» Bassitt, Bichette, Heineman help Blue Jays top Orioles

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Blue Jays 3, Orioles 1: Toronto earns a much-needed series split as Chris Bassitt overcomes poor start to earn the win

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Here are three takeaways from the Blue Jays-Orioles game on Sunday as the Jays, who were so homer-susceptible to the Baltimore Orioles in the opening three games of the season, held Baltimore to zero long balls.

1. Bassitt perseveres to get the win

The Jays’ starting pitching became an immediate talking point right off the bat, so to speak, an opening day marred by a poor outing from Jose Berrios, an injury in Game 3 to Max Scherzer in his Toronto debut.

To make matters worse, Toronto’s bullpen hasn’t been good.

But it is early, but an early season rebound was required and on multiple levels Sunday’s series finale needed to be seized.

On bounce-back day, formally known as Jr. Jays Day, Chris Bassitt wasn’t at his best, but typical of the veteran, who was Scherzer’s teammate with the New York Mets, he persevered and left everything out on the mound.

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Bassitt is an eclectic soul who complained last year following a poor outing that the closed roof at Rogers Centre somehow contributed to his day.

The roof was closed on a dreary afternoon in Toronto, but the Jays would provide some ray of light for those in attendance.

2. Bo knows hitting

Somehow, Bo Bichette is being overlooked, in many ways placed in the shadow of Vlad Jr.’s contract and all the accompanying noise.

Like Vlad Jr., Bichette is in his contract year.

So far, he has been the better hitter.

Inserted in the leadoff spot to begin the season, Bichette drew a walk in his first at-bat and reached base on a single in his final plate appearance to give him seven hits in his past three games.

There’s absolutely no reason to remove Bichette from the No. 1 hole in the order given the groove he has found.

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Last year’s nightmare of a season has quickly been forgotten, at least with one series in the books.

3. Men of the hour

Tyler Heineman and Jeff Hoffman had quite the day, the kind of day the Jays hope will be replicated knowing many days are to follow.

Heineman was behind the plate for the first time this young season.

The team’s bottom of the order has not been good in the opening three games.

It ended the series finale much improved when Heineman went deep to give the Jays that necessary add-on run in the seventh inning.

As for Hoffman, his entrance out of the bullpen was eerily similar to the way Jordan Romano entered the game when asked to save games.

In his first save opportunity with the Jays, Hoffman struck out Gary Sanchez to preserve the win.

Up Next

The Jays welcome the Washington Nationals to town for a three-game set beginning Monday on Vlad Jr. silver slugger bobblehead giveaway night, followed by the first Loonie Dogs Night.

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