Latest news with #Toronto Blue Jays
CBC
7 hours ago
- Sport
- CBC
Raw power
The Vancouver Canadians' sushi race is on a roll that shows no signs of stopping. Sushi racers approach the finish line at Vancouver's Nat Bailey Stadium on June 27, 2025. Team officials say the sushi race has become a key part of the ballpark Nelms/CBC Written by Jon Azpiri Jul. 25, 2025 On an overcast Friday in June, a group of hungry young athletes took to the field at Vancouver's Nat Bailey Stadium, home to the Northwest League's Vancouver Canadians, to square off in a heated battle as thousands of fans cheered on. There was also a baseball game. The sushi race, which pits runners dressed as anthropomorphic sushi, chopsticks and assorted Japanese foodstuffs against each other in a mad dash around the bases, took place during a break in play at the Canadians game against the Tri-City Dust Devils, just as it has at C's home games since 2008. Over the years, the sushi racers have, in a strange way, become the face of the franchise. ADVERTISEMENT Rob Fai, the team's director of sales and marketing, notes most players who suit up for minor league affiliates like the Canadians are on the roster for a relatively short time as they work their way through Major League Baseball's farm system. That can create marketing challenges for the Canadians, the Class-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, not faced by the NHL's Vancouver Canucks, whose players can spend years with the franchise and build roots in the community. 'We don't have a Luongo, we don't have the Sedin twins … we have sushi,' Fai said. 'They're the only staple.' Sushi racers are in it to win it Among the racers are Ms. B.C. Roll, Chop & Stix and the dastardly Chef Wasabi. There is also Sadaharu Soy, a giant bottle of soy sauce named after Japanese baseball legend Sadaharu Oh. The sushi racers have distinct personalities. Ms. B.C. Roll is considered dainty and elegant while Chef Wasabi — a blob of Japanese horseradish donning a hachimaki, or Japanese headband — plays a villain, going to any lengths to win a race. During the June event, the racers took off from first base with Sadaharu Soy jumping out to an early lead. Chop — the wife in the husband-wife pairing of chopsticks — was near the back of the pack as they made their way past second base, but found another gear after rounding third, passing Sadaharu Soy on the outside and breaking the tape at the finish line for the dramatic win. After the race, the racers made their way back through the stands, high-fiving fans. Mascot races like the one at Nat Bailey have become a staple in baseball parks across North America. The Milwaukee Brewers' sausage race, which features a bratwurst, chorizo, hotdog, Italian sausage and Polish sausage, is considered the granddaddy of all mascot races and dates back to the early '90s. Back in 2008, the Canadians were under new ownership and staff brainstormed ideas for Vancouver's version of a sausage race. Sushi, a seemingly ubiquitous food in the city, seemed like a natural fit. Former Canadians general manager Andrew Seymour said that in the race's early days runners weren't overly concerned with the final results. 'At the beginning, our biggest concern was, oh, let's not wreck the outfits because they have a significant price tag to them,' Seymour said. As the costumes were cumbersome, efforts were made to ensure that none of the racers collided or 'lost their way' and there were rare occasions when a result was predetermined to fit with a particular promotion, he said. 'We honestly didn't imagine the success they would have,' he said. ADVERTISEMENT Fai said today's racers take it seriously. 'Let's just say those who don the costumes of the mascots are pretty competitive folk,' he said. He said somewhere in the ballpark's offices is a chart that tracks the results of each sushi race. As the end of the season approaches, competition among racers near the top of the leader board can go up a notch. The Canadians declined a CBC News request to interview the competitors, opting to place a cone of silence over the sushi racers to preserve the race's mystique. 'They talk with their feet,' Fai said. Face of the franchise The sushi race is nothing if not ridiculous, but team officials say the silliness serves a larger purpose. While Major League teams receive revenue from broadcast rights, minor league teams rely heavily on gate revenue, making the fan experience at ballparks a key part of their business model. A visit to Nat Bailey can include three-foot-long hotdogs, T-shirts shot into the crowd with a cannon and a performance of the chicken dance led by the team's other mascot, Bob Brown Bear. 