Chris Bassitt homers as Toronto Blue Jays beat New York Yankees, roll back over 500

TORONTO — Chris Bassitt pitched a quality start and Alejandro Kirk had two hits as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the New York Yankees 3-1 on Monday night at Rogers Centre.

Bassitt (2-2) held the Yankees to one run and four hits in his 6 1/3-inning appearance. Yimi Garcia pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his second save.

Both teams had four hits in the first period of the three-game series.

Toronto scored in the second inning on a bases-loaded walk and a bases-loaded wild pitch. Kirk drove in the Blue Jays' other run in the third.

The Yankees, who started the day with the best record in the major leagues, fell to 12-5.

Toronto (9-8) has won five of its last seven games.

The Blue Jays put runners on the corners in the first inning after a pair of walks and a fielder's choice. Yankees starter Luis Gil (0-1) escaped by striking out Justin Turner and pulling out Bo Bichette at first base.

New York also took advantage, putting runners on first and third in the next frame. Osvaldo Cabrera's RBI single brought home Gleyber Torres with the game's first run.

Gill's control issues continued in the bottom half of the inning. He walked three straight after giving up a double to Cavan Biggio.

A free pass to Isiah Keener-Falefa brought home Biggio and a wild pitch to George Springer drove Kirk home to make it 2-1.

Kirk hit his first extra-base hit of the season with a double down the left field line in the third inning. Bishet scored from second base on the play.

A successful run on a stolen base call helped prevent a New York rally in the fifth inning. Trent Grisham was initially called safe at second base, but review showed that Biggio tagged his foot before his hand touched the bag.

Bassitt allowed two walks and struck out five. Tim Maiza recorded the final two outs of the seventh inning before Chad Green pitched a clean eighth.

The published attendance was 30,962 and the game took two hours and 23 minutes to play.

EASE ON THE ROAD

No exact timing was available, but Toronto relievers Jordan Romano and Eric Swanson are expected to be activated from the injured list “soon,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said before the game.

Romano (elbow) and Swanson (wrist) were with the big league club Monday after completing rehab assignments at Triple-A Buffalo.

The Blue Jays reinstated catcher Danny Jansen (wrist) from 10-day IL before the game.

Jackie Robinson Day

Players on both teams wore #42 on Jackie Robinson Day. This number was universally retired by Major League Baseball in 1997.

Robinson broke the MLB color barrier in 1947 with the Brooklyn Dodgers.

IN CASE

The left-hander was scheduled to face Toronto's Yusei Kikuchi (0-1, 2.30 ERA) against Carlos Rodon (1-0, 1.72) on Tuesday night.

The series concludes on Wednesday with a matinee. Kevin Gausman (0-2, 11.57) was lined up to start opposite former Blue Jay Marcus Stroman (1-1, 2.12).

This Canadian Press report was first published on April 15, 2024.

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