National Sports

TORONTO — Joey Votto was sad to end his comeback bid to play for his hometown Toronto Blue Jays, but the 40-year-old first baseman could not ignore that his game was no longer at a Major League level.

TORONTO — Canadian baseball star Joey Votto is retiring. The 40-year-old first baseman announced in an Instagram post Wednesday evening that he’s hanging up his cleats. “That’s it. I’m done,” Votto said in a video.

NEW YORK — Montreal's Gabriel Diallo advanced to the final round of US Open qualifying with a 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 win over France's Titouan Droguet in men's singles action on Wednesday.

REGINA — Ken Miller, a beloved former head coach of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, has died. He was 82. The CFL team announced that Miller died Wednesday in Asheville, N.C., after a brief battle with cancer.

SURREY — With his B.C. Lions slogging through a losing skid, Rick Campbell is keeping the CFL season in perspective. Yes, the Lions have lost four games in a row.

Taylor Pendrith has always been able to find his groove as summer winds down. This year, it's made him the top Canadian in the PGA Tour's playoffs. Pendrith, from Richmond Hill, Ont.

He's wearing different colours, but Demerio Houston is still doing his thing. The Calgary Stampeders cornerback stands tied for second in the CFL in interceptions with four, two behind Saskatchewan's Rolan Milligan Jr.

Proline bettors were firmly behind Nathan Rourke's return to the CFL last week. Rourke made his '24 debut Sunday night when the B.C. Lions hosted the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

TORONTO — They've officially been teammates for less than a week, but Ka'Deem Carey will aim to become Chad Kelly's best friend Thursday night. Kelly will make his 2024 debut when Toronto (5-4) hosts the Saskatchewan Roughriders (5-4-1).

TORONTO — The Toronto Maple Leafs have re-signed forward Alex Steeves to a one-year, two-way contract, the NHL club announced Wednesday. The value of the contract is US$775,000 at the NHL level. The 24-year-old from Bedford, N.H.