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Yankees spoil Justin Verlander’s Astros return with 3-1 win as Nestor Cortes looks sharp

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:50 GMT

The Yankees did just enough Saturday afternoon to spoil longtime foe Justin Verlander’s first game back with Houston — and got a huge boost from their own returning starting pitcher.Jake Bauers mashed a tie-breaking fifth-inning home run against Verlander in the Yankees’ 3-1 win in the Bronx, while starter Nestor Cortes struck out eight Astros in his first outing in more than two months.Verlander, who pitched for Houston from 2017-22, left in the offseason for a two-year, $86.6 million contract with the Mets, who traded him back to the Astros last Tuesday amid their disappointing season.The right-hander entered Saturday with a 1.49 ERA over his previous seven starts and mostly held the Yankees in check, working around seven hits and two walks to allow two runs over seven innings.“The at-bats have been better,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said afterward. “It’s not always results in a big number or a big score, but you want to feel like you...

With eyes on the future, the Chicago White Sox are getting a closer look at pitching depth with recent call-ups

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:50 GMT

Lane Ramsey was rooming with fellow pitcher Declan Cronin in Durham, N.C., when there was a knock on the door.Cronin found out moments later that he had been promoted from Triple-A Charlotte to the majors with the Chicago White Sox.Ramsey got to live out the situation himself Friday night in Norfolk, Va.“It was kind of funny, I got to experience it with Declan last week and a week later I got to experience it,” Ramsey said Saturday afternoon at Progressive Field. “It was awesome.”Ramsey joined the Sox ahead of Saturday’s game against the Cleveland Guardians.The 6-foot-9 right-hander is the latest pitcher to get an opportunity after the Sox called up Cronin on July 28 and right-hander Edgar Navarro the next day.“The reports (on Ramsey) are good,” Sox manager Pedro Grifol said. “He caught my eye in the spring, (a) big kid (who) throws hard, has a good slider, not afraid (and has) made some adjustments. Made some adjustments even in the s...

With a little help from his boss, David Ross is making all the right moves in the Chicago Cubs’ resurgence

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:50 GMT

Before the Chicago Cubs’ 8-6 win against the Atlanta Braves on Saturday at Wrigley Field, manager David Ross discussed his decision to sit slumping right fielder Seiya Suzuki, one of President Jed Hoyer’s biggest free-agent signings of the last two years.The talking points weren’t surprising.Ross wanted Suzuki to work on his approach, which he described as “in-between,” adding the Cubs were trying to get him a plan to “think the right thoughts” at the plate.“He knows he has to work on some things,” Ross said. “It’s hard to do that in-game. We’ll give him some time, and he’ll be back in there when we feel like he can help us win games.”When that would be was a question Ross couldn’t answer, but he admitted he was “fortunate” to have enough players in a groove that he could afford to sit one of his starters.Ross has endured much criticism this season over his lineups and pitching move...

Officials decry increased assaults on, disrespect to Boston Police officers

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:50 GMT

It’s getting hard out there for men and women wearing a badge in Boston, local officials and the police union say, and it’s only getting harder.“Boston police officers have experienced an increased level of physical and verbal assaults as they respond to emergency calls and patrol our neighborhoods. This violence against police and first responders is unacceptable, and needs to be condemned,” City Council President Ed Flynn said in a statement earlier in the week, soon after well-reported incidents in the Mass and Cass area and the South Bay Mall.“Boston police officers deserve to be treated with respect and dignity, and we must all work together towards the common goal of public safety for all.”Flynn’s not alone in the concern, as state Sen. Nick Collins, who represents the area of the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard, the center of the area’s opioid crisis, told the Herald Friday evening that police departments “need more support, period. They need mo...

Cora benching Verdugo overshadows frustrating 5-4 Red Sox loss

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:50 GMT

“This is probably one of my worst days here in this organization,” Alex Cora said on Saturday evening.It was a moment of candor that was about something much bigger than his team’s frustrating 5-4 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays.Alex Verdugo was a late scratch from Saturday afternoon’s lineup, and even when the game ended, his manager wouldn’t say why.“We have to make sure everybody’s available every single day here for us to get wherever we’re going to go, and that wasn’t the case,” Cora said. “As a manager, I gotta take charge of this, and I decided he wasn’t going to play.”Did something happen? Was he late? The visibly-frustrated manager answered those initial follow-up questions, “I decided he’s not going to play.”“I’m just taking care of the 26 guys (on the roster), and he wasn’t gonna play,” Cora added. When asked if it was accurate to describe the situation as disciplinary reasons, he would only answer “Manager’s decision.”Lineup changes happen all the time (the Blue Jays swapp...

