Massey’s bat powers Royals past Bassitt, Blue Jays
KANSAS CITY 6 TORONTO 1
Chris Bassitt does not like how he or his Toronto Blue Jays have started 2024.
Bassitt allowed three runs on four hits, all in the sixth inning, while striking out four as Toronto fell to the Kansas City Royals 6-1 on Wednesday.
Although he improved his earned-run average to 5.45 from 5.64, Bassitt couldn’t hide his frustration.
“I’ll just keep worrying about what I can control and that’s obviously what I did today,” said Bassitt. “I’m beyond frustrated about what the hell’s going on.”
Bassitt said he made adjustments after he allowed seven runs in 2 2/3 innings in a 12-2 loss to the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers on April 26. His struggles to start the season are a step down after he finished last season with a career-best 16 wins, a 3.60 ERA and 186 strikeouts, reaching 200 innings pitched for the first time ever.
“I mean, I got a 5.50 ERA and I feel like I had one bad game and it’s just yeah, I’m just pissed,” said Bassitt.
Michael Massey hit a threerun homer and drove in another run with a groundout as Kansas City (19-13) won for the second time in a row. Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez both had RBI singles in the sixth.
Seth Lugo (5-1) was superb, striking out eight and allowing just two hits and two walks over seven innings. Relievers Chris Stratton and Nick Anderson preserved the Royals’ win.
Danny Jansen’s solo home run in the seventh inning was the best that Toronto’s offence could do. The Blue Jays (15-17) have lost five of their past seven games.
Trevor Richards, Nate Pearson and Brendon Little came out of Toronto’s bullpen, with Pearson giving up three runs.
Bassitt had a no hitter going through five innings, retiring the first 11 of the first 12 batters he faced, issuing one walk in the first.
“We didn’t threaten [Bassitt] at all the first five innings,” said Royals manager Matt Quatraro. “We maybe squared one ball up. He had everything working.”
Braves 5, Mariners 2
SEATTLE — Chris Sale allowed one run over five innings and struck out nine, Austin Riley had the big blow at the plate with a two-run triple, and the Atlanta Braves salvaged the final game of a three-game series with a 5-2 win over the Seattle Mariners.
The NL East-leading Braves rebounded after suffering backto-back defeats for the first time this season with another strong start from Sale and Atlanta’s offence taking advantage of an error to score four unearned runs off Seattle starter Emerson Hancock.
Sale (4-1) continued to flash signs of his former self — one of the most dominant lefties in the game before injuries sidetracked his career. He reached a season high in strikeouts while scattering six hits.