National Sports

The young core on the Toronto Blue Jays made significant strides in the pandemic-shortened season. An unexpected playoff appearance was a welcome development too.

CHICAGO — The Miami Marlins just kept fighting. When Kyle Hendricks finally stumbled, they pounced. This group of Marlins is one resilient bunch of fish.

LONGUEUIL, Que. — The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League has approved new rules that dole out stiffer punishments for fighting. All players involved in a fight will now receive a 10-minute misconduct penalty and a five-minute major.

Although restrictions put in place to slow the spread of COVID-19 initially wreaked havoc on the golf season, Laurence Applebaum said this season showed the sport's resilience in Canada.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — An unexpected return to the playoffs didn't last long for the Toronto Blue Jays. They surprised many by getting to the wild-card series. The top-seeded Tampa Bay Rays surprised no one by shutting them down.

OAKLAND, Calif. — Oakland's long-reliable regulars Marcus Semien and Khris Davis powered a couple of home runs, Mark Canha made a game-saving catch against the wall and red-hot right-hander Chris Bassitt delivered the start of his life.

CALGARY — Leanne Taylor was born the same year Silken Laumann overcame long odds to stand on the Olympic podium. Laumann rowing to a bronze medal with a mangled leg at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona is part of Canadian sport lore.

ATLANTA — The scoreless innings kept piling up, along with the strikeouts.

Sarah Nurse has stood in the crosswinds of societal and sport upheaval. Her hockey career in flux because of a collective movement to further the women's game, the COVID-19 pandemic threw another layer of uncertainty on top of her hockey future.

MINNEAPOLIS — Shaken up by a scandal before the virus outbreak shrunk the season, the Houston Astros barely played well enough to reach the playoffs — with the rest of baseball actively rooting against them. Well, they're not ready to leave yet.