Achi news desk-
TORONTO – The Toronto Blue Jays exploded for seven runs in the second inning and rolled to a 9-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday night for their first series victory in a month.
Bo Bichette led off the early burst with a two-run homer as Toronto took the three-game rubber match set between the last-place clubs.
Daulton Varsho and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. scored. two runs each for the Blue Jays, who beat Chicago 10-6.
Tommy Pham hit a single and Nicky Lopez had two hits for the White Sox (15-35). Chicago has dropped five of its last six games.
Chris Bassitt (4-6) allowed five hits over seven shutout innings for the Blue Jays, who improved to 22-26.
Toronto’s last series win came against the San Diego Padres in a three-game set that ended on April 21. The Blue Jays are bottom of the East Division while the White Sox are last in the Central Division and the overall Major League Baseball standings.
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The Rogers Center roof was opened about 45 minutes before first pitch on a warm, sunny and windy night in Ontario’s capital.
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Toronto’s Cavan Biggio appeared to battle the windy conditions on Pham’s drive to right field to open the game. Biggio had to jump on the run to rip the ball onto the warning track.
Bassitt gave up a pair of singles in the frame before inducing cleanup hitter Paul DeJong to hit into a 6-4-3 double play.
Chicago right-hander Nick Nastrini (0-3) issued a leadoff walk to Justin Turner in the second inning and gave up one-out singles to Alejandro Kirk and Kevin Kiermaier that loaded the bases.
After Isiah Kiner-Falefa flew out, Davis Schneider drove in two runs with a flare to left field and Varsho followed with a two-run triple. Guerrero tacked on an RBI single before Bichette hit his third homer of the year.
The Toronto shortstop wore a new home run jacket in the dugout after the blast. The celebratory garment had been shelved since the 2022 campaign.
The Blue Jays tacked on two more runs in the fourth inning. Varsho and Guerrero reached on one-out walks and scored after Bichette floated a single to center field.
Varsho scored easily and Guerrero found him on a throwing error by outfielder Dominic Fletcher.
Bassitt issued two walks and had four strikeouts. His earned run average dropped from 5.03 to 4.39.
Nastrini allowed eight earned runs, seven hits and six walks over 3 1/3 innings.
Pham spoiled Toronto’s shutout bid by leading off the eighth inning with his third homer of the year. The White Sox scored a second run on reliever Genesis Cabrera when DeJong drove in Lopez with a sacrifice fly.
Nate Pearson pitched the ninth inning for Toronto. The announced attendance was 28,670 and the game took two hours 43 minutes to play.
COMING UP
The Blue Jays will begin a seven-game road trip Thursday night in Detroit.
Kevin Gausman (2-3, 4.89 ERA) was tabbed to start for Toronto against fellow right-hander Jack Flaherty (1-3, 3.79).
This report was first published by The Canadian Press on May 22, 2024.
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& copy 2024 The Canadian Press
