic struggled against Muller on the hard court — his first match on the surface since March — both with his serves and his short game. Ultimately, unforced errors were Muller's undoing, with both sets easily in reach of the unseeded player from Luxembourg.

"Gilles Muller is a very difficult player to play against in quick conditions," said Djokovic. "He takes away the time of the opponent. He serves and volleys second serve a lot, as well, which he's one of the rare guys that does that.

"He likes to play quick, and I think the warm day like today played a lot in his favour."

Pospisil shut down by Monfils

​After taking tenth seed Gael Monfils of France to the ropes during the first set, Canadian Vasek Pospisil was swept 6-0 in the second.

The Frenchman will face David Goffin of Belgium in the third round.

Stepanek downs Polansky 

Also in second round play, Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic downed Peter Polansky of nearby Thornhill, Ont., 7-6 (5), 6-4.

No. 2 seed Stan Wawrinka topped Mikhail Youzhny 7-6 (3), 7-6 (8), third seed Kei Nishikori downed Dennis Novikov 6-4, 7-5 and fifth seed Tomas Berdych dispatched Borna Coric 4-6, 6-1, 6-4.

Ryan Harrison upset ninth seeded John Isner 7-6 (3), 6-7 (4), 6-4 and Rajeev Ram beat Lucas Pouille 6-4, 7-6 (5).

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Raonic wins, Shapovalov eliminated at Rogers Cup

Will weightlifter be Canada's 2nd gold medallist from 2012 Olympics?

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Canadian weightlifter Christine Girard's bronze medal from the London Olympics could be upgraded to gold after the two women who finished ahead of her were nabbed in doping retests.

Will weightlifter be Canada's 2nd gold medallist from 2012 Olympics?

Montreal's Abanda goes down swinging in 2nd-round loss at Rogers

Francoise Abanda's run at the Rogers Cup has come to an end.

Abanda lost her second-round match 7-6 (2), 7-6 (3) against Ukraine's Elina Svitolina on Wednesday at the US$2.4-million women's tournament.

The 19-year-old from Montreal dropped a nail-biter in front of her hometown fans, pushing both sets to a tiebreak.

But Abanda's service game let her down throughout the match. Svitolina broke the Canadian twice in the first set, and another four times in the second.

In the second-set tiebreak, Abanda jumped to a 3-0 lead but lost the next seven points, three of those while on serve.

Svitolina will face either Angelique Kerber or Mirjana Lucic-Baroni in the next round.

After earning a bye in the first round, sixth-ranked Venus Williams breezed through her second-round match.

The American dominated her opponent Barbora Strycova 6-3, 6-0, needing just 58 minutes to complete the encounter.

"It was definitely more straightforward than some of our other matches," said Williams, who is off to the Olympic Games in Rio following the Rogers Cup. "I'm never happy with my matches. Even an easy scoreline is never enough. But it's about figuring out how to win instead of playing perfect."

Wins second set in 24 minutes

The seven-time Grand Slam champion gave up a mere 10 points in the second set, which she completed in 24 minutes.

The only hiccup for Williams was the seventh game of the first set. Up 4-2, the 36-year-old had her serve broken by Strycova, but she followed up with a break of her own.

"I just needed to stay focused," said Wiliams. "A 4-4 is definitely different than a 5-3. But it wasn't necessarily a turning point, because there are matches where I've been down and came back, and vice versa, so you realize that the match isn't over until it's over."

Williams will next face the winner of a match between Madison Keys and Madison Brengle.

Earlier in the day, fourth-seed Agnieszka Radwanska dispatched of Monica Niculescu 6-1, 7-5.

Romanian Simona Halep, one of the tournament favourites, beat Daria Gavrilova in straight sets 6-3, 6-2 to set up a meeting with Karolina Pliskova.

The 14th-ranked Pliskova jumped into the third round after her second-round opponent Sara Errani was forced to retire with neck stiffness.

Roberta Vinci came from behind to defeat fellow Italian Camila Giorgi 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.

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Montreal's Abanda goes down swinging in 2nd-round loss at Rogers

Heart problems sideline CBC Sports broadcaster Armitage for Rio Olympics

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CBC Sports broadcaster Steve Armitage has stepped down from the network's Olympic broadcast team. Armitage, who was scheduled to provide commentary for swimming and diving, was recently diagnosed with chronic heart problems.

