MONDAY SPORTS

Chris Colabello hit a two-run home run while R-A Dickey threw seven shutout innings in Toronto’s heated 5-2 win over Kansas City. Both benches and bullpens emptied after Blue Jays reliever Aaron Sanchez was ejected for throwing at Kansas City’s Alcides Escobar in the eighth. It was the climax of a game-long spat that began when Royals starter Edinson Volquez hit Josh Donaldson on the left arm in the first inning.

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Former Blue Jay Daniel Norris had a solid debut for the Tigers in a 6-1 win over the Orioles. Norris took a three-hitter into the eighth inning in his first game with Detroit after being acquired from Toronto in the David Price deal on Thursday. The 22-year-old lefty allowed four hits, one walk while striking out five in 7-and-a-third innings for his second career victory.

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Andre Ethier hit his second dramatic home run in three innings – a two-run shot in the 10th – to lead the Dodgers to a three-game Freeway Series sweep with a 5-3 victory over the sputtering Angels. The Angels have lost six games in a row. Meanwhile, the Dodgers’ are a season-high 15 games over .500.

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Kent Austin has plenty to smile about these days.

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats not only return home after opening the season with four straight road games but are also poised to get some of their walking wounded back. Luke Tasker, the club’s leading receiver last year, will make his 2015 debut Monday night when the Ticats host the arch-rival Toronto Argonauts (3-1) at 5:00 Sask Time on TSN.

“We’re just glad to be here, we always knew this was going to be here for us,” Austin, the Ticats head coach/GM, told reporters. “We’re glad it arrived but let me tell you we’ve learned a lot in the process.

“Every team has their challenges, we’re no different than anybody else. I think all experiences, bad, good, anywhere in between, are experiences you should learn from and how to get better and improve as a football team. Hopefully we’ve done that.”

Hamilton (2-2) has been unbeatable so far at Tim Hortons Field, registering seven straight wins since moving into the new facility last September. The Ticats’ first victory there was a 13-12 decision over Toronto on Sept. 1.

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American Pharoah turned on the speed in the stretch and easily won the Haskell Invitational in his first race since sweeping the Triple Crown. The three-year-old colt cruised to a 2-and-a-quarter-length victory under jockey Victor Espinoza. American Pharoah swept the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes to become the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years.

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The Maple Leafs and goaltender Jonathan Bernier avoided arbitration by agreeing to a new two-year contract. The deal will pay the 26-year-old 8-point-3 million dollars. Bernier was the final restricted-free agent remaining on Toronto’s list.

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Troy Merritt walked to the final tee with a three-shot lead and slapped hands with fans on both sides of the ropes, knowing he had all but wrapped up his first PGA Tour title. Merritt shot a 4-under 67 in the final round to win the Quicken Loans National – his first career victory in 96 starts. Abbotsford, B-C’s Adam Hadwin tied for 21st.

(Canadian Press)