Toronto

Gregor Blanco drove in the winning run with a pinch-hit 2-run triple in the 7'th inning to back a solid start from Madison Bumgarner as the Giants gained a series win over the Pesky Ones. Key Lines:Gregor Blanco- 1 for 1, 3B. BA= .286. Well, Bochy pushed the right buttons in this one. Torres started the game as the leadoff batter and was 1 for 3, but with RH Luke Gregorson in the game, Bochy brought Blanco in to pinch hit even though Torres is a switch-hitter, runners at the corners, 1 out. All Blanco did was win the freaking game with a drive to the CF wall to the right of the centerfielder who never had a chance to get there. Blanco is hitting .414 over his last 10 games and has gotten huge hit after huge hit. And man, you could tell he was feeling really good about it in the dugout after he scored on Scutaro's single.Marco Scutaro- 2 for 4. BA= .338. This guy just doesn't stop. Dude nearly tears his pinky off, slaps a splint on it and just keeps on collecting his 2 hits a game. Talk about a day at the office....!Hector Sanchez- 1 for 1. BA= .179. It looks to me like The Hector lost a few lbs while he was rehabbing in Fresno. He's looking much better at the plate too.Madison Bumgarner- 7 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 4 BB, 8 K's. ERA= 3.25. Bummy walked a few more than we're used to seeing, but otherwise a strong outing. Sure enough! He threw a purpose pitch at Jesus Guzman that Guzman somehow managed to dodge, but then started walking toward Bumgarner brandishing his bat. Bumgarner came down off the mound motioning for Guzman to come and get him. Both benches emptied and both Guzman and Bumgarner had to be restrained for more than just a few seconds. Guzman later dinged Bumgarner for a round-tripper that was the go-ahead run at the time. There may still be some scores to settle down the road on this thing. Stay tuned!Jake Dunning- 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K. ERA= 0.00. Dunning had his second successful appearance showing off his live, loose arm. Sergio Romo- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, Save(18). ERA= 2.54. Romo dispatched the Pesky Padres in short order in the 9'th.With the Win, the Giants took sole control of 2'nd place, 1.5 games behind the D'Backs who beat the Marlins 4-1. The Rockies lost to Toronto 5-1 to slip 2.5 games behind while the losing Padres dropped to 3 games out. The Dodgers split a twin bill with the Yankees in New York to fall to 8 games back in last place.The Giants now move on to a 4 game series at home against the Miami Marlins with Chad Gaudin facing RHP Tom Koehler.

BOSTON—Well, that was fun. And wacky. And maybe just a tad cruel, if you're a coach.Brent Seabrook scored at 9:51 of overtime Wednesday night as the Blackhawks beat the Bruins 6-5 to tie the best-of-seven Stanley Cup final at two games apiece. Game 5 is Saturday in Chicago.The tight checking that had marked earlier games in the series gave way to a championship version of shinny — end-to-end action, crazy bounces, the end to scoring droughts and heroic efforts that stood up only as long as it took the next guy to score.Heck, the Blackhawks scored on both special teams: on the power play and short-handed.It was as if the coaches left the players to their own devices, and it made for a hugely enjoyable Game 4.MORE TO COME