Heart problems sideline CBC Sports broadcaster Armitage for Rio Olympics

Canadians remember Donovan Bailey's golden moment

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On July 27, 1996, Canadian sprinter Donovan Bailey powered past the finish line in world-record time at the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games. It has been 20 years since Canadians exploded in cheers around their televisions to celebrate his golden moment, and the memories came flooding back Wednesday.

Canadians remember Donovan Bailey's golden moment

Justin Gatlin in peak sprinting form as Rio Olympics near

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United States sprinter Justin Gatlin is inching closer to another 100-metre showdown with six-time Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt, this time at the Rio Summer Games, after vowing in February to beat his Jamaican rival in Brazil.

Justin Gatlin in peak sprinting form as Rio Olympics near

Magali Harvey calls Olympic exclusion 'slap in the face'

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Canadian rugby player Magali Harvey, who was named player of the year in 2014, did not mince words when describing her exclusion from the Olympic roster, calling the decision a "slap in the face."

Magali Harvey calls Olympic exclusion 'slap in the face'

CFL Power Rankings: Redblacks stay atop despite loss

Malcolm Kelly breaks down the balance of power in the Canadian Football League.

1. Ottawa Redblacks (unchanged)

• Overall record: 3-1-1
• Streak: Lost 1
• Next: Toronto

Enthusiasts on social media were talking about young QB Brock Jensen as a future Most Outstanding Player in the CFL after he had a decent opening performance as a fill-in after Trevor Harris went down in Regina. Folks, let's cool those jets just a bit. The former North Dakota State star, who won three FCS titles did well in the first half, but once the Riders D had a chance to adjust his final eight drives ended with three field goals and five punts. Without Harris – and we have to wait and see how he is – the RBs were average, even sporting four all-star-calibre receivers. However, Henry Burris is due back in two weeks, so no panic, Ottawa fans. Defensively, the team was let down in the final 16 minutes, allowing a backup QB to score 13 points and take the game.

Roughriders beat Redblacks with late field goal0:59

2. Calgary Stampeders (up from 4)

• Overall Record: 2-1-1
• Streak: Unbeaten in 3
• Next: B.C.

Nice to have a winning record; nice to keep a winning streak alive coming out of the bye; nice to now be 5-0 at the new Winnipeg stadium; nice to keep pace at the top of the West. This one, however, was too close for comfort. Building up a 20-3 lead in the first half, the horsies' offence stalled for a snack with five punts and a pick in the next six drives. The Stamps were up just eight late in the game and were bailed out first by a Joe Burnett pick 6 and an outstanding catch from Bakari Grant with 3:09 to go, setting up a score. You could hear one of the coaches in the last minute yelling "play to the end of the game." Saying that at half would have been called for. Kicker Rene Paredes has not moved into Mackey Sasser territory yet, but he's yipped four converts so far.

Bo Levi Mitchell leads Stampeders over Blue Bombers0:45

3. B.C. Lions (unchanged – bye week)

• Overall record: 3-1
• Streak: Won 1
• Next: At Calgary

No pity party for the Lions, who have lost SB Nick Moore (torn ACL) and DB T.J. Lee (Achilles) for the season. They aren't asking for any either, given every team in the league is getting hit. Bryan Burnham has filled in for Moore and the team is working out the DB situation while hoping to continue it's solid start in Calgary. QB Jonathon Jennings led his club to 40 points last outting (four TDs) and he still has Shawn Gore and Manny Arceneaux to throw at. Jennings is sitting around 60 per cent completion rate, a mark which in the old days (like three years ago) was pretty good. Right now, if you aren't in the 70s, you're no where. There are six QBs with major minutes better than 70. Good QBs, or lousy secondaries?

4. Edmonton Eskimos (Down from 2)

• Overall record: 2-2
• Streak: Lost 1
• Next: Winnipeg 

There's no way to account for what happened on Saturday night. QB Mike Reilly, with receivers Derel Walker (12-for-140 yards) and Adarius Bowman (9-for-111) were at their best in the first half (24-6) and carried it into the second (31-6). Then, a mind-blowing, record-breaking collapse. Hey, Hamilton is a good team, but letting them set a franchise mark for deficit erasure was long past unexpected. After six quarters of good football, the defenders fell back into their early-season funk. Actually, funk isn't the word Edmonton fans have been using, but it's close. The Cats picked up points on their last six drives (four TDs, 2 FGs). Meanwhile, the offence went two and out on its last four drives, helped by a collapsing front line that left Reilly picking fake grass out of his uniform too often. 'Peg's coming in. Smarten up.

