Bichette homers and drives in three, Bassitt pitches 7 innings as Blue Jays rout White Sox 9-2
Toronto Blue Jays' Bo Bichette, right, celebrates his two-run home run against the Chicago White Sox with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) during the second inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Toronto. Credit: AP/Frank Gunn
TORONTO — Bo Bichette homered and had three RBIs, Daulton Varsho reached base three times and drove in a pair, and the Toronto Blue Jays used a seven-run second inning to beat the Chicago White Sox 9-2 on Wednesday night.
By taking two of three from Chicago, the Blue Jays won a series for the first time since taking two of three at San Diego from April 19 to 21.
Chris Bassitt (4-6) allowed five hits in a season-high seven innings to win for the second time in three starts. Bassitt walked two and struck out four.
Blue Jays left-hander Génesis Cabrera gave up two runs in the eighth and righty Nate Pearson finished.
Toronto was held to two hits in a 5-0 loss Tuesday but responded with a seven-run, two-out rally in the second inning Wednesday.
Davis Schneider started the scoring with a two-run single. Varsho followed with a two-run triple and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. added an RBI single before Bichette homered to center, his third, against White Sox right-hander Nick Nastrini.
Bichette’s two-run shot was the first by a Blue Jays cleanup hitter this season. According to MLB, Toronto had the longest drought to begin a season since the 1997 Astros went 60 games without a homer from a cleanup hitter.
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Chris Bassittw works against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Toronto. Credit: AP/Frank Gunn
The Blue Jays are 17-2 when they score five or more.
Tommy Pham hit a solo home run, his third, and Paul DeJong added a sacrifice fly, but Chicago wrapped up its road trip at 1-5. The White Sox are 5-21 away from home.
Nastrini (0-3) was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte to start against the Blue Jays. He allowed nine runs and seven hits in 3 1/3 innings. Nastrini walked six and struck out none.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Chicago White Sox pitcher Nick Nastrini, right, is visited on the mound by pitching coach Ethan Katz (21) and catcher Martín Maldonado during the second inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Toronto. Credit: AP/Frank Gunn
White Sox: OF/DH Eloy Jiménez (left hamstring) was placed on the 10-day IL, one day after he was injured running the bases. RHP Steven Wilson (back) went on the 15-day IL, retroactive to May 20. The White Sox recalled Nastrini and OF Zach DeLoach from Triple-A Charlotte.
UP NEXT
White Sox: RHP Mike Clevinger (0-2, 5.56 ERA) is scheduled to start Thursday as Chicago returns home to begin a four-game series against Baltimore. RHP Grayson Rodriguez (4-1, 3.15) goes for the Orioles.
Blue Jays: RHP Kevin Gausman (2-3, 4.89 ERA) is expected to start Thursday as Toronto opens a four-game series at Detroit. RHP Jack Flaherty (1-3, 3.79) is listed for the Tigers.
