Blue Jays’ Kirk crushes game-tying home run in ninth vs. Athletics

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Sabalenka beats Gauff in Miami Open final to complete ‘Sunshine Double’

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Aryna Sabalenka beat Coco Gauff in the Miami Open women’s singles final 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 on Saturday.

The world No. 1 overpowered fourth-ranked Gauff in the first and third sets with sizzling groundstroke winners and became the first player to accomplish the “Sunshine Double” — winning Indian Wells followed by Miami in the same season — since Iga Swiatek in 2022.

It was Sabalenka’s second straight title at the Miami Open, Gauff’s hometown tournament, and put her ahead of Gauff in their head-to-head record, 7-6.

“You’ve pushed me to be a better player,’’ Sabalenka said during the ceremony, before adding about the crowd, “You always bring a full stadium.’’

The match lasted 2 hours, 11 minutes and ended on Gauff getting broken for the fourth time with a wide backhand.

Gauff fought back to force the third set, but couldn’t maintain the momentum she appeared to get from the deafening crowd supporting her.

“It sucks not to come out with a better result but I had a lot of joy this week,’’ Gauff said to the crowd. “You guys brought energy every day this week.’’

Gauff’s off-and-on serve created seven double faults while Sabalenka registered none.

Sabalenka broke Gauff in the first game of the third set, helped by a Gauff double fault and an unforced error. On break point, Sabalenka crunched a backhand winner.

“I was disappointed about that first game of the third set up 30-0 with momentum,’’ Gauff said. “It was an important game to win in that moment.’’

The match was attended by Kai Trump, President Donald Trump’s granddaughter and a golfer at the University of Miami. She posted a photo with Sabalenka at the tournament on social media on Friday.

Sabalenka, who got her 24th pro title, said before the match she was happy Gauff had found her best tennis in her home tournament, at which she had never gotten past the fourth round.

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Canadians Caissie, Lopez, Hicks lift Marlins over Rockies

MIAMI — Owen Caissie had three hits, including a go-ahead RBI single in the eighth inning and the Miami Marlins beat the Colorado Rockies 4-3 on Saturday.

Liam Hicks homered and drove in three runs, while Agustin Ramirez singled twice and walked for the Marlins.

Otto Lopez, who was hitless in first seven at-bats of the season, singled against Rockies reliever Jaden Hill (0-1) to start the eighth. López stole second and raced home when Caissie hit a line drive to centerfield.

Calvin Faucher (1-0) pitched a scoreless eighth and Pete Fairbanks closed with a perfect ninth for his second save.

Hicks hit a two-run homer in the fifth that chased Colorado starter Michael Lorenzen and tied it at 3-all.

Pitching for his sixth club in 12 seasons, Lorenzen allowed seven hits, struck out four and hit two batters over 4 1/3 innings. The 34-year-old Lorenzen signed a free-agent deal with Colorado in the offseason.

Marlins starter Eury Pérez struck out eight in seven innings of three-run ball. Pérez gave up five hits and walked one.

Ezequiel Tovar’s two-run homer in the fourth put the Rockies ahead 3-1.

TJ Rumfield gave Colorado an early lead with a solo blast in the second.

The Marlins tied it on Hicks’ sacrifice fly in the third. Xavier Edwards hit a one-out single and advanced to third on Ramirez’s single. Hicks then drove in Edwards with a fly ball to deep right.

Miami loaded the bases against Lorenzen with two out in the second before he retired Graham Pauley on a groundout.

Saturday’s attendance of 10,160 at loanDepot park was a significant drop from the 32,459 that attended the opener.

Up next

José Quintana will start the series finale for the Rockies on Sunday against Max Meyer in the season debut for both starters.

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Mayweather says Pacquiao rematch is an exhibition, with venue still undecided

LAS VEGAS — Turns out the Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Manny Pacquiao fight on Sept. 19 in Las Vegas won’t count after all.

And it might not even be at the Sphere, the immersive arena near the Strip that has attracted people from all over the world because of its massive high-resolution video backdrop.

“As of right now, we don’t know exactly where the fight is going to be at,” Mayweather said Saturday in a video captured by Vegas Sports Today in an interview session with select media. “The Sphere is one of the places that they’ve talked about, so we don’t know if it’s 100% going to be there.”

Wherever the location, this fight comes 11 years after their first meeting, which didn’t live up to the enormous hype between the two most notable boxers of that time. Both were past their prime when Mayweather beat Pacquiao by decision in what promoters said was the most profitable fight in history and set pay-per-view records.

The 49-year-old Mayweather downplayed the significance of his rematch with the 47-year-old Pacquiao being an exhibition and not a bout that will count on the two boxers’ record. Mayweather pointed out he also has an exhibition with former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson coming up and one in Greece against kickboxer Mike Zambidis.

“If I’m just sitting at home and I’m working out every day and spending time with my grandson and spending time with my children, I said why not go out and have little fun and entertain the public with some exhibitions?” Mayweather said.

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Kazuma Okamoto bats cleanup in Blue Jays lineup behind Dylan Cease

Kazuma Okamoto made a good first impression.

So good, that the Toronto Blue Jays third baseman was bumped to the cleanup spot in the batting order for his second career game on Saturday against the Athletics (Sportsnet, Sportsnet+, 3 p.m. ET / noon PT).

Okamoto, who signed a four-year, $60-million contract with the reigning AL champions in the off-season, went 2-for-3 with a walk in his MLB debut on Friday while also scoring the winning run.

Now, he’ll bat behind franchise first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Meanwhile, left fielder Davis Schneider is set for his season debut as he slots in the two-hole behind George Springer against Athletics left-hander Jeffrey Springs.

Right fielder Myles Straw, who entered Friday as a defensive replacement, should get his first plate appearance of the season in the No. 8 spot.

Starter Dylan Cease will make his Blue Jays debut after signing a seven-year, $210-million deal as a free agent — the largest in franchise history.

Cease, the 30-year-old right-hander, allowed just one run over 9.2 spring-training innings while striking out 12. He had a 4.55 ERA over 32 starts for the San Diego Padres last season.

Opposing him on the mound is Springs, who recorded a 4.65 ERA and 138 strikeouts over 171 innings last season.

The Blue Jays torched Springs for six runs in just two innings in a May game last season, though he rebounded with a quality start against Toronto in July.

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Springer, Clement mic’d up at Maple Leafs game after viral seat shuffle

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Canada’s Howden, Schmidt reach podium at final ski cross World Cup

Reece Howden won the men’s silver medal and fellow Canadian Hannah Schmidt took the women’s bronze Saturday in the penultimate ski cross races of the World Cup season.

Howden, from Chilliwack, B.C., posted a time of 57.36 seconds, just behind winner David Mobaerg of Sweden. 

Kilian Himmelsbach of Germany was third in 58.26.

Howden entered the event having already wrapped up his fourth career Crystal Globe as overall World Cup leader.

Schmidt, from Ottawa, was third in the women’s final in one minute 0.1 seconds.

Sandra Naeslund, who clinched the women’s Crystal Globe earlier Saturday by winning her quarterfinal, completed a Swedish sweep of Saturday’s finals with a time of 59.33 seconds, followed by Germany’s Daniela Maier in 59.42.

The final ski cross races of the World Cup season are Sunday in Gällivare.

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