Big night for Jeremiah Masoli as Ticats come back to beat Eskimos 37-311:12

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5. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (unchanged)

• Overall record: 3-2
• Streak: Won 2
• Next: Bye

Sing a song of Jeremiah Masoli, who was off-key in the first 30 minutes on Saturday in Edmonton, but performed like Pavarotti in the second half of the concert. If at home, the QB might have been booed off the stage. But with Twitter critics (including this one) baying away, he ignored all and proved we don't know nothin'. In what may be his last start for a while, as Zach Collaros is due back after the bye, Masoli completed a CFL-record 23 straight passes to start the second half. Amazing. How does 31-38, 391 yards, 3 TDs and a 139.3 rating sound? It's been a long time since we've seen the Hamilton defence play as poor a half as it did in the opening 30 minutes. Whatever was said in the room, and more importantly the adjustments made by the coaches, worked wonders.

6. Toronto Argonauts (unchanged)

• Overall record: 3-2
• Streak: Won 1
• Next: At Ottawa 

Count along with me: One steamboat, two steamboats, three steamboats. That's how long it was from the time QB Ricky Ray released the ball and lineman Vaughn Martin hit him in the lower leg, spraining an MCL and putting him out 3-6 weeks. If Ray hadn't already been wearing a brace, it would likely be longer. The result will be a fine. How about three games off? Ray (29-34, 235 yards, 3 TD) was moving the ball from the outset and his offence pulled together in the second quarter to score three consecutive majors. The Argos discovered this old attack plan called "running the ball" going by ground 27 times (average was 11.5 per game, on track to be the second-lowest in CFL history) for 121 yards. Now backup Logan Couture comes out of the Toronto QB factory to take over.

7. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (unchanged)

• Overall record: 1-4
• Streak: Lost 2
• Next: At Edmonton 

As if there wasn't enough trouble in Winnipeg, the club now has a quarterback controversy on its hands. Drew Willy is not the same player he was before injury in 2015 and it's showing on the scoreboard. Short passes? No problem, and he can pile up yards that way, but anything long isn't there. He also isn't moving around as he once did. Coach Mike O'Shea stayed with him against Calgary until the fans were ready for a sideline chat with the boss. In came Matt Nichols, who produced a TD on his first fourth-quarter drive. Shame of it was the defence played so darn well, losing two key defensive backs and then still shutting down the Stamps for most of the game. O'Shea announced Nichols will start the game at Edmonton. Piling up points is more important that piling up yards.

8. Saskatchewan Roughriders (up from 9)

• Overall record: 1-3
• Streak: Won 1
• Next: At Montreal 

QB Mitchell Gale was tapped for his first CFL start this week with one job: get it done. Don't care how, don't care if it's pretty, just get it done. With his family in the stands, Gale did just that, throwing for 354 yards, keeping patient, coming up with 13 points in the closing 16 minutes and beating Ottawa at Mosaic. Darian Durant is out a while with a bad ankle sprain and the former Argo backup had to establish himself as an option while everyone waits. Great help from receiver Naaman Roosevelt, who caught eight for 182 yards with a long of 89 for a touchdown. A stronger running game would be a great help. Having prepared for Harris, it was expected the defenders to be caught flat-footed by a newcomer out of the gate. Second half, the starting 12 controlled things.

9. Montreal Alouettes (down from 8)

• Overall record: 1-3
• Streak: Lost 3
• Next: Saskatchewan

Kevin Glenn continues to be one tough cookie, even as Father Timekeeper runs the clock. He was hit clean halfway through the fourth quarter, lay still for a while to make sure everything was working, then limped off. He returned a series later. Afterwards, he would not accept the large number of Larks' offensive injuries as an excuse. Pros have to be ready, he said. Montreal's live-on-the-edge defence slipped over the other side too many times in the second quarter (a face mask and pair of illegal contact) keeping Toronto drives alive. Overall, the team took 11 flags of 10 yards or more. LB Bear Woods was outstanding all night (11 tackles) and mightily frustrated after it. There's no time to get healthy; they host the Riders on Friday night. Kicker Boris Bede is now 5-for-12 in field goals this season.

