Schwarzesbrett » minutes. Smiths nightmare game continued on

TORONTO -- The Toronto Blue Jays wont have their usual closer available for the start of the regular season. Casey Janssen was placed on the 15-day disabled list Sunday due to a strain in his left abdominal area and lower back. Fellow right-hander Sergio Santos will take over the closers role while Janssen is out of the lineup. Janssen, 4-1 with 34 saves and a 2.56 earned-run average last year, was limited at spring training because of shoulder soreness. But on Friday, he felt some minor discomfort in his lower back while warming up during a pre-season game against the New York Mets in Montreal. An MRI exam revealed a mild strain, general manager Alex Anthopoulos said Sunday on a conference call. "We dont expect him to be out too long," Anthopoulos said. "There was a scenario where we could have just waited maybe five or six days and try to get him back going. But we want to just have this thing resolved and not nag at him." The move was retroactive to Saturday. Janssen, 32, allowed one earned run and four hits in three innings over three pre-season appearances. Hes expected to throw on flat ground to keep his arm in shape before trying to pitch from a mound. The Blue Jays also recalled catcher Erik Kratz from triple-A Buffalo on Sunday, a day ahead of Torontos season opener at Tampa Bay. Kratz hit .400 in spring training and had been sent to minor-league camp earlier in the week after losing the backup job to Josh Thole. Santos, 30, made 29 appearances for the Blue Jays last season. He was 1-1 with one save and a 1.75 ERA. Also Sunday, former reliever Dustin McGowan pitched a simulated game and Anthopoulos said it appears hell be ready to start Friday against the New York Yankees. "Hes done so well," Anthopoulos said. "We dont expect any changes at all. So far, so good. He felt good, felt strong, and we expect him to be good to go for Opening Day in Toronto." McGowan, 32, was named to the starting rotation earlier in the week. The right-hander made his debut with the Blue Jays in 2005 but has battled injuries throughout his career. McGowan had a 2.45 ERA in 25 appearances last season and did not record a decision or a save. Cheap Penguins Jerseys .James scored 29 points, including 16 in the first quarter, and the Cleveland Cavaliers broke a four-game losing streak with a 106-74 win over the Orlando Magic on Monday night. Pittsburgh Penguins Store . Next up is another showdown with Michigan. Payne scored 18 points, Branden Dawson had 14 and No. 22 Michigan State beat No. 12 Wisconsin 83-75 on Saturday to reach the Big Ten tournament championship. https://www.cheappenguinsjersey.com/ . The Maple Leafs may not have had a pick until the third round, but they have made the biggest move of the second day of the Draft, dealing defenceman Carl Gunnarsson and a fourth-round pick in the draft to the St. Pittsburgh Penguins Pro Shop . - Playing a road game against a division rival raises the intensity for linebacker Clay Matthews. Pittsburgh Penguins Gear . Louis, MO (SportsNetwork.VANCOUVER -- It was after Week 2 of the CFL season when the B.C. Lions were stumbling along winless and looking like a team with no chance at playing in a championship Grey Cup game that they are set to host. That feels like a long time ago now after quarterback Kevin Glenn had 301 yards and two touchdowns Saturday, as the Lions rolled over the Montreal Alouettes 41-5 for their second straight victory. Glenn was impressive, going 23-for-31 before leaving late in the third with a minor muscle strain that he says isnt serious. As for those critics coming after Glenn and his Lions after Week 2 -- when they lost 24-9 to the Als in Montreal -- the quarterback says everything is right on track. "Its a marathon, and you want to gradually get better every week," he said. "Last week we werent perfect and naturally this week we werent perfect, but we made plays when they were called upon. "We want to make sure were growing as a team till the end of the year when youre playing your best football." Wide receiver Emmanuel Arceneaux caught three touchdown passes, including both of Glenns, as the Lions moved to 2-2 after last weeks impressive 26-13 win in Regina. The Als (1-3), meanwhile, have