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Blue Jays continue ascent, tied atop AL East

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TORONTO – In 34 days, the Toronto Blue Jays have overcome an eight-game deficit to roar into a tie for the top spot in the American League East.

In their ascension to catch the New York Yankees, the Blue Jays (48-38) have taken the first three outings of a four-game set against the Bronx Bombers (48-38), including a wild 11-9 win on Wednesday.

“It feels great, but the goal is to keep winning,” said Toronto’s 26-year-old slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr., named the AL’s starting first baseman for his fifth trip to the All-Star Game.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider added, “I go back to the way that we’ve done it, with guys being out, other guys contributing, and just putting a focus on trying to win every series. We need to continue to do that.”

The Blue Jays began turning around their season in early May, going 32-18 since May 8 for a .640 win percentage. Only the Houston Astros have performed at a better clip with a .680 win percentage in the same stretch.

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Since falling eight games behind the Yankees on May 28, Toronto has gone 21-10 in its run to the top for the first time in Schneider’s time at the helm.

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“I didn’t think of that,” Schneider said. “But we’ve got another game (Thursday). That’s basically it.”

Chris Bassitt (7-4) will start for Toronto in the series finale, while Clarke Schmidt (4-4) will pitch for the visitors. With the Blue Jays bullpen taxed from the first three games in this series, Bassitt will need to be at his best.

“Yeah, Chris is hydrating right now. He’ll be good for about 140 (pitches),” Schneider joked.

The home side was ahead 7-0 after the first and 8-0 after three innings, only to see the Yankees tie the game 9-9 on a two-run monster shot from Aaron Judge off reliever Yimi Garcia in the eighth inning.

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Garcia was making his first appearance after being out with a right shoulder injury since May 22.

Judge smacked his 31st homer, a 440-foot shot into the second deck in left field. After getting on base five times with three walks and two hits on Tuesday, he delivered a single, double, homer and an intentional walk in five plate appearances before 30,985 at Rogers Centre on Wednesday.

With a runner on and one out, did Schneider consider issuing another intentional walk with Cody Bellinger hitting behind Judge.

“That’s why I’ll go to bed at three o’clock instead of two o’clock,” Schneider said. “I got a lot of respect for him.

“You don’t want to bring the go-ahead run up to the plate … It’s not a perfect science. I’ve (intentially walked Judge) a lot to him this year and the last couple of years, and I’ll continue to do it if I have to.

“But at the same time, I think walking a guy to bring the go-ahead run to the plate, who’s had a hell of a big league career, Bellinger, I’d be sleeping here tonight if that happened.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 2, 2025.


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Crown Royal bottler closing down Ontario plant, moving operations to U.S.

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Spirits maker Diageo will cease operations at its bottling facility in Amherstburg, Ont., early next year, as it shifts some bottling volume to the U.S., the company announced on Thursday.

The facility, which bottles Crown Royal products, will close in February in a move aimed at improving its North American supply chain.

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About 200 jobs will be affected.

“This was a difficult decision, but one that is crucial to improving the efficiency and resiliency of our supply chain network,” Marsha McIntosh, Diageo’s president of North America supply, said in a statement.

Diageo said it will engage with the community and find ways to support its employees through the transition, and work alongside Unifor to assist unionized workers.

The company said it will still maintain a “significant” footprint in Canada — including its headquarters and warehouse operations in the Greater Toronto Area, and bottling and distillation facilities in Manitoba and Quebec.

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McIntosh added the company’s Crown Royal products will continue to be mashed, distilled and aged at its Canadian facilities.

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Man faces attempted murder charge after two men struck by car in Toronto: police

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Toronto police say a 33-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly striking two men with his car Wednesday evening.

Officers say they responded to reports of a collision in the area of Don Mills Road and Gateway Boulevard in the city’s North York neighbourhood just before 10:30 p.m.

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Police say two men got into an argument, leading to one man getting into his car and hitting the other man with it.

They say the man then put his car into reverse, striking a second man.

A man in his 50s was transported to hospital with serious injuries and the second man, in his 20s, had minor injuries.

Police say the suspect from Markham, Ont., faces several other charges as well, including two counts of assault with a weapon, uttering threats and dangerous driving.


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Intruder in Ontario home invasion case carried a crossbow, court docs say

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A court document shows a Lindsay, Ont., man facing charges for allegedly breaking into an apartment was carrying a crossbow when he was confronted by a tenant.

The resident, Jeremy David McDonald, is also facing assault charges in the incident on Aug. 18 — a fact that has generated widespread interest in the case.

Police information filed in court alleges that Michael Kyle Breen damaged a window and screen at McDonald’s home and carried a crossbow.

The court document says the 41-year-old Breen is charged with break and enter, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, mischief under $5,000 and failing to comply with a probation order.

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Police have said that Breen, who is scheduled to appear in court for a bail hearing next week, was already wanted for unrelated offences.

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McDonald, the 44-year-old resident, was charged with aggravated assault and assault with a weapon after he allegedly “did endanger the life” of Breen.

Premier Doug Ford blasted the decision to charge the apartment resident, saying last week that it shows “something is broken.”

Kawartha Lakes Police Chief Kirk Robertson wrote in a statement Wednesday that he recognizes the incident has generated significant public interest and “emotional” responses, but called some of the reaction “unjust and inaccurate.”

Robertson wrote that individuals have the right to defend themselves and their property, but the law requires that any defensive action be proportionate to the threat faced.

“This means that while homeowners do have the right to protect themselves and their property, the use of force must be reasonable given the circumstances,” he wrote.


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