Sports
Jays feel sting of defeat as title slips from grasp
TORONTO — Third baseman Ernie Clement‘s eyes welled up as he spoke to reporters on one end of the clubhouse while tears flowed down the left side of pitcher Max Scherzer‘s face on the other side of the room. Meanwhile, closer Jeff Hoffman‘s voice wavered and cracked as he accepted blame for the Toronto Blue Jays‘ devastating, extra-innings defeat in Saturday’s Game 7 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The postgame emotions of the team were raw and unfiltered.
“It sucks,” Hoffman said after the 5-4 loss. “Supposed to end differently. Was just one pitch. I cost everybody here a World Series ring. It feels pretty s—ty.”
Hoffman was two outs from earning the save, which would have sent a whole country into celebration. Instead, Dodgers second baseman Miguel Rojas took him deep on a 3-2 slider, tying the score. Two innings later, Dodgers catcher Will Smith did the same to starter-turned-reliever Shane Bieber, giving the Dodgers their first lead of the night and the final margin of victory.
“Hung a slider to a great guy who hits sliders well,” Bieber said. “He was looking for it. I didn’t execute. This one stings. It’s going to sting for a while. This game is not for the faint of heart.”
Scherzer said Saturday’s loss was all the more heartbreaking because of the camaraderie within the team.
“I’m 41 years old and I never thought I could love baseball this much,” Scherzer said while wiping away tears. “My love for the game was so strong because of their love for the game.
“That loss is so tough because you’re so close to everybody. This team had that closeness, had that camaraderie. We had that passion not only for the game but for each other.”
Scherzer, 41, pitched 4⅓ innings in Game 7, giving up just one run on four hits before leaving to a standing ovation. He vowed that he hadn’t thrown his last pitch in the big leagues but said he wasn’t in the right state of mind to expand on his future plans.
Scherzer departed the game with a 3-1 lead, thanks to a Bo Bichette three-run homer in the third. Like Scherzer, Bichette is a free agent but afterward maintained his desire to stay in Toronto.
“I want to be here, but I just lost a Game 7,” Bichette said, waving off any further questions about his future. “I hit that homer, but the game wasn’t over at that point.”
The Jays kept their lead all the way until the ninth, when Hoffman gave it up to Rojas. The crowd fell silent, hoping the bottom of the inning would produce a winning play. Vladimir Guerrero Jr.‘s blast to center field gave them a moment of hope, but even the Jays star knew it wasn’t going out.
“People that know me know I stand at home plate and watch them go out,” Guerrero said through the team interpreter. “I knew it wasn’t going anywhere.”
After it was all over, Guerrero went to each locker to deliver a message to his teammates.
“Told them how proud of the job that they did,” he said. “I can’t be any prouder of my teammates and all the things we accomplished this year.”
It was the same message manager John Schneider delivered in what he described as his first team meeting all season. It came after their toughest defeat.
“I said thank you,” Schneider said. “I said thank you probably about 10 times. And that was the main message.”
Perhaps most emotional was Clement. He set a record for most hits in a single postseason with 30, though one more — in the ninth inning with the bases loaded — would have won the series. Instead, he was robbed at the wall by Dodgers center fielder Andy Pages.
Clement said he spent an hour after the game crying and hugging his teammates.
“We gave it everything we had,” Clement said. “When you fall short but you can say you left it all out there, there’s something to be proud of there.
“I would go to war with Jeff Hoffman every day of the week. I want him on the mound. I want Bieber on the mound. Ninety-nine times out of 100 those guys get the job done. Obviously, it just wasn’t our night.”
But it was their season, at least until the very end. After finishing in last place in 2024, the Blue Jays won the AL East and reached Game 7 of the World Series. Although it wasn’t their desired finish, Blue Jays players said the journey was meaningful.
“Everyone in here is pretty devastated,” pitcher Kevin Gausman said. “We’re a really good team. It took them playing perfect and having a great last couple innings to beat us and that’s what happened.”
Said Bieber: “This group is unlike any other I’ve ever been a part of. That’s a sentiment we all kind of feel personally.”
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Transfer rumors, news: Man United eye loan deal for Real Madrid’s Endrick
Real Madrid‘s Endrick is a loan target for Premier League rivals Manchester United and Aston Villa, while Barcelona need Marcus Rashford to lower his wage demands to make his stay at Camp Nou permanent. Join us for the latest transfer news and rumors from around the globe.
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TOP STORIES
– Amorim expects Man Utd transfer requests in Jan.
– Madrid’s Alonso on Vini Jr. Clásico furore: ‘Subject closed’
– Liverpool’s Arne Slot refuses to give update on contract talks
TRENDING RUMORS
– Manchester United are facing competition from Aston Villa in the race for Real Madrid striker Endrick, according to the Daily Star. Villa have reportedly expressed their interest in a potential January move for the 19-year-old, who is set to look for a switch away from the Bernabéu after failing to establish himself as a regular under manager Xabi Alonso. The Brazil international got his first minutes of playing time this season as a 79th-minute substitute in Saturday’s 4-0 win over Valencia (stream a replay on ESPN+ in the U.S.). Endrick is on the radar of several clubs in Europe, with sources telling ESPN that Ligue 1 side Lyon are leading the chase, but United would be willing to explore a six-month loan deal for him when the transfer window opens.