'You're looking for these signature moments that really bring a family to the ballpark,' Fai said. A Vancouver Canadians game is one of the most popular summer pastimes in the city. But how much do you really know about the team? Take a look behind-the-scenes into the challenges and triumphs of Minor League Baseball in Vancouver. People around the team say those moments have largely stayed the same even as the team has changed hands. In 2023, the Canadians were sold to Diamond Baseball Holdings (DBH), a private equity group that now owns more than 40 minor league teams. The Canadians are the group's only holding outside the U.S. Tom Hawthorn, the Victoria-based author of Play Ball!, a new book that chronicles the history of baseball in Vancouver, said DBH has kept the fan experience at Nat Bailey mostly intact, and the team's front office is largely from B.C. 'Local people know what the local audience wants and it sounds like they seem to understand the importance of local content,' Hawthorn said. Fai said one of the joys of working in the minor leagues is that they're allowed to take chances when it comes to promotions. 'Vancouver dictates what plays in the stadium,' he said. 'We've tried many things that didn't work and the sushi mascots, in particular, did and that's why they're here every year.' Success doesn't appear to have gone to the sushi racers' cartoonishly large heads. Year after year, they compete in front of thousands and find time to greet fans before and afterward, and they do it all with a smile. ADVERTISEMENT 'One thing I will say is Chef Wasabi is probably as big as any fixture in the stadium,' Fai said. 'So any player that's ever come through here has to go through Chef Wasabi if they want to be the most famous.' About the Author Related Stories Footer Links My Account Profile CBC Gem Newsletters Connect with CBC Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram Mobile RSS Podcasts Contact CBC Submit Feedback Help Centre Audience Relations, CBC P.O. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6 Toll-free (Canada only): 1-866-306-4636 TTY/Teletype writer: 1-866-220-6045 About CBC Corporate Info Sitemap Reuse & Permission Terms of Use Privacy Jobs Our Unions Independent Producers Political Ads Registry AdChoices Services Ombudsman Public Appearances Commercial Services CBC Shop Doing Business with Us Renting Facilities Accessibility It is a priority for CBC to create a website that is accessible to all Canadians including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. About CBC Accessibility Accessibility Feedback © 2025 CBC/Radio-Canada. All rights reserved. Visitez
Washington Post
3 days ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
Ben Rice hits tiebreaking home run in ninth inning, Yankees beat Blue Jays 5-4
TORONTO — Ben Rice hit a tiebreaking home run in the ninth inning, Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Cody Bellinger also homered and the New York Yankees beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 on Tuesday. Rice connected off Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman (6-3) for his 15th home run as the Yankees snapped a five-game losing streak against Toronto.
Reuters
3 days ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Ben Rice's ninth-inning blast enables Yankees to stop Jays' streak
July 23 - Ben Rice blasted a tie-breaking home run in the ninth inning and the visiting New York Yankees defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 on Tuesday night. Rice launched a first-pitch fastball over the wall in right center against Jeff Hoffman (6-3) with one out. The loss ended the Blue Jays' 11-game home winning streak and cut their lead over the Yankees to three games in the American League East. Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit a three-run home run for the Yankees. Cody Bellinger added two doubles and a solo homer. Addison Barger had two RBI singles for Toronto. New York struck early against Max Scherzer. Trent Grisham led off the first with a single and Bellinger doubled to right center. Aaron Judge struck out before Chisholm homered on a full-count fastball to right center. Toronto came back with one run in the bottom of the inning against Cam Schlittler, who made his second career start. George Springer walked, then Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Barger singled. The Blue Jays loaded the bases in the second on an infield hit and two walks, but Guerrero popped out to end the threat. Scherzer retired six batters in a row before Bellinger scooped a low cutter for a homer to right center. Scherzer allowed four runs, five hits and one walk with four strikeouts in five innings. Toronto answered with a run in the fifth. Springer and Guerrero singled, Bo Bichette grounded into a double play and Barger grounded an RBI single up the middle. Schlittler allowed two runs, seven hits and three walks with three strikeouts in five innings. Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe's second throwing error of the series put pinch hitter Myles Straw at first base to open the home sixth with Tim Hill pitching. Pinch hitter Davis Schneider stroked an RBI double into the left-field corner. Jonathan Loaisiga replaced Hill with two out and Springer singled to right to tie the game. Ian Hamilton (2-1) replaced Luke Weaver with two out and a runner at first and induced a Springer lineout. Devin Williams pitched around a single in the ninth with two strikeouts to earn his 15th save. --Field Level Media
