National Sports

EDMONTON — The backup plan was more than sufficient for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Thursday.

THUNDER BAY, Ont. — Kelsie Whitmore and Olivia Pichardo hit home runs as the United States routed Canada 23-0 on Thursday at the Women's Baseball World Cup. Pichardo and Ashton Lansdell each batted in four runs for the U.S.

TORONTO — There were occasional flashes of the old Milos Raonic during his run to the third round at the National Bank Open.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Jordan Spieth kept a clean card and clean pants, even without having to roll them up to his calves on a rain-soaked course. He opened with a 7-under 63 on Thursday for a one-shot lead in the FedEx St. Jude Championship.

MONTREAL — The Montreal Alouettes have some questions on offence as they look for a third win in a row Friday against the visiting Saskatchewan Roughriders.

CLEVELAND (AP) — Noah Syndergaard won for the first time since April 30, rookies Brayan Rocchio and José Tena sparked Cleveland’s offense, and the Guardians defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 4-3 on Thursday.

CALEDON, Ont. — Ashton McCulloch shot a final round of 70 to win the 118th Canadian men’s amateur golf championship by five shots. McCulloch of Kingston, Ont.

GLASGOW, United Kingdom — Isabella Holmgren won gold and fellow Canadian Marin Lowe took silver in the women's junior cross-country Olympic race Thursday at the cycling world championships. Holmgren, from Orillia, Ont.

WALTON-ON-THE-HILL, England (AP) — The United States is seeking its third female major champion of 2023 at the AIG Women's British Open this week. Few would have predicted Ally Ewing leading the charge.

TORONTO — David Branch says he will retire as Ontario Hockey League commissioner, a role he has held since the league was founded in 1980, after the upcoming season. Branch was named commissioner of the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League on Sept.