just one win on the season -- against B.C. -- and it was a tough outing for Montreal quarterback Troy Smith, who finished with a scant 45 yards passing before being replaced in the fourth. "Its not what we are, but it was what we were tonight," said a downcast Als head coach Tom Higgins. "Credit the B.C. Lions, they did almost everything that they needed to do. We did not execute." The West Coast has rarely been kind to the Alouettes as theyve now been outscored 163-30 in their last four games in Vancouver. Their last win in B.C. was way back in 2010, when the Lions played in Empire Field for one season. But as easy as it is to point to Montreals damning history in Vancouver some of the credit must go to an improving quarterback in Glenn. The 35-year-old veteran, brought in in the off-season to back up injured started Travis Lulay, has been steadily improving as of late and feeling more comfortable with the Lions offense. "Thats what happens when youre a new guy on a new team -- it takes a little time to get comfortable and get going," said Glenn. "And everybody wants it to happen faster, but sometimes its just what happens. It takes a couple games to get in the groove and the game plan running your way." Glenn surpassed a milestone on the first play of the game. He ducked a hard tackle before throwing a 16-yard bullet down the middle to slotback Courtney Taylor that put him over 40,000 career yards. Glenn then found Andrew Harris, who carried it for a gain of 33 yards to put B.C. at the 23 and a ffirst down.dddddddddddd Two incompletes later and Paul McCallum kicked a 30-yard FG for the games first score. Glenn was efficient on the Lions next possession, getting his team to the 36 before heaving a 35-yard TD strike to wide receiver Arceneaux for an early 10-0 advantage. That drive took only five plays and 62 yards. The Als got on the board soon after as Brandon Whitaker took Montreal 41 yards on two rushes before a B.C. roughing the passer call put the Alouettes at the 35. After Troy Smiths pass was nearly picked off, Sean Whyte kicked in a 42-yarder to make it 10-3 at 4:31 of the first. McCallum kicked B.C. to a 13-3 lead at 3:48 of the second thanks to a drive by Glenn. He slung a 25-yard pass to slotback Shawn Gore before finding both Stefan Logan and Taylor to put B.C. inside the red zone. Glenn couldnt finish the drive, so McCallum kicked it in from 16 yards out. It got worse for Montreal minutes later when a blocked punt by Khreem Smith was recovered by defensive tackle Eric Taylor, who huffed it 19 yards to put the Lions back in scoring position. Courtney Taylors 7-yard TD was called back to the one, but backup QB Travis Partridge punched it in - his first pro TD - and the Lions had a 20-3 lead at the half. B.C. went right back to work in the third as a scampering Glenn found Arceneaux for a 35-yard gain and then again down the middle to put the Lions back in the redzone. From deep in the pocket it was once again Glenn connecting with Arceneaux as B.C. took control with a 27-3 lead at seven minutes. Smiths nightmare game continued on the next possession when rookie DE Alex Bazzie sacked him for a quick three and out. "Some of the challenges that people just dont know is theres times when its just not the quarterbacks fault," said Higgins. "(Smith) is standing there and someones not running where theyre supposed to. We need to examine all of those things." Lions backup John Beck came in for the third and picked up where Glenn left off, hitting Arceneaux with a 27-yard touchdown pass to make it 34-3 and put the game out of reach. That was Arceneauxs third major of the game. "Mannys an elite player," said Lions head coach Mike Benevides. "Hes a big time player. As hard as he works and as gifted as he is, Im not surprised at all (hes playing well). Im so grateful thats he on our team." Notes: The Lions honoured the 1994 Grey Cup Champion team at halftime ... Safety Matt McGarva left the game in the first quarter with a knee injury and did not return. ... The Als and Lions have split their season series 1-1 since 2007. ... The Lions continue their home stand in Week 5 with a visit from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (3-1). Montreal has a bye before hosting the Argos in Week 6. ' ' '