National Sports

TORONTO — Chris Bassitt was irritated. The last place the Toronto Blue Jays veteran starter wanted to be was in front of an assembly of reporters to discuss a 5-4 series-opening loss to the Detroit Tigers on Friday.

TRUCKEE, Calif. (AP) — Mac Meissner had eight birdies in a 16-point round Friday to take the second-round lead in the Barracuda Championship, the only PGA Tour event that uses the modified Stableford scoring system.

PHOENIX (AP) — Allisha Gray won the WNBA All-Star skills competition, beating hometown favourite Sophie Cunningham in the finals Friday night.

TORONTO (AP) — Toronto shortstop Bo Bichette left the Blue Jays' game against Detroit after six innings Friday night because of an apparent right leg injury.

TROON, Scotland (AP) — Shane Lowry was a surprising model of calm amid all the calamity in the British Open on Friday.

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Fire said Friday that they will offer vouchers for fans if Lionel Messi doesn't play for Inter Miami when the teams meet at Soldier Field on Aug. 31.

SYLVANIA, Ohio (AP) — Chanettee Wannasae closed birdie-eagle on Highland Meadows' twin par-5 finishing holes for a 6-under 66 and a one-stroke lead Friday in the Dana Open for Children.

CASTIONS DI STRADA, ITALY — Kyoko Ishikawa's two-run single highlighted Japan's five-run fourth inning in a 7-2 win over Canada on Friday at the WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Finals.

EDMONTON — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she doesn’t think her cabinet ministers and political staff accepting tickets to luxury suites at playoff hockey games runs afoul of ethics rules.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Toronto Blue Jays infielder Joey Votto was pulled from the Buffalo Bisons' lineup shortly before he was expected to make his Triple-A debut on Firday.