– Talks are ongoing between Barcelona and the representatives of on-loan Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford regarding his demands if they decide to sign him permanently, Diario Sport reports. The reigning LaLiga champions would need the 28-year-old to lower the £325,000-per-week salary he picks up at Old Trafford for a deal to become possible, and they would be willing to hand him a longer-term deal in exchange. Rashford has found bright form for Barça, having directly contributed to 10 goals in 13 matches across all competitions.
– A move for United States and Coventry City forward Haji Wright is being prepared by Leeds United, according to Football Insider. The Premier League side are reportedly monitoring the 27-year-old’s situation, as one of their potential options amid plans to strengthen their forward line. It is expected that the Sky Blues would be reluctant to part ways with Wright during the middle of the season, which could make a move more feasible in the summer rather than in January. Wright scored both goals for the U.S. team last month during its 2-1 international friendly win over Australia.
– Napoli are lining up an approach for Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, reports the Daily Mirror. It is believed that the Serie A champions want to sign the 20-year-old on an initial loan deal in January, with a clause that would provide them the opportunity to land him permanently in the summer. Both Kevin De Bruyne and Scott McTominay are said to have supported the idea of a move for Mainoo, and club president Aurelio De Laurentiis is willing to meet his £35,000-per-week salary in full. Mainoo remains interested in a switch away from Old Trafford in January amid hopes of playing regularly to enhance his chances of being selected in the England squad for the FIFA World Cup.
– Tottenham Hotspur are interested in Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay, according to Football Insider. Spurs are reported to be keen to strengthen their midfield in the next transfer window, and the 28-year-old has caught their attention following several impressive performances in Serie A. However, with Kevin De Bruyne currently injured, the Azzurri are expected to be unwilling to part ways with McTominay in January unless they receive a significant offer for his signature.
EXPERT TAKE
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Why a loan away from Real Madrid is a ‘fantastic opportunity’ for Endrick
Shaka Hislop examines Endrick’s potential loan move to Lyon from Real Madrid.
OTHER RUMORS
– Manchester United are set to intensify their efforts to sign Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson amid hopes of beating Chelsea and Manchester City to his signature. (CaughtOffside)
– AC Milan and Inter Milan are keeping close tabs on Udinese center-back Oumar Solet. (Nicolò Schira)
– Manchester United are considering a “no loans policy” in the next transfer window, which could impact whether striker Joshua Zirkzee is able to secure a short term move away from Old Trafford. (TEAMtalk)
– Inter Milan are prioritizing the signing of a midfielder in January, and they are “ready” to make an approach for Genoa’s Morten Frendrup. (Gazzetta dello Sport)
– Juventus are not interested in a move for Al-Duhail midfielder Marco Verratti despite reports. (Tuttosport)
– Several Premier League teams are monitoring the situation of Palmeiras forward Vitor Roque. (Diario Sport)
– Attacking midfielder Alexis Saelemaekers is closing in on reaching an agreement over a new contract with AC Milan. (Nicolò Schira)
– Coventry City are exploring a move for free agent striker Patrick Bamford, who recently left Leeds. (Football Insider)
Sports
Arteta: Arsenal 1st-half display ‘one of the best’
Mikel Arteta said his side’s first-half display in a comfortable 2-0 win at Burnley was “one of the best we have played” as they extended their lead at the top of the Premier League.
Viktor Gyökeres and Declan Rice struck first half goals as the Gunners racked up a ninth straight win all competitions and fifth in the top flight.
Their half-time lead would have been more commanding but for two saves from goalkeeper Martin Dúbravka, who twice denied Bukayo Saka.
Arteta said: “We started the game exceptionally well. I think the first half is one of the best that we’ve played, scored two goals, generated another two or three big chances and conceded nothing.
“And that was a platform, because in the second half we dropped the standards, especially with the ball, and with our intentions to play more forward. But again, defensively, we were exceptional.”
Burnley failed to lay a glove on the Londoners, with their first effort on goal coming through Florentino Luis’ header in the 73rd minute before substitute Marcus Edwards’ free kick hit a post deep in stoppage time.
Gyökeres, who struck the opener from a corner as Arteta’s side also extended their league-leading set-piece goals tally this season, excluding penalties, to 12, was singled out by the Spaniard for special praise.
But the Sweden striker could be doubtful for Tuesday’s Champions League game in Prague after being replaced at half-time due to a muscle strain.
Arteta added: “I think it was one of the best games that he’s played [for us].
“Overall, his performance was exceptional, apart from the goal, and we had to take him off because he was feeling a little niggle, muscular.
“His high press, his positioning and his touches, his threading in behind, the way he linked play, the way he gets us from this situation to transition.
“He was in a really good moment. It’s a shame that he felt something.”
Burnley remain five points clear of the bottom three after their fifth league defeat of the season and boss Scott Parker felt the first goal was decisive.
Parker said: “We understood what we were up against, a top, top team with huge quality, and I thought we started the game really well.
“The [first] goal took the wind out of us a little bit in terms of the set-play goal, and we had worked a lot this week on that. But I think it took the edge off us a little bit.”
Parker said it was “so hard” to defend the Gunners at set-pieces, with Rice’s deliveries “on the money” and the likes of Gabriel a huge physical threat.
“If you don’t have those players, you probably don’t score as many as what Arsenal are scoring,” Parker added.
“You’ve got a delivery-taker that every single time you ask for it to be put back post, and the runs will be there, it goes back post.
“You ask it to be put front post, and the runs are there, and it gets put there. You’ve then also got the other element, the timing of the runs and the physicality of those runs.”
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