Dodgers batter Bassitt in one-sided opener
If anyone was still wondering why Shohei Ohtani decided to sign with the Dodgers instead of the Blue Jays during the off-season, they got the answer on Friday night.
The Dodgers arrived in Toronto for the start of a three-game series looking like legitimate World Series contenders. The Jays had the look of a pretender as they were blown out early and saddled with a fourth consecutive loss.
Right-hander Chris Bassitt served up a solo home run to Ohtani in the first inning and a three-run shot to Max Muncy in the third. The Dodgers erupted for seven early runs, while the Jays failed to score more than five for an 18th consecutive game in an 12-2 loss to the Dodgers at the Rogers Centre.
This was Ohtani’s first game in Toronto since he shunned the team in favour of signing a 10-year deal worth $700 million (U.S.) with L.A.
He was greeted in the top of the first by a thunderous round of boos and, a few pitches later, hit a towering fly ball to right for his seventh home run.
Bassitt’s issues only got worse from there. Following a scoreless second, the veteran righty opened the third by allowing each of the first six batters to reach base. Freddie Freeman and Will Smith had RBI singles before Muncy delivered the big blow with a three-run shot to right.
The inning didn’t stop there. Teoscar Hernández reached on a single and stole second base before scoring on a single by No. 9 hitter Gavin Lux. Bassitt then walked Mookie Betts in the Dodgers’ bataround inning before he was mercifully pulled.
Bassitt was charged with seven runs on nine hits and three walks in his shortest outing since Oct. 2, 2022.
The Jays offence remained nonexistent in the loss. Dodgers righthander Gavin Stone entered with an ERA of 6.00 and yet against Toronto he looked like a Cy Young candidate. Danny Jansen provided one of the only highlights with a solo home run in the fourth, as Stone limited the Jays to a pair of hits while striking out two across seven innings.