It was the day the music didn’t die.Toronto trustees saved music instructors but slashed school budgets as they debated the 2013-14 board budget late into the night.Facing a $55-million deficit in their $2.9-billion budget, trustees earlier this year voted to cut teachers and other school staff to save about $27.7 million, and on Wednesday discussed proposals to find the remaining $27.3 million to balance the books.Refusing to cut the music instructors and hours of programming added $2 million to the savings to be found, and Toronto District School Board Chair Chris Bolton said it would be added to a budget line called “in-year savings” — which basically means they will be found during the next school year through not filing job openings right away or through lower utility costs. That boosts the in-year savings to be found to $10.5 million.Bolton said, however, that while music has grabbed the public’s attention — many trustees spoke about how the outcry was the biggest they’d ever seen — other cuts like those to school budgets were going to affect programs“Textbooks cost more,” he said. “The problem is, you don’t have the materials to start up classrooms or to do new initiatives,” he said after briefly leaving the meeting to speak with reporters. “This is a victory — the Toronto District School Board has one of the best music programs in the country and we’re going to be able to maintain it for at least another year,” said Trustee Chris Glover after the budget vote.Trustees were told that school budgets would lose about $2 million in total, or by four per cent. For a small elementary school, that could be anywhere from $600 to $2,100; a mid-sized elementary from $2,000 to $4,000 and a large elementary up to $9,200.For secondary schools, the impact would be bigger: small schools up to $2,500, medium from $3,000 to $9,000 and large up to $22,000.“I was a principal of what is considered a large elementary school and if I lost ($9,200), I would be pretty devastated,” he said. Earlier in the evening, Bolton said that previously, the board had been “cutting at the edges,” but “we are now at the point where the decisions that we make have the potential to affect programs.”The board now has to “work in a creative fashion to minimize that effect.”Other proposed cuts include reducing maintenance supplies, overtime for caretakers and reducing two of four “reading recovery” lead teachers.Trustee Cathy Dandy said her son is now 23, and the board has been making cuts since he was 5. Glover warned that projections for next year’s budget is already a $30-million deficit, so trustees will be making more cuts next year.“We need the province to step in and fix the funding,” he said.The cuts to music programs would have axed itinerant musicians who travel from school to school helping elementary teachers with the complex music curriculum, including vocal, recorder and Orff. As well as the hours of those instructors who teach steel pans, string instruments and band.Bolton said he was unsure if the provincial government would allow the board to budget for $10.5 in in-year savings. This current year, it planned for $10 million in such savings, and didn’t meet that target but came close, said Bolton.After passing their budget, trustees met in private to discuss a plan to sell off 11 land sites to bring in $162.2 million and end the province's freeze on funding for new school buildings and major renovations.

There were many questions, and perhaps notably for a Rob Ford event, none of them were dodged. But then, the mayor wasn’t there. This was the first — and perhaps only — Rob Ford Trivia Night, held at The Ossington, a dimly lit hipster bar in the city’s downtown west end, on Wednesday night. “We will be your guides to the wild and wonderful world of Rob Ford this evening,” said Barry Hertz, 30, who orchestrated the event with his girlfriend, Erin Criger. Thus began the barrage quiz on Toronto’s mayor, as participants scoffed and jabbered over beers and generously provided sour candy. There were short answer questions, multiple choices, person identification, true or false and “complete the quote” queries. There was much to cover, from the personal (“What production did Rob Ford perform during Grade 13?”) to the political (“What is David Price’s official title?”) and downright larky (“True or false: Rob Ford has smoked crack cocaine”). “It’s just an urban nerd fest, where all the urban nerds come together,” laughed Gilleen Witkowski, a communications worker on the team named “Bunch of Scum,” after a derisive reference to the media by the mayor.Criger, 28, said she and Hertz got the idea to host a Ford trivia night when they noticed how his tenure at City Hall had become a go-to topic of conversation, even in some unlikely venues. “We were at a funeral on Sunday, and unprompted, we got a lecture on the media and Rob Ford,” said Criger before the action started Wednesday. “It’s a topic that seems inescapable.”Many media types were in attendance, which was intimidating for some more casual observers of municipal politics. Others, such as market researcher Alex Lougheed, felt pretty comfortable, considering the dominance of Ford news since reports emerged of a video that appears to show the mayor smoking crack cocaine. “I just moved here two months ago, and I already know far too much,” Lougheed chuckled. “What do you know about (Ottawa Mayor) Jim Watson? Nothing. He’s an incredible man.”And what spoils to the winning team, a group of writers and journalists who scored a whopping 91 points? A series of drawings of a smiling Ford by the National Post’s Steve Murray. “I expected to win, but mostly because we had (NOW Magazine’s) Jonathan Goldsbie on our team,” said Laura Godfrey, a copy editor who follows city hall closely. “It feels good,” cracked Jamie Bradburn, a Torontoist writer. As for his Ford drawing, Bradburn plans to frame it, and hang it in the bathroom.

