Bo Bichette hit a homer and drove in three runs, while Daulton Varsho got on base three times and brought in two, helping the Toronto Blue Jays secure a 9-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday night.
With this win, the Blue Jays clinched their first series victory since April 19 to 21, when they won two out of three games against San Diego.
“It feels great to win and score a lot of runs,” said Bichette. “We just need to focus on winning every day.” Pitcher Chris Bassitt pitched a season-high seven innings, allowing only five hits while walking two and striking out four, earning his second win in three starts.
Génesis Cabrera and Nate Pearson took over the pitching duties in the eighth inning for the Blue Jays.
After being limited to just two hits in a 5-0 loss on Tuesday, the Blue Jays responded strongly with a seven-run inning in the second. This marked their most productive inning since May 23, 2023, when they scored nine runs against Tampa Bay.
The scoring spree began with Davis Schneider’s two-run single, followed by Varsho’s two-run triple and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s RBI single. Bichette then sealed the inning with a three-run homer against White Sox pitcher Nick Nastrini.
White Sox manager Pedro Grifol noted Nastrini’s struggle with fastball command during the game.
Bichette’s homer, a two-run shot, was significant as it was the first by a Blue Jays cleanup hitter this season. The team hadn’t seen such a homer from a cleanup hitter in the first 60 games, according to MLB records.
To celebrate Bichette’s homer, the Blue Jays brought back their home run jacket from the 2022 season, emphasizing the importance of team unity and camaraderie.
“I believe in the power of these small gestures,” said manager John Schneider. “While a home run jacket won’t change our season, it symbolizes our collective effort as a team moving in the right direction.”