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CFL Power Rankings: Redblacks stay atop despite loss

Devon Travis, Blue Jays save 12-inning nail-biter over Padres

Devon Travis scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the 12th inning, as the Toronto Blue Jays came from behind to beat the San Diego Padres 7-6.

Travis scored off San Diego reliever Paul Clemens, who also walked two batters in the final inning. The Blue Jays (57-44) also manufactured a run in the seventh inning aided by wildness from the San Diego bullpen, with reliever Brad Hand walking two batters and throwing two wild pitches.

Travis's run capped a wild 12th inning. A single from Russell Martin and a double from Darwin Barney put the tying runner in scoring position with one out. Travis then worked a 14-pitch walk, after narrowly missing a walk-off home run on the 13th pitch. Jose Bautista then walked, forcing in the first run of the inning for Toronto.

Josh Donaldson hit into a fielder's choice to tie the game again.

Matt Kemp hit a two-run home run in the top of the 12th inning off of Jesse Chavez (1-2), who ended up picking up the win. Kemp followed up Wil Myers' two-out double with a blast to left field, the first two hits off of Chavez in his three innings of work.

Justin Smoak and Donaldson both homered for Toronto.

The Blue Jays tied the game in the seventh inning, as San Diego reliever Brad Hand walked two batters on four pitches and threw two wild pitches, allowing Martin to eventually score.

Marcus Stroman had a spotty outing, earning a no-decision. He mostly kept the Padres in check for the first five innings, although many line drives happened to find Blue Jays fielders.

In the sixth, one night after hitting a ball into the Rogers Centre's fifth deck, Padres left-fielder Alex Dickerson hit a three-run home run to give the Padres a 4-3 lead.

Dickerson's blast gave the Padres a home run in 24 straight games, the longest streak since 2002, when the Rangers hit a home run in a record 27 straight games.

Stroman allowed four runs and seven hits in six-and-two-thirds innings.

Melvin Upton Jr., whom the Blue Jays acquired from San Diego earlier in the day, spoke to the Toronto media before the game and was in uniform. Upton was not in the starting lineup, but pinch hit for Smoak with two runners on base and no outs in the bottom of the seventh. He hit into a fielder's choice.

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Devon Travis, Blue Jays save 12-inning nail-biter over Padres

Pospisil 1 of 5 Canadians to advance at Rogers Cup

Another Canadian is through to the second round of the Rogers Cup and that suits Vasek Pospisil just fine.

The Vancouver product defeated Jeremy Chardy in first-round action on Tuesday night after the Frenchman retired with a right foot injury.

With five Canadians advancing, it ties the most that have ever moved past the first round at the men's tournament. The last time it happened was 2013.

"It's good to have new faces for sure," Pospisil said. "I'm 26 already. I feel like I have been a new face but maybe not so much anymore. But it's cool to see and I'll try to catch (watch) the next one that Denis (Shapovalov) and the other Canadians play."

Chardy started to favour his foot after Pospisil went up 30-0 in the first game of the second set. Chardy called for the trainer and waited several minutes before deciding that he couldn't go on.

Will face Monfils in next round

Pospisil won the first set 7-6 (3). He'll face Gael Monfils in the second round. Monfils is coming off a victory at last week's Washington Open and is 2-0 in his career against the Canadian.

Fourth seed Milos Raonic will open his tournament against Taiwan's Yen-Hsun Lu, Steven Diez faces 12th seed Bernard Tomic, Peter Polansky goes up against Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic, and the teenage Shapovalov plays Bulgaria's Girgor Dimitrov all on Wednesday.

Lu admitted he's a bit nervous about facing Raonic, a hometown hero, but he's banking on the fourth-seeded Canadian having a few butterflies too.

Lu, who advanced to the second round on Tuesday afternoon with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Alexander Zverev of Germany, will have few backers among the expected capacity crowd at the 12,500-seat Aviva Centre.

"All the spectators against you is very tough," Lu said. "But, I mean, this is what he should get because he comes from the country and he's one of the best players right now."

Raonic, who grew up the Toronto suburb of Thornhill, will be playing his first match since the Wimbledon men's final where he lost to Britain's Andy Murray.

Lu said that in order to beat Raonic, he will have to have a strong service game. But he's also hoping to exploit any nerves that Raonic may have as he returns home to a hero's welcome.