CBS News
5 days ago
- Sport
- CBS News
Blue Jays beat Giants 8-6, complete series sweep and match franchise record of 10 straight home wins
Addison Barger hit a two-run home run, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and George Springer added hit solo shots and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the San Francisco Giants 8-6 on Sunday to complete a three-game sweep and match a franchise record with their 10th consecutive home win. Toronto also won 10 straight at home July 21-August 3, 1985. Toronto's current streak began with a four-game series sweep of the Yankees from June 30 to July 3, overtaking New York for the AL East lead. The Blue Jays followed that with a three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Angels. The Yankees and Blue Jays open a three-game series in Toronto on Monday. Since a three-game sweep of San Diego in late May, the Blue Jays have won 22 of 26 at home. Guerrero reached base three times and drove in two as Toronto improved to 12-3 in July. The series sweep was their eighth of the season. Toronto's José Berríos (6-4) allowed four runs and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings and won for the fourth time in six starts. Yariel Rodríguez finished for his second save in three chances. Springer's homer was his team-leading 17th. Barger's was his 14th. Guerrero erased a 1-0 deficit with a 420-foot drive off Robbie Ray in the first inning, his 13th. Ray (9-4) allowed five runs and five hits in 4 1/3 innings. The left-hander matched a season-high with five walks. San Francisco's Matt Chapman had two hits, including a two-run homer, his 13th. Barger hit a second-deck drive off Spencer Bivens in the fifth, a four-run inning that began with Springer connecting off former Toronto teammate Ray. The Blue Jays are 21-7 when they hit two or more homers. Giants: RHP Hayden Birdsong (4-3, 4.11 ERA) is scheduled to start at Atlanta on Monday against Braves RHP Bryce Elder (3-6, 5.65). Blue Jays: RHP Kevin Gausman (6-7, 4,19 ERA) is scheduled to start Monday against Yankees LHP Carlos Rodon (10-6, 3.08).
CTV News
14-07-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Soderstrom, Kurtz and Wynns homer as the A's beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-3
Athletics' Nick Kurtz celebrates in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Sunday, July 13, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis) WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Tyler Soderstrom, Nick Kurtz and Austin Wynns each hit a two-run homer, helping the Athletics beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-3 on Sunday. Jeffrey Springs (8-6) pitched 6 2/3 innings of three-run ball in the win. Mason Miller handled the ninth for his 19th save. The A's won for the third time in four games. They are 41-57 at the All-Star break in their first year in Sacramento. Davis Schneider and Addison Barger homered for AL East-leading Toronto, who finished with four hits and three errors. The Blue Jays (55-41) dropped to 13-4 in their last 17 games. The A's jumped in front in the second. With Gio Urshela aboard after a leadoff single, Wynns hit a one-out drive to left off José Berríos for his sixth homer. Kurtz hit a leadoff double in the third and scored on Soderstrom's 18th homer, a 410-foot drive to center on a 1-2 sinker. Soderstrom hit a total of 12 homers in his first two years in the majors. The Blue Jays got one back when Schneider hit a solo shot in the fifth. But Kurtz went deep in the bottom half after All-Star Jacob Wilson reached on a throwing error on reliever Tommy Nance. Wilson and Kurtz are two of the leading contenders for AL Rookie of the Year at the break. Wilson is hitting .332 with nine homers and 42 RBIs, and Kurtz is batting .257 with 17 homers and 44 RBIs. Berríos (5-4) permitted four runs and five hits in three innings. He went 3-0 with a 2.52 ERA in his previous four starts. Barger chased Springs with a two-run shot in the seventh for his 13th homer. Key moment Bo Bichette hit a one-out single for Toronto in the ninth. But Vladimir Guerrero Jr. bounced into a game-ending double play. Key stat The A's are 20-31 at home this year. Up next The Blue Jays host the San Francisco Giants on Friday night. The Athletics are at Cleveland on Friday night. ___ AP MLB: The Associated Press
