G20 Summit Pushes Jays-Phils June Series To Philly

New York, NY, United States (AHN) – The G20 Summit, which will take over Toronto’s downtown core, has displaced the much-anticipated three-game baseball series between the Blue Jays and Phillies to Philadelphia due to security and congestion concerns.

MLB commissioner Bud Selig announced the shift in the series Tuesday.

The three-game series June 25-27 will be relocated from Toronto’s Rogers Centre to the Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.

The fourth summit of the Group of 20 nations, scheduled for June 26-27, will see world leaders and heads of state of the biggest developed and emerging economies gather at the Metro Toronto Convention near the Toronto ballpark.

Located within a pre-determined security zone for the event is the Rogers Centre.

Past G20 meetings, including one in Pittsburgh have drawn thousands of protesters.

Apart from resulting to a leaner home schedule for the Blue Jays, the displacement of the lone interleague matchup between the clubs this season scuttled the first return visit of former Toronto ace Roy “Doc” Halladay.

Halladay became one of the sport’s celebrated pitchers after the Blue Jays made him a first pick in the 1995 MLB draft.

Halladay, who played for Toronto from 1998 to 2009, was recognized with the Cy Young award in 2003.

The rescheduled contests will be considered home games for the Blue Jays, who will bat last. The American League’s DH rule will be in effect.

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