National Sports

TORONTO — Heather Gardiner couldn't give her seats away. The Blue Jays owned a record under .500 back in the spring, and looked poised for another middling campaign with little playoff hope. Things then drastically turned around on the field.

Major League Rugby, which operated with 11 teams this season, is down to nine. NOLA Gold, based in the New Orleans suburb of Metairie, said Wednesday it will not be part of the pro rugby league in 2026.

CINCINNATI (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani left the mound accompanied by a trainer during the fourth inning against the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday night.

BALTIMORE (AP) — Nathan Lukes capped Toronto's five-run seventh inning with a three-run homer, and the Blue Jays held on for a 9-8 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday to avoid a four-game sweep.

The Ottawa Redblacks come off their bye week with starter Dru Brown in tow. Brown (neck) will start when the Redblacks (1-6) host the Calgary Stampeders (5-2) on Thursday night.

NEW YORK (AP) — A man who killed four people at a Manhattan office building bought the rifle he used in the attack and the car he drove across country from his supervisor at a Las Vegas casino, authorities said Wednesday.

Star forward Sophie de Goede returns to the starting lineup Friday as the second-ranked Canadian women host the 10th-ranked U.S. in Ottawa in their final home game before leaving for the Rugby World Cup.

WINNIPEG — The Winnipeg Blue Bombers will be without starter Zach Collaros when they face the Toronto Argonauts on Friday night.

CALGARY — The Calgary Flames have signed forward Martin Pospisil to a three-year contract extension worth US$7.5 million, the club announced Wednesday.

OTTAWA — The Ottawa Redblacks return from a bye week looking to reboot a season slipping away.