Chris Bassitt was getting lit up by his former team, the Oakland Athletics, giving up six runs alone in the first as the Toronto Blue Jays lost 8-4.
Bassitt struggled from the first batter he faced, giving up a lead-off double to Lawrence Butler. The A’s outfielder had cooled off to start August, but Butler has collected five hits in his last three games, including today.
Brent Rooker, who scored the lone run in yesterday’s game, hit a single to score Butler, putting Oakland up 1-0. JJ Bleday came up to the plate, hitting a sinker left over the heart of the plate by Bassitt, sending the ball to right field, as Oakland went up 3-0.
Bassitt a few batters later hung a curveball to Zack Gelof, as the infielder blasted the ball for Oakland’s second home run of the inning. Oakland scored one more run in the inning on a sacrifice fly and led Toronto 6-0.
Bleday collected his third RBI in the fourth inning, hitting a single off Bassitt to put Oakland up 7-0.
Bassitt’s day was done after 4.0 innings pitched, allowing seven earned runs on eight hits. It’s the third time this year the starter has given up at least seven runs, the last time being on April 26th against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Toronto answered back in the bottom of the fourth, as Daulton Varsho homered. Varsho reached base three times in the game and now has collected at least one hit in five out of his last six games.
One Blue Jay unable to get a hit today was Vladimir Guerrero Jr., ending the first baseman’s 22-game hitting streak. Guerrero Jr. needed one more hit to set a career-high 23-game hitting streak.
While Guerrero Jr. went hitless, another Blue Jay picked up his first MLB hit. Luis De Los Santos hit a weak ball to the A’s infielders, but Abraham Toro couldn’t field the ball properly, leading to De Los Santos reaching 1st base.
De Los Santos would proceed to get his first MLB RBI in the bottom of the eighth, driving in Spencer Horwitz on a double. Toronto scored three runs in the inning, taking advantage of Oakland removing starting pitcher JP Sears.
Sears went 7.0 innings, allowing three earned runs. Two of the runs given up by Sears came in the eighth inning. Both Howritz and Davis Schneider were walked by Sears to start the inning, forcing Oakland to take him out. The two baserunners later scored in the inning while A’s reliever, Michel Otanzes, was pitching.
Oakland in the ninth, went to closer Mason Miller, who shut the door for the A’s, as Toronto dropped the series.
In more positive news, Toronto’s bullpen only gave up one run in the entire series between 9.2 innings pitched. Part of the recent success of the Jays relievers is due to Erik Swanson. Over his last five appearances, Swanson hasn’t allowed a run, giving up just three hits in that span. Tommy Nance also went 2.0 innings in today’s game, with another scoreless outing for the Jays.
Toronto now heads out west to begin a three-game series with the Los Angeles Angels. The two teams will clash seven times over the next two weeks.
