Blue Jays earn series split against AL East rival Baltimore

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One series into the marathon season that is Major League Baseball, and somehow Bo Bichette has slid under the radar.

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For the second day in a row, a starting pitcher made an early exit, this time by Baltimore’s Tomoyuki Sugano, who succumbed to cramping.

The results from Blue Jays starting pitchers have alternated from seeing Jose Berrios implode to watching Kevin Gausman do what Kevin Gausman does best.

Then came Max Scherzer’s third-inning injury in his Blue Jays’ debut.

Fellow righty and former Mets teammate Chris Bassitt settled in after the visiting Orioles touched him up for one run in the first inning.

But it was Bichette who continued to turn the page from last year’s nightmare.

He happens to be in a contract year, which will only increase his value.

He drew a walk to begin the game and came around to score on George Springer’s two-out, two-run single.

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Bichette then singled in the seventh, his seventh hit in the past three games.

With all the focus on Vladimir Guerrero’s Jr.’s contract, it seems Bichette is being overlooked.

Not to be overlooked is how the Jays managed to earn a series split following their 3-1 win.

The homer-happy O’s were held homerless, Yariel Rodriguez made amends for his opening day implosion, Bassitt pitched well, and Springer came through at the plate batting fifth in the order.

HOFFMAN OF THE DAY

Fans gave Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman a rousing ovation when he entered the game in the ninth inning to seal the deal.

Similar to Jordan Romano’s entrance out of the bullpen, the lights were dimmed and the noise reaching a dizzying level, as Hoffman found himself in his first save opportunity for his new team.

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While it wasn’t a one-for-one trade, Romano did end up with Philadelphia, while Hoffman landed in Toronto as its incumbent closer.

A long out off the bat of Gary Sanchez did create some anxiety, but his tailing liner went foul down the left-field line.

With two outs and the count full, Hoffman struck out Sanchez.

Hoffman’s first save with the Blue Jays preserved Bassitt’s first victory of the young season.

BOTTOM OF THE BARREL

The Jays’ offence has been primarily fueled by the top of the order.

Bichette has more than delivered in the leadoff spot, getting on base yet again when he draw a walk in the home half of the first inning.

The sore spot can be found in the bottom of the order.

In the series finale, manager John Schneider had Alan Roden, an early season revelation, in the No. 7 hole, Tyler Heineman, who started behind the plate, in the eighth hole and Myles Straw batting ninth.

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Entering play Sunday, the Jays had hit two home runs, both by Andres Gimenez, who added a double a scored a run in the series finale.

The third home run came Sunday off the bat of Heineman, who clubbed a one-out no-doubter in the seventh.

Roden had a hit as he continues to be a hit.

Compared to the opening three games, which saw the bottom of the order basically produce nothing, the 2-for-10 performance from the 7-8-9 batters on Sunday could be viewed as a coming-out party.

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 … Announced attendance on Sunday was 21,069; granted, it was a dreary day, but the roof was closed … During the peak of Max Scherzer’s career, he became one of the notable franchise faces of the Nats; the veteran right-hander is now facing an uncertain future.

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