Gainer, Ruffels tied for lead at Evian Championship entering final round

Golf wasn’t the first love of Cara Gainer or Gabriela Ruffels, who grew up wanting to be professional tennis players and came close to making it. Now they’re in sight of becoming an unlikely major winner in their adopted sport.

With the all-star break in sight, the Toronto Blue Jays are hoping to keep the good times rolling.

After Friday’s series-opening victory over the Athletics at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, Calif., the Blue Jays can clinch their sixth straight series victory on Saturday.

Toronto saw its 10-game winning streak come to an end on Wednesday against the Chicago White Sox, but potentially started a new one in a 7-6 triumph over the A’s.

Next up, the AL East-leading Blue Jays can clinch a sixth straight series victory on Saturday. First pitch against the Athletics is set for 10:05 p.m. ET / 7:05 p.m. PT with live coverage on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+.

Watch Blue Jays vs. Athletics

The Blue Jays battle the Athletics in a three-game series heading into the all-star break this weekend. Catch Saturday’s game at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT on Sportsnet or Sportsnet+.

Broadcast schedule

Kevin Gausman (6-6, 4.13 ERA) will get the nod for Toronto against the Athletics’ Jacob Lopez (2-5, 4.26).

Gausman has enjoyed two solid starts in July, combining for 10.2 innings and four earned runs against the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Angels.

However, while he fanned nine in his most recent start and 12 in the month, Gausman has also battled control troubles, issuing seven walks.

On the other side, Lopez has struggled since a dominant mid-June run when he allowed just two runs over four starts. In two appearances since, he’s been roughed up for eight runs over 7.2 innings.

The Blue Jays (55-39) surged into the AL East lead with their recent hot streak, but must continue piling up wins to remain atop the competitive division. The Yankees (53-41, two games behind) are riding a five-game winning streak, while the Boston Red Sox (51-45, five games behind) have won eight straight.

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On Friday, a laugher turned into a nail-biter against the Athletics. The Blue Jays blasted to a 7-0 lead in the fifth inning, but the A’s brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth after scoring three runs in the sixth and ninth innings before closer Jeff Hoffman finally slammed the door.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. collected his 1,000th career hit in the victory, while Max Scherzer earned his first win as a Blue Jay after allowing three runs over six innings while striking out eight.

Saturday’s game is the sixth meeting between these teams this season. The Blue Jays hold a 5-0 advantage in the season series.

— With files from The Associated Press