This season, the Toronto Blue Jays’ offensive leader is Bo Bichette, not Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The shortstop continued to lead by example, giving his team a second straight win over the Houston Astros at the Rogers Center on Wednesday night.
The Jays (35-28) won that game 3-2 thanks to an eight-inning stint by Chris Bassitt on the mound. They have now lost just one of their last seven duels. This matchup was presented on TVA Sports (see the highlights in the video above).
Bichette hit her 14th long ball of the season to stretch her arms for the second game in a row. The 25-year-old Floridian continues to leave “Vlad junior” the role of the second. He leads the Jays in RBIs (42), hits (89), batting average (.331), and especially home runs, Guerrero Jr.’s specialty. The Dominican, author of nine rounds, allowed just two balls past the boundaries of the grounds in the last month.
We shouldn’t think about it too long as everything seems to be smiling at the Jays lately. Even if they don’t reach the paths very often – they only got five hits from a safe position like the day before – the Toronto players don’t shy away. Brandon Belt also got a long ball. Alejandro Kirk hit the winner with a single in the seventh inning.
Bassitt (7-4) controlled his arm well despite throwing just 138 times in eight innings. In his last start against the New York Mets, he had to score 165 points in seven and two-thirds of the inning. Against the Astros, his only big mistake was Yordan Alvarez’s two-run home run in the fourth run.
Canada substitute Jordan Romano finished the season ninth with his 16th save.
The Blue Jays play the Astros one last time Thursday night.
A perfect double play
In St. Petersburg, the Tampa Bay Rays put on incredible late-game defensive play to defeat the Minnesota Twins 2-1.
Early in the ninth inning, when there was a run all over the scoreboard, the Rays were in bad shape with two opposing players on base. However, while batting, Ryan Jeffers found third baseman Isaac Paredes’ glove. Sitting on the ground, the Mexican was able to pass the ball to Taylor Walls to pin the runner and then to Luke Raley to complete the double play at first base.
Once the Rays were on offense, Randy Arozarena sent Jhoan Duran’s offer into the stands at Tropicana Field.
Tampa Bay (45-19) still has the best record in Major League Baseball this season.