Bichette homers, Bassitt makes quality start as Blue Jays top Mariners 5-3

Bo Bichette hit a two-run homer and Chris Bassitt threw 6 2/3 solid innings as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Seattle Mariners 5-3 on Tuesday at Rogers Centre.

Bichette went deep off Seattle starter George Kirby (1-2) in Toronto’s three-run third inning. The Blue Jays tacked on two more runs in the fourth en route to securing their first series win of the season.

Bassitt’s lone blemish was a Dominic Canzone solo homer in the seventh. Blue Jays reliever Trevor Richards gave up a two-run shot to Mitch Haniger in the eighth.

Chad Green recorded four outs for his second save.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa had three of Toronto’s 11 hits. The Mariners (4-8), who had six hits, have dropped six of seven.

The Blue Jays (6-6) lost two series and split the other on their season-opening 10-game road trip. Toronto will try to complete a three-game sweep of the Mariners on Wednesday afternoon.

Bassitt (1-2) was one of Toronto’s most consistent pitchers last season with a 16-8 record and 3.60 earned-run average over 200 innings. But he started slowly this year and battled some control issues early against Seattle.

The right-hander issued walks in each of the first three innings but escaped unscathed. Cavan Biggio and Bichette helped deliver a slick 4-6-3 double-play to end the top of the third.

Daulton Varsho singled in the bottom half and took second base when Kirby was called for a disengagement violation. George Springer drove him in with a single to put Toronto on the board.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. reached when Springer was forced out at second base and scored on Bichette’s first homer of the season. The blast landed in the 200-level seating above the Toronto bullpen after travelling an estimated 431 feet.

In the fourth inning, KinerFalefa drove in Biggio with an RBI double and later scored on an RBI single by Springer.