August 7, 2020

By Adam Morissette

Baseball Canada

The baseball world was rocked on Monday evening when Canadian Mike Soroka tore his achilles tendon which would in turn end the Calgary native’s season.

The Atlanta Braves ace was starting his third game of the season when the injury occurred in the third inning in a contest with the New York Mets in Atlanta.

The news was not all bad from a MLB Canadian perspective early in the week as North Vancouver, BC’s Rowan Wick converted on his second save opportunity in as many chances in a Chicago Cubs win over the Kansas City Royals.

The Junior National Team graduate hasn’t allowed an earned run in four appearances this season and has two strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings pitched.

Etobicoke’s Joey Votto missed the Cincinnati Reds’ doubleheader on Sunday after reporting symptoms of COVID-19 and was temporarily placed on the Injured List. After testing negative for the virus on Monday, the former National League MVP was activated for Monday’s game against Cleveland promptly delivered the eventual game-winning home run.

After getting just six at-bats in four July games, Longueuil’s Abraham Toro has 13 at bats through four games in August and belted his first home run of the season on Wednesday as part of a 2-for-4 day at the plate.

James Paxton was looking to rebound after a rough outing in his 2020 season debut with the Yankees last Sunday but lasted just three innings after giving up seven hits and three earned runs against the Red Sox. The pride of Ladner, BC is scheduled to start against the Rays in Tampa Bay on Sunday.

Staying in the American League East, Markham, Ontario’s Jordan Romano worked a scoreless inning with one strikeout in the Blue Jays’ win over the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday. Romano and the Blue Jays returned to action on Tuesday after their weekend series against the Philadelphia Phillies was postponed due to Covid-19.

Speaking of Covid-19 disrupting the MLB schedule, Tyler O’Neill and the St. Louis Cardinals have been out of action since July 30 after an outbreak within the club forced the postponement of their scheduled games.

Another team affected, the Philadelphia Phillies, just returned to action on Wednesday after a lengthy layoff that has limited Victoria, BC’s Nick Pivetta to one appearance on the season.

On the West Coast where Canadians Cal Quantrill (Port Hope, Ont.) and Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) are teammates with the San Diego Padres, it was Naylor who legged out a triple against the Rockies in Colorado on Sunday before going 1-for-2 with a stolen base back home against the Dodgers on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Quantrill worked 4 1/3 innings out the bullpen last Saturday in Colorado where he gave up three earned runs and struck out four batters.