The Toronto Blue Jays headed to the South side to take on the Chicago White Sox for the first of three games on Monday afternoon.
The Blue Jays’ offence has been their weak point all season long, but on Monday, they pulled through, hitting three home runs to defeat the White Sox by a score of 5-1.
On the mound, the Blue Jays had Chris Bassitt (4-6, 4.39) to start as he pitched against the White Sox for the second time in a row. Bassitt had been dealing with neck spasms leading up to this start, but nonetheless he performed well. Bassitt threw 5 innings, allowing no runs over five hits, walking none and striking out seven to earn his fifth win of the year. In his last five starts, Bassitt has lowered his ERA by one run and given up just five runs in those starts combined.
The White Sox made this game a rematch on the mound as they sent Nick Nastrini (0-3, 11.91) to face Bassitt and the Blue Jays once again. Nastrini certainly held his own the second time around, but it still wasn’t enough to give Chicago the victory. Nastrini threw 5 innings, allowing three runs on three hits, walking four and striking out five, being handed his fourth loss.
Both starters got through the 1st inning scoreless, then the Blue Jays got on the board in the top of the 2nd. Although Nastrini got the first two outs of the inning, he walked Daulton Varsho to set up George Springer. Springer, who has had a down year, was batting 7th in the lineup, the lowest he’s ever batted in his Major League career. But it looks like this may have been a change Springer needed, as he took a first pitch fastball deep into left field for a two run homer to give Toronto an early 2-0 lead.
The game remained 2-0, then two innings later, Bo Bichette took Nastrini yard. Bichette sent an 0-2 fastball 419 feet into centre field, extending the Blue Jays’ lead to 3-0 and giving him his fourth homer of the year.
Bassitt kept the White Sox quiet until being relieved in the 5th. Nate Pearson gave the Blue Jays two scoreless innings in the 6th and 7th, allowing just one hit and striking out two.
Chicago however, would finally get on the scoresheet in the bottom of the 8th as Gavin Sheets took Erik Swanson deep for a solo homer, cutting the lead to 3-1. Swanson would allow another hit as the White Sox threatened again. Zach Pop would then relieve Swanson to try and get out of the inning. He got Paul DeJong to ground into a fielder’s choice, securing the second out before allowing a Corey Julks single to put the go ahead run at the plate. Fortunately for the Blue Jays, Pop would induce a fly out from Danny Mendick to hold the lead and escape the Chicago threat.
In the top of the 9th, Springer would continue his great day at the plate by adding a leadoff single to his name. Davis Schneider then stepped up with Springer at first and two out before giving the Blue Jays some much needed insurance with a two run homer to extend the lead to 5-1.
Genesis Cabrera would then pitch a scoreless bottom half of the 9th to secure the victory and the first game of the series in Chicago.
Kevin Gausman (3-3, 4.47) will get the start for the Blue Jays as they look to win the series tomorrow evening, opposing him will be Mike Clevinger (0-3, 6.75) who will be on the bump for the White Sox.
