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Blue Jays take Game 4 over Yankees to secure first ALCS trip since 2016

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Blue Jays take Game 4 over Yankees to secure first ALCS trip since 2016


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The Toronto Blue Jays are heading to the American League Championship Series (ALCS) after defeating the New York Yankees, 5-2, in Game 4 of the ALDS, Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium.

It marks the first time the Blue Jays have reached the ALCS since 2016, and they will face the winner of Game 5 between the Seattle Mariners and Detroit Tigers in their ALDS series. 

After a come-from-behind victory for the Yankees in Game 3 to stay alive in the series, momentum was certainly on the side of the home team in the Bronx entering Game 4. That was especially the case with Cam Schlittler, the darling rookie of the Wild Card round who shut down the Boston Red Sox to help his squad move on in the postseason. 

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Yariel Rodríguez of the Toronto Blue Jays reacts during Game 4 of the American League Division Series against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday, in New York. (Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

But much like they have all series, the Blue Jays scratched and clawed their way to runs, and it was Vladimir Guerrero Jr. getting the job done once more in the first inning. With George Springer hitting a leadoff double to open the game, Guerrero served a single to right field to get Toronto on the board first. 

Blue Jays manager John Schneider was working a bullpen game, meaning he would pick and choose the right matchups with his relievers. He went with Louis Varland, who gave up the game-tying three-run homer to Aaron Judge on Tuesday night, as well as the eventual game-winning solo shot to Jazz Chisholm Jr., to start the game. 

BERNIE WILLIAMS DISCUSSES YANKEES’ CHANES AT ALDS COMEBACK, DIFFERENCES BETWEEN JOE TORRE AND AARON BOONE

Varland did his job, but Mason Fluharty allowed the Yankees to tie the game when Ryan McMahon, the No. 9 hitter, turned on an offspeed pitch and sent it over the short porch in right field to make it 1-1. 

In the top of the fifth inning, Toronto saw its eight and nine hitters, Ernie Clement and Andres Gimenez, giving their team an opportunity after they both hit singles to set up runners at the corners with nobody out. Springer hit a sacrifice fly to retake the lead, though the Blue Jays couldn’t get more there. 

It was still too close for comfort for the Blue Jays, as the Yankees were knocking at the door in the bottom of the sixth inning with runners on first and second – the first time they had runners in scoring position all night. But Chisholm grounded out to second base to end the threat of tying, or even better for the home team, taking the lead. 

Then, the most pivotal moment came in the top of the seventh inning when Clement once again singled to get on base. Gimenez hit a sharp liner in the next at-bat, but it appeared to be an inning-ending double-play ball as it was going right to Chisholm. But Chisholm couldn’t handle it and there were runners now on second and third with one out. 

Nathan Lukes hits RBI single

Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Nathan Lukes hits a two-run RBI single during the seventh inning against the New York Yankees, Wednesday, at Yankee Stadium. (Brad Penner/Imagn Images)

Devin Williams came into the game, relieving Schlitter after he went 6.1 innings for his squad. He got Springer to strike out, a massive swing-and-miss, as the Yankees were close to getting away from a potentially fatal mistake. 

But Nathan Lukes, the 31-year-old high-contact guy, slapped a single to center field, scoring Clement and Gimenez to make it a 4-1 game. Though only three runs, it felt like more considering the Yankees weren’t able to get runners on base consistently like they were in Game 3. 

The Blue Jays would add one more in the top of the eighth inning thanks to Myles Straw connecting on a single to right field to score Alejandro Kirk, but it was always going to be the rest of Toronto’s bullpen that would really shut this game down. 

The Yankees threatened with runners in the bottom of the seventh and eighth innings, but the Blue Jays were able to head back into the dugout unscathed. The biggest pitch was Jeff Hoffman, Toronto’s closer, working out of a bases-loaded jam after Austin Wells flew out to left field. 

Vladimir Guerrero Jr silences crowd

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. reacts after hitting a two-run homer during Game 3 on Tuesday. (Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images)

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Hoffman got the final three outs needed to start the celebration, as the Yankees and their fan base were left stunned with their season complete. 