In neighbours’ dispute over fate of huge maple, judge establishes stringent ground rules for arboreal preservation

Jose Reyes could rejoin the Jays on Monday. Shi Davidi of Canada’s Sportsnet reports that the Toronto shortstop will shift his minor league rehab assignment from High-A Dunedin to Triple-A Buffalo this Friday night, putting him one small step away from returning to the active major league roster. Reyes has been on the disabled list since… Read more Jose Reyes news

The Toronto Raptors named Bobby Webster as vice president of basketball management and strategy, the team announced Wednesday. Webster worked for the NBA in New York for the past seven years. His most recent position was associate director of salary cap management. “I am delighted to have Bobby join our basketball operations team,” Raptors president and general [...]

Adam Lind hit a three-run home run, Mark Buehrle won his second straight start and the Toronto Blue Jays earned their eighth consecutive victory Wednesday, beating the Colorado Rockies 5-2 to complete a three-game sweep.

Ricky Romero had his third respectable start in a row for Buffalo, in a game where Mauro Gomez hit another home run. Jose Reyes continued to get back into game-shape with Dunedin before he returns to Toronto in the near future. Buffalo 4 ? Gwinnett 5Ricky Romero was on the mound for the Bisons, had anotherquality start tonight. He lasted 7innings giving up 5 hits, 1 run which was unearned, with 3 walks and 6strikeouts. Relievers Joel Carreno and John Stilson each gave up 2runs in the 8th and 9th inning respectively.Anthony Gose had his best game in a while for the Bisons, ashe went 1-2 with a double and what is surprisingly his 7th SB of theseason. Mauro Gomez had his 19thHR of the season which happens to lead the (AAA) International League. New Hampshire 2 ? Altoona 5Deck McGuire started tonight for the Fisher Cats fell victimto extra-base hits. He had a decentstart by looking at his line which was 6ip 5h, 5 earned runs, with a walk and 6strikeouts. But unfortunately Deck gaveup 4 extra base-hits, 2 doubles, and 2 triples.The Fisher Cats weren?t able to put up much offense tonight,as they managed only 2 runs tonight. AdamLoewen was 2-4 with a HR, and AJ Jimenez had a decent night as well going 2-4. Tampa 4 ? Dunedin 8Jose Reyes continued to rehab with Dunedin, and he hadanother good game before he heads north to Buffalo for the weekend. Other hitters of the night were Andy Burns whowent 3-5 with 2 runs, and Mike Crouse was 2-3 with 2 doubles. Casey Lawrence had a quality start for Dunedin going 6innings giving up 8 hits, 3 earned runs with a walk and three strikeouts. Casey was followed by Tony Davis, Ajay Meyer,and Alan Farina who each went an inning in relief. Lansing ? Day Off Spokane 3 ? Vancouver 8Eric Brown started tonight for the Canadians who happen toplay at the University of British Columbia a few years earlier. He had a fabulous start going 6.2 innings of5 hit ball giving up 1 earned run, with 2 walks and 5 strikeouts.Vancouver?s bats were on fire tonight putting together 12hits, and 8 runs off of Spokane pitching. Braden Kalfus was 3-4 with 2 runs, and Jordan Leyland was 2-3 as hecontinued to be Vancouver?s best hitter. DSL Blue Jays 2 ? DSL TigersMichael De La Cruz continues to surprise Blue Jays fans ashe had another 2 walks, raising his DSL slash line to 347/549/551 with a22-10bb/k ratio. Blue Jays RF Juan Tejada was 1-4 with 2 rbi?sthat he picked up in the 6th inning. Otherwise it was a quiet game for the BlueJays who only managed 4 hits, and 2 runs.Francisco Rios had a respectable start of 5innings giving up3 hits, 3 earned runs, to go along with 2 walks and 3 strikeouts. He was followed by Francis Eduardo andYonardo Herdenez who pitched the next 3 innings giving up 2 runs combined.Three Stars3-Ricky Romero2-Andy Burns1-Mike Crouse

Trustees voted Wednesday night to balance its books by cutting nearly $30-million