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SPORTS Diaranson 5 october 2022

Blue Jays earn top wild card, beat Os 5-1

as Guerrero homers

an American League wild “I thought we were going to The Orioles got the board in
card series with a 5-1 rain- have a delay but we started the bottom half on a sacrifice
shortened victory over on time,” Berríos said. “I fly by Anthony Santander
the Baltimore Orioles on just went there to compete that Hernandez was able to
Monday night. and get that win for the team snag with a running, leaping
and we did it. The mound catch at the right-field fence.
Play was halted by rain with was wet and it was raining all
Toronto batting with two night.” A wild pitch by Kremer al-
outs in the eighth and called lowed Merrifield to score in
after a wait of 55 minutes. Tim Mayza earned his sec- the fifth as the Blue Jays in-
ond save. creased the lead to 4-1.
Toronto clinched the right to
host a best-of-three playoff Baltimore’s Jorge Mateo stole “I can do different things to
series against Seattle or Tam- his American League-leading help and impact the game,”
pa Bay starting Friday when 35th base, one ahead of team- Merrifield said. “It’s nice that
the Mariners lost to Detroit mate Cedric Mullins. they’re coming at big times
later Monday. for us.”
Baltimore already had se-
“There was one singular fo- cured a winning season for Kremer (8-7) allowed four
cus today when the game did the first time since 2016. runs and six hits with four
start and that was to win,” strikeouts and one walk over
Blue Jays interim manager Toronto took a 2-0 lead off six innings. He ends the sea-
John Schneider said. “You Dean Kremer in the second son with a 3.23 ERA over 21
really can’t say enough how on a single by Merrifield that starts.
they responded.” scored Teoscar Hernández
and Matt Chapman. Chapman added an RBI sin-
Whit Merrifield went 3 for 3 gle in the eighth.
with an RBI for the Blue Jays, Guerrero boosted the lead to
who have won four straight. 3-0 with a 422-drive over the “Not easy to play in,” Ori-
left-field wall in the third. He oles manager Brandon Hyde
Before a crowd of just 10,642, became the fourth player in said. “Kind of a tough night
José Berríos (12-7) allowed Blue Jays franchise history to all around. Wet, cold. Dean,
one run and three hits with hit at least 32 home runs at it affected him a little bit. His
(AP) — Vladimir Guer- and the Toronto Blue Jays five strikeouts and three age 24 or younger. stuff wasn’t the same as it is
rero Jr. hit his 32nd homer earned the top seed for walks over six innings. normally.”

La Russa steps down as White Sox manager over health issues

(AP) — Tony La Russa to be the manager in 2023,” straight in late September,
stepped down as manager La Russa said. dashing their playoff hopes.
of the Chicago White Sox
on Monday because of a Chicago began the season General manager Rick Hahn
pair of health issues, end- with World Series aspirations said Cairo will get an inter-
ing a disappointing two- but was plagued by injuries view for the full-time job,
year run in the same spot and inconsistent play. It im- but indicated a preference for
where the Hall of Famer proved to 80-80 with a 3-2 someone outside the organi-
got his first job as a big victory over Minnesota on zation.
league skipper. Monday night.
“I think we are going to use
La Russa, a three-time World Speaking in front of much of this opportunity to get differ-
Series champion who turns the organization, including ent perspectives,” Hahn said.
78 on Tuesday, missed the fi- his players, La Russa shoul-
nal 34 games with the under- dered the blame for what La Russa, who is close friends
achieving White Sox. He left happened this year. with White Sox chairman
the team on Aug. 30 because Jerry Reinsdorf, was a sur-
of problems with a pacemak- “I understand the ultimate prise hire in October 2020,
er that was implanted in Feb- responsibility for each minus and he directed the team to
ruary. this season belongs to the the AL Central title last year.
manager,” he said. “That’s ac-
While La Russa was away curate, because there’s always But the White Sox sput-
from the team, he got something else you could do. tered throughout much of
checked for a different medi- 2022, and there were chants strange call for an intentional him to replace Rick Rent-
cal issue that was previously “I was hired to provide posi- of “Fire Tony! Fire Tony!” at walk to to the Dodgers’ Trea eria. He hadn’t filled out a
diagnosed during an annual tive, difference-making lead- Guaranteed Rate Field. Turner despite a 1-2 count lineup card since 2011, when
exam. That second health ership and support. Our re- on June 9. Bennett Sousa had St. Louis beat Texas in the
problem led to his departure cord this year is proof I did La Russa continued to be a just bounced an 0-2 slider, al- World Series. There were
from the team. not do my job.” lightning rod for fans who lowing the runner to advance doubts about how someone
weren’t thrilled with his
“Now however that I’m in Bench coach Miguel Cairo hiring in the first place. His from first to second. known more for his scowl
than smile would mesh
the treatment program, it’s took over after La Russa lineups came under question But there were big questions with a fun-loving team that
become obvious that the stepped away. The White Sox as did his decisions in games. about whether La Russa was had just delivered the White
length of the treatment and showed a spark right after the right person for the job Sox’s first playoff appearance
recovery process for the sec- the change, winning 10 of Some fans chanted for La when the White Sox hired since 2008.
ond issue makes it impossible 14. But they dropped eight Russa’s dismissal following a