The Blue Jays finished the game with 12 total hits to the Yankees’ five, and they used eight different pitchers to get the job done. 

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Huskers earn top overall seed in volleyball tourney

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Huskers earn top overall seed in volleyball tourney


Undefeated Nebraska earned the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA women’s volleyball tournament bracket released Sunday.

The five-time national champion Huskers (30-0) have dominated this season, dropping just seven sets. They lead Division I in hitting percentage at .352.

Dani Busboom Kelly, who won NCAA titles as both a Nebraska player and assistant, took over at her alma mater this season after longtime Huskers coach John Cook retired. Busboom Kelly led Louisville to the NCAA final in 2024, where the Cardinals lost to Penn State.

The other No. 1 seeds are Kentucky, Texas and Pitt. The Wildcats have won one NCAA title, and the Longhorns have four. The Panthers reached the final four the past four seasons but lost in the semifinals each time.

Pitt and Stanford finished tied atop the ACC at 18-2, and the Cardinal won their head-to-head matchup 3-2 at Stanford on Nov. 14. But the Panthers’ overall body of work secured them the last No. 1 seed, while nine-time NCAA champion Stanford is the No. 2 seed in Texas’ region.

SEC regular-season and tournament champion Kentucky defeated Texas 3-2 in the conference tournament final. They would face each other in the national semifinals should they advance that far.

Defending national champion Penn State, the only school that has appeared in every NCAA tournament dating back to the event’s start in 1981, is a No. 8 seed in Texas’ quarter of the bracket. St. Thomas (Minnesota) and Toledo are both making their first appearance in the tournament.

The Big 12 led all leagues with 10 teams in the field, the Big Ten has nine, the ACC seven and the SEC five.

Early-round matches will be held from Dec. 4 to 6 on campus sites. The regionals, scheduled for Dec. 11-14, will be hosted by the four highest seeds still standing in each quarter of the bracket.

The final four is at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, for the third time in the tournament’s history. It was there that Penn State won the championship in 2010 and Nebraska won its most recent title in 2017.

The national semifinals are Dec. 18 (ESPN), and the championship match is Dec. 21 (ABC).



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Commanders vs. Broncos live updates: Washington tightens up in red zone, yields field goal

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The Commanders return from their bye week searching for their first victory since Oct. 5. It won’t be easy against the Broncos, who have won eight straight.



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Ruben Amorim: Man United ‘steal’ set-piece routines from rivals

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Ruben Amorim: Man United ‘steal’ set-piece routines from rivals


Ruben Amorim has said that Manchester United are “stealing” set-piece routines from other clubs after goals from two free-kicks helped earn a valuable 2-1 win over Crystal Palace.

United came from behind at Selhurst Park thanks to second-half goals from Joshua Zirkzee and Mason Mount, both of which came from Bruno Fernandes set plays.

Amorim’s team have now scored 10 Premier League goals from set-pieces this season — joint most with table-toppers Arsenal.

“We work a lot,” Amorim said when asked about United’s improvement at set-pieces.

“We have more time to work, we work a lot and we learn a lot in England.

“I think you are used to seeing that, but when you come for the Premier League you learn a lot with other teams how to do it and we are stealing a lot of things to score goals.”

United looked destined for another set-back following Monday’s defeat to 10-man Everton when Crystal Palace went in at half-time 1-0 up thanks to a retaken penalty from Jean-Philippe Mateta.

But there was marked improvement in their performance after the break as Amorim’s team recorded just their second league win away from home since March.

“I just said to the players we need to be more alive and you can feel that,” Amorim said.

– Mason Mount, Joshua Zirkzee inspire Man United comeback win at Crystal Palace
– Zirkzee leads Man United comeback in game of two halves vs. Palace
– Premier League table

“So if you are more alive, you are in more places, you are near the ball more often. I think everyone did that.

“But we also need to understand that the opponent was tired also in the second half.

“And when you increase the rhythm and the opponent gets tired a little bit, suffers right away a goal, you felt that we had the control of the game and that’s it.”



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