As the Blue Jays defeat the Mariners 5-3, Bichette blasts his first home run of the season, and Bassitt wins his first game.
Brilliant 6 2/3 innings of relief pitching by Chris Bassitt, who won for the first time in his last three starts of the season. Toronto won three straight games for the first time, behind doubles from George Springer, three hits from Isaiah Kiner-Falefa, and an RBI. Cavan Biggio also reached base three times.
This season, the Blue Jays are 4-1 when they outhit their opponents and 5-2 when they homer. To Seattle’s six hits, Toronto had 11. Dominic Canzone added a solo blast, and Mitch Haniger drove in two runs for the Mariners. Six of the last seven games have been lost by Seattle. On a six-game journey that concludes on Wednesday, they are 1-4.
According to manager Scott Servais, “it was a frustrating night.” “This road trip hasn’t been enjoyable. The season has not gotten off to a good start.George Kirby (1-2) lost his second straight start after giving up five runs and eight hits in four innings. That was the first time the right-hander had performed that since June’s road defeats to the Yankees and Baltimore.
Kirby remarked, “I just felt like I was a little too much in the zone tonight.” “I simply didn’t grow as much as I should have.” Kirby’s ERA increased from 5.23 to 6.91 as he struck out three and walked none. In his last two appearances, he has failed to pitch past the fourth inning in both instances. “He couldn’t miss the bat, because they were swinging up there,” Servais remarked.
In the first inning, Bichette grounded into a double play that ended the inning against Kirby, but in the third, he drove a two-run single into the second deck. Bichette’s first season home run was a 431-foot blast to left field. “John Schneider, the manager of the Blue Jays, said that Bo is among the league’s best hitters.” “By now, I think everyone is aware of that.”
Five hits and one run were given up by Bassitt (1-2). He struck out eight, which was a season-high, and walked three. Against Seattle, the right-hander triumphed for the second time in his 17 professional games. “I’ve had a lot of trouble with this lineup, so I knew I had to go a little off script,” Bassitt remarked. “I made a few minor mistakes in how I pitched.”
With 115 pitches, Bassitt fell one pitch short of his career high. He had complete command, according to Schneider. In the seventh, Canzone hit his third home run with two outs to break Bassitt’s shutout attempt. Canzone also took two steps. In the eighth inning, Haniger drove home a right-hander, Trevor Richards, with two outs to cut the lead to 5-3.Chad Green had his second save with four outs.