Prince Harry praises athletes as he helps kick off Invictus Games
TORONTO — Jose Bautista had two hits, drove in one run and scored another to help lift the Blue Jays to a 9-5 win over the New York Yankees on Sunday in what was likely his final home game in a Toronto uniform.
Bautista, a six-time all-star and two-time silver slugger, was met by a loud ovation each time he stepped to the plate. He brought back Usher’s as his walk-up music — the song he used during his 54-homer 2010 season.
Bautista walked in the third and scored on a three-run double from Russell Martin, then drove in Teoscar Hernandez with a bases-loaded single in Toronto’s four-run fourth inning. He nearly scored later in the frame but was tagged out at home plate. The Blue Jays challenged the call, which was upheld after a video review.
Bautista singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch in the first inning, flied out to right in the sixth, and hit a high pop out in the eighth in his final at-bat.
Bautista was replaced by Ezequiel Carrera in right field after Roberto Osuna got the first out of the ninth, hugging each of his teammates as he left the field and waving at the fans as he stepped into the dugout.
The 36-year-old signed a oneyear deal with Toronto prior to the 2017 season that includes a mutual option for 2018 that’s unlikely to be picked up.
Bautista waved to the crowd of 47,394 when he took his spot in right field before the game. The Blue Jays close out the season with a pair of three-game series in Boston and New York next week.
Marcus Stroman (13-8), who was wearing a black Bautista jersey during warmups in the bullpen, allowed three runs, five hits and four walks and struck out two through 5 2/3 innings.
Stroman, three innings shy of reaching 200 for a second straight year, left the field to a loud ovation after walking Todd Frazier. He clapped at the fans and tapped his chest as he disappeared into the dugout.
Hernandez led off the game with a homer for Toronto (73-83), Morales added two runs batted in, Josh Donaldson drove in one and Darwin Barney hit a sacrifice fly.
Jaime Garcia (5-10) lasted just 2 1/3 innings, allowing four hits, five runs and three walks with four strikeouts.
Aaron Judge hit two homers and drove in three, Greg Bird had an RBI and Didi Gregorius cashed in a run for the Yankees (86-69).
Hernandez hit the first leadoff homer of his career in the first inning, sending an 1-0 pitch from Garcia over the centre-field wall for a 1-0 Blue Jays led. Barney’s sac fly cashed in Kevin Pillar the following inning to put Toronto up 2-0.
Garcia’s day ended promptly in the third inning when he loaded the bases on a double and two walks with one out. Jonathan Holder came in and got a Kevin Pillar pop out before Martin extended the lead to 5-0 with a bases-clearing double.
Gregorius drove in New York’s first run with a single off Stroman in the fourth. Stroman had led off the inning with back-to-back walks but closed it with back-to-back strikeouts — the last followed by an emphatic yell from the pitcher as he trotted off the mound.
Donaldson drove in Ryan Goins to re-establish the five-run lead in the fourth inning, Bautista followed with his RBI single and Morales tacked on two more runs on a base hit for a 9-1 Toronto lead.
Judge hit a solo homer off Stroman to lead off the sixth and Bird added an RBI double later in the frame. The next inning, Judge went deep again — his 48th of the season — off Ryan Tepera. The 25-year-old is one homer shy of Mark McGwire’s rookie record from 1987.
NOTES: Sunday’s game was the 17th sellout of the year, bringing the season attendance total to 3,203,886.
TORONTO — The Invictus Games got off to a rollicking start Saturday as scores of war-wounded athletes marched, limped or wheeled their way to thumping martial music, dazzling lights and supportive cheers into a downtown Toronto arena, where they heard Prince Harry praise them for the courage that had brought them to the event he co-founded.
The prince, who earlier in the day wowed a crowd of well-wishers across from a mental-health facility he was visiting, drew sustained applause as he helped open the week-long Games.
Harry, who served in Afghanistan with the British army for about two months, said he wanted to use his platform “to help the world understand and be inspired by the spirit of those who wear the uniform.”
“In a world where so many have reasons to feel cynical and apathetic, I wanted to find a way for veterans to be a beacon of light and show that us all that we have a role to play — that we all win when we respect our friends, neighbours and communities,” he said.
“That’s why we created Invictus — not only to help veterans recover from their physical and mental wounds, but also to inspire people to follow their example of resilience, optimism and service in their own lives.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau welcomed the athletes and coaches after the 17-country “Parade of Nations” that saw host Canada enter last to thunderous applause and cheering. Trudeau called them all an inspiration to others as he spoke of their sacrifices and dedication to helping others.
“No matter what challenges life has set before them, they continue to do what they do best: serve their countries, with passion and integrity,” Trudeau said to cheers. “You’re not only here to inspire, you’re also here to win.”
Trudeau added, “We know that no one leaves a battlefield unchanged, and that not all scars can be seen. Asking for help when you have physical and mental injuries, that’s hard for everyone. But it’s especially tough for people like you who have dedicated your lives to helping others.”
A star-studded show featuring performances by Sarah McLachlan, Alessia Cara and a speech from actor Mike Myers entertained the appreciative crowd, who filled the arena for an opening ceremonies that included the national anthem sung by the Tenors and a Games flag-raising.
About 550 competitors from countries as far-flung as Afghanistan, Italy, Ukraine and New Zealand are taking part in 12 sports in the annual event, which was created by Prince Harry and aims to help the war wounded, many grievously, with their recovery.
American first lady Melania Trump was among dignitaries who watched as proud flag-bearers sported huge grins while comrades waved or flashed victory signs.
The Games had created a “real buzz around Toronto,” Harry told Trudeau at an earlier meeting Saturday at which they shared laughs and pleasantries. Trudeau thanked the royal visitor for founding the Games and creating opportunities for veterans.
The number of well-wishers who gathered outside the room where Trudeau and the prince met paled in comparison to the several hundred who stood behind a barricade in unseasonably blazing heat earlier in the day as the prince toured one of Canada’s premier mentalhealth facilities.
The crowd whooped as they glimpsed him entering the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and clamoured for his attention when he emerged more than hour later. The prince did not disappoint, crossing the road to talk to children, meet a pup, and shake outstretched hands.
“Oh, my goodness, I’m so happy, he shook my hand,” said a dazzled Robinowe Bukirwa, who wondered if she was dreaming even as the prince faded into the distance. “I don’t think I’m going to wash my hand today. I’m so very excited.”
The prince’s tour of the centre included two roundtables — one with nine senior staff members focused on research, the other on dealing with youth coping with mental illness.