Lu hopes Raonic will be nervous

"If I can try to make more balls into the court to play, I have a little bit better chance," Lu said. "I have to focus on my service game to stay with him and to maybe give him a little bit of pressure and waiting for him maybe a little bit getting nervous from the tensions and give me a chance."

Raonic, who had a bye in the first round of the Rogers Cup, is 2-0 against the 32-year-old Lu, with his last victory coming in 2014 in Monte Carlo. Lu said he's noticed a lot of improvement in Raonic's game recently.

In men's doubles action, Vancouver's Philip Bester and Adil Shamasdin of Toronto got past world No. 1 singles player Novak Djokovic and Nenad Zimonjic of Serbia 7-5, 4-6, 10-2.

Bester and Shamasdin will play South Africa's Raven Klaasen and American Rajeev Ram.

Berdych comes back from 1 set down

In other singles action, Monfils defeated Joao Sousa of Portugal 6-3, 6-3 while fifth seed Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic beat Croatia's Borna Coric 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 in second-round play.

Despite dropping his first set, Berdych says that he wasn't concerned because it was an early break.

"I mean it was by my mistakes and then it was just basically trying to get used to the conditions because they were quite different," the world No. 8 said.

"I was just really trying to be patient with myself. Trying also to look for the opportunities. And that's what paid off."

Tournament No. 2 seed Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland held off Russian Mikhail Youzhny 7-6 (3), 7-6 (8) in Tuesday's late match.

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Pospisil 1 of 5 Canadians to advance at Rogers Cup

Bouchard battles her way to 1st-round win at Rogers Cup

Eugenie Bouchard thrilled her hometown crowd with a 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (3) victory over Lucie Safarova in the opening round of the US$2.4 million women's Rogers Cup on Tuesday.

Bouchard fell behind 3-1 in the tiebreaker but then put up six straight points, taking the win on Safarova's double fault on match point in a nearly soldout Uniprix Stadium.

The Westmount, Que. native has dropped to 41st in WTA rankings since her last Rogers Cup in Montreal in 2014, when she was ranked in the top 10 but ended up losing to a qualifier in the first round.

The tournament lost one of its stars when the third seed, French Open champion Garbine Muguruza, withdrew with an illness, giving Naomi Broady a walkover win. Top seed Serena Williams withdrew on Sunday.

Bouchard dominated the opening set, only to see 28th-ranked Safarova find her service range and turn the tables in the second.

They held serve through the third, although Bouchard let three match points slip away while leading 6-5, 40-0, giving Safarova momentum going into the tiebreaker.

Bouchard will next face the winner of a match later Tuesday between Dominika Cibulkova and Mariana Duque-Marino.

It did not go so well for Aleksandra Wozniak of Blainville, Que., who lost 6-4, 7-6 (4) to Italy's Sara Errani.

Errani, ranked 25th in the world, posted four service breaks in the first set of the centre court battle of 29-year-old baseliners. Errani, coming off a quarter-final on clay in Sweden last week, led 4-2 in the second when Wozniak had her best moments battling back to force a tiebreaker.

Wozniak happy despite loss

Wozniak, ranked 21st in 2009, has slipped to 465th after a series of injuries, including major shoulder surgery. She lost in the first round for a second week in a row, having fallen to Jessica Pegula last week in Washington, D.C.

"I think it was a close match, playing the No. 25 in the world," said Wozniak. "I thought I played well.

"I had some opportunities to turn it around. But I'm happy with the performance going forward after this long period of time which I didn't play such a high level of tennis."

Errani's next opponent is 14th seed Karolina Pliiskova, who got past Kateryna Bondarenko 3-6, 6-2, 7-5

A battle of the Madisons looms as 10th-seeded Madison Keys breezed by Elena Visnina 6-4, 6-0 and will face fellow American Madison Brengle in the second round. Keys has won all three previous matches between them.

Lucky loser Christina McHale of the U.S. posted a 6-4, 3-0 win over qualifier Shuai Zhang, who retired in the second set, and will next face 16th-seeded Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who defeated Yulia Putintseva 6-4, 1-6, 7-5.

Andrea Petkovic of Germany downed Alize Cornet of France 7-6 (1), 6-3 to advance to a second-round meeting with 12th seeded Petra Kvitova.

Daria Kasatkina beat Misaki Doi 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 to set up a meeting with 13th-seeded Samantha Stosur.

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Bouchard battles her way to 1st-round win at Rogers Cup