This new Gaslamp diner is serving up French-inspired classics

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:50 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- When you walk through the doors of Saint James French Diner in San Diego's historic Gaslamp Quarter, you may get a hint of classic American vibes with booth seating options.However, the candlelight and fare may have you saying “oui, oui" when a friendly staffer offers to pour you a glass of French champagne to bubble your mouth as you weigh your dining options.Located below the Palihotel on Sixth Avenue, Saint James French Diner is serving up French-inspired classics for both brunch and dinner, while also becoming a bistro during the morning hours with latte specials and plenty of espresso. This San Diego wine festival is the best in the country: USA Today When it comes to the food, there are variety of bar snacks to choose from if you're just stopping in for some cocktails and conversation. There's the fried oysters, poutine, croquettes, and even some padron peppers with bottarga and lemon. For those who love appetizers, you can start with the French onion soup, stea...

Residents get their first look at new changes to High Park

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:50 GMT

Known for its hiking trails, lakefront and diverse vegetation, High Park is a popular greenspace for residents and visitors. Its popularity has sparked a lot of debate on how to access it. On Saturday some major changes went into effect, including making some parts of the greenspace permanently car-free.“It’s an exciting time, these changes have been a long time coming, other cities are way ahead of us: New York City, Montreal, London,” says Faraz Gholizadeh who is with the group Car Free High Park and welcomes the changes.“Cars don’t make parks more accessible, in fact they limit accessibility for the majority of people. You’re not inhaling exhaust fumes, you’re not hearing the noise of cars. It’s just such a nice quiet space.” The changes are part of the City’s ‘High Park Movement Strategy’ that was launched in 2021 and approved by city council back in May. Those changes include: Moving the main vehicle entrance from Bloor Street Wes...

Washington and Oregon leave behind heritage — and rivals — for stability in the Big Ten

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:50 GMT

SEATTLE (AP) — A day after leaving behind more than a century as a tenant to the premier athletic conference on the West Coast, Washington’s leadership said stability was at the forefront of its decision to join the Big Ten Conference.“It was about having a future that we could count on and build toward,” Washington President Ana Mari Cauce said Saturday.Cauce said there were several concerns that led to Washington and Oregon saying goodbye to their collective heritage to become the 17th and 18th members of the Big Ten beginning in 2024.The Ducks and Huskies were two of the founding members of the Pacific Coast Conference in 1916 that eventually morphed into the Pac-12. The decision by those founding members to leave in lockstep was the first of two crippling blows to the Pac-12 on Friday that left the conference on the precipice of collapse. Utah, Arizona and Arizona State accpeted offers from the Big 12 later Friday, following Colorado’s move late last month.It leaves Califo...

Sights and sounds of Caribbean Carnival take over Toronto

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:50 GMT

The sounds, dance and vibrant costumes of the Caribbean overtook the lakefront Saturday as thousands from around the world flocked to Toronto to take in the 56th annual Toronto Caribbean Carnival. Over 10,000 masqueraders performed along Lake Shore Boulevard as part of the Grand Parade which showcased a variety of elaborate costumes around this year’s theme “Diversity and Culture Live Here.”“I started my costume in late May and finished in the middle of July so it takes a lot of months,” said one participant. “But before then there’s a lot of planning, designing, finding material. It takes a while.”People from far and wide travelled to Toronto to take in the event, one of the largest Carnival celebrations in North America. Premier Doug Ford, federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh were among the dignitaries who were in attendance. “We’re kind of used to this with Marti Gras but this...

YMCA camp session canceled, allowing staff to deal with emotional trauma of Idaho bus crash

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:50 GMT

An upcoming YMCA summer camp session in Idaho has been canceled so staffers can deal with the emotional trauma of a bus crash that injured almost a dozen people, an official said Saturday, as police still tried to determine the cause.The bus was carrying about 30 adolescent campers and staff back to Boise from the Treasure Valley YMCA’s camp at Horsethief Reservoir. Eleven passengers were hospitalized, seven in critical condition, after the bus rolled over on a winding Idaho highway north of the town of Banks on Friday afternoon, Idaho State Police said. The flipped bus blocked a state highway that follows the Payette River, causing a massive traffic jam.The four-day camp at Horsethief Reservoir planned to start Sunday won’t be held, said Treasure Valley YMCA President and CEO David Duro. He said it “would be unfair” to ask the camp counselors, who had spent days with the youths who were injured, to operate as usual.“It’s like a family member is in a traumatic event,” Du...