Blue Jays bounce back from early hole to avoid series sweep against Angels

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No one should be jumping for joy in the wake of an 8-5 Blue Jays win over the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday night, thereby avoiding the embarrassment of being swept by the Halos. But following four straight losses that laid bare all of Toronto’s deficiencies, some feel-good vibes were necessary as the Jays head up the coast for a three-game set in Seattle.

Resilience was on display once the Jays fell behind 4-0 through two innings. But the fact they were in such an early hole was disconcerting.

The following are three takeaways on a night Daulton Varsho went deep for the third time since his return from the IL, a night the Jays produced 14 hits and tied their season-high in runs after plating eight in the second game of the season.

1. Chris crossed

There was a time earlier in the season when Chris Bassitt, it seemed, never gave up a run. However, in his past four starts, the veteran righty has been tagged for 16 earned runs in just 22.1 innings

No one is more competitive, or features such an extensive pitching arsenal on the Jays, but for the third straight outing, the veteran right-hander surrendered two homers.

Early in Bassitt’s outing, it did not look promising as the Angels jumped out to a 4-0 advantage, courtesy of a two-run homer, a solo shot and an error that resulted in a run.

The Jays bats, though, produced some timely hits of their own and when he took to the mound to start the home half of the sixth inning, Bassitt had a 7-4 lead.

He was eventually pulled after giving up a leadoff single followed by a walk in the seventh. He exited having given up eight hits and striking out six.

Bassitt earned the win to improve to 3-2, but his ERA, which sat at a microscopic 0.77 on April 16, is now up to 3.35.

2. Order restored

It took all of four pitches for the Jays to begin the night by loading the bases.

Typical of the Jays, they weren’t able to cash in any of the runners. Still, it was an encouraging sign to see the team’s top of the order assert itself.

The top of the order featuring Bo Bichette, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Anthony Santander each had at least one hit Thursday night as the trio combined to get on base eight times, while striking out four.

The top of the order would again load the bases with none out in the sixth following Guerrero’s third hit of the game, but this time they got it right. On the first pitch, Santander sent a two-run single into left field as the Jays came all the way back from the four-run deficit to take a 5-4 lead.

3. What’s on second

To borrow from Abbott and Costello when sizing up the Jays’ situation at second base, what to make of the keystone corner following the quad setback to Andres Gimenez is anyone’s guess.

Perhaps a sign of what will play out was provided with the Buffalo Bisons, the Jays’ triple-A affiliate. It was Thursday night against the host St. Paul Saints when the Bisons removed Michael Stefanic mid-way through the game.

Stefanic, who played parts of the past three seasons for the Angels, has asserted himself in triple-A, batting .319 while taking more walks than striking out.

If he does get called up, which could come as early as Friday, the Jays will have to make room on the 40-man roster.

Gimenez was hurt during Wednesday’s loss. Results of an MRI weren’t immediately available.

Ernie Clement, who also had a three-hit night, started at second base for the Jays Thursday night for the second time this season with Addison Barger getting the call at third.

Up next

The Jays make their annual visit to Seattle for a three-game series beginning Friday night, an occasion that normally draws thousands of Canadians … Amid a tense political climate, it will be interesting to see if the always electric atmosphere will feature the same kind of buzz or whether fans from Western Canada decide to skip the trip … The Mariners took two of three in Toronto last month when ex-Jay Rowdy Tellez went deep three times … The Cal Raleigh factor will be closely monitored as well.