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Pitching was in the spotlight Sunday, a day Shane Bieber made his official unveiling with the franchise when he debuted in Triple-A Buffalo.
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All went well for the former Cy Young Award winner who said he felt good following his rehab outing.
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All was going well for the Blue Jays against the visiting Kansas City Royals on an afternoon when so few hits were recorded in a pitching-dominant series finale.
With even fewer runs produced, it did make for a dramatic finish requiring extra innings.
In the end, putrid pitching would lead the Jays’ demise.
In the 10th, Seranthony Dominguez, for the first time as a Blue Jay, showed his wild side in completely losing his command, yielding a hit, hitting a batter and issuing a walk to load the bases with none out after the Royals took the lead.
The second hit he gave up scored two runs as K.C. led 5-2.
No outs were recorded before Dominguez was mercifully pulled.
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The Jays would would go on to lose the game, 7-4, and lost their second consecutive series in a row for the first time since May, which speaks to how well they’ve been playing.
The following are three takeaways from a series rubber match that featured Louis Varland, whom the Jays acquired at the trade deadline, in his first leverage moment when he started the eighth inning in a 2-1 game; he gave up back-to-back hits as the Royals drew even.
1. Book on Bassitt
It is remarkable how Chris Bassitt has pitched so much better at home when compared to pitching on the road.
Sunday was the veteran right-hander’s 13th start at Rogers Centre and his 24th overall of the season.
In his previous home outings, Bassitt has pitched into the sixth inning 10 times.
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His last start came against the Yankees when Bassitt went 7.1 innings, while giving up three hits, each resulting in home runs.
Compare that to his past three road starts.
In two of those outings, which were in Boston and Baltimore, Bassitt went a combined 4.1 innings and yielded 14 earned runs on 15 hits.
Against the Royals, Bassitt gave up back-to-back walks with one out in the fourth inning, his second and third free passes on the afternoon.
No hits were yielded, but Bassitt did hit Salvador Perez on a changeup that loaded the bases.
It proved costly, as a sac fly would have tied the game.
K.C. recorded its first hit off Bassitt when Kyle Isbel’s liner was deflected by Clement at second base before it went into centre with one out in the fifth inning.
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Take away the walks, the hit batter and a rare disengagement violation, and Bassitt pitched the way he normally pitches at home, which is to say he pitched well in giving the Jays 6.0 complete innings on one-hit ball.
2. Return of Kirk
The anticipated return of Alejandro Kirk played out as planned Sunday after the all-star catcher came off the seven-day concussion injured list.
To free up a roster spot for Kirk, the Jays optioned Leo Jimenez to the Buffalo Bisons in Triple-A.
In Kirk’s absence, Tyler Heineman and Ali Sanchez took turns behind the plate.
In Saturday’s win, Heineman left the game after taking a foul tip off the mask.
Heineman did not have any concussion symptoms, which was good news for someone who spent time on the concussion IL earlier in the season.
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For now, the Jays are going with three catchers on the roster.
As for Kirk, he hit sixth in the order and popped out just in front of home plate in his first at-bat.
The Jays’ ideal lineup will soon be in play.
Kirk’s return was the first step.
He went hitless, while being charged with a throwing error in the Jays’ miserable 10th inning.
3. Low down on Loperfido
The jury is still out on Joey Loperfido, whose name was being bandied about in trade rumours as last Thursday’s 6 p.m. deadline drew nearer.
It might prove prudent that the Jays did not part ways with a young player whose ceiling appears to be high.
The same couldn’t be said for Will Wagner, who came to Toronto at last year’s trade deadline from Houston when the Jays dealt Yusei Kikuchi to the Astros for three prospects.
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Loperfido has that wow factor, while Wagner doesn’t.
He’s not as prone to striking out as he was last season, but keep in mind Loperfido is just beginning to scratch the surface.
In his first at-bat Sunday, he reached base on a single and would get caught trying to steal second base.
Loperfido came up in a 1-1 game with two outs in the fifth inning and a runner in scoring position.
He worked the count full before sending a line drive into centre field to give the Jays the lead.
Up next
Following a quick three-game home stay, the Jays are back on the road for a six-game trip that begins Monday night (8:40 p.m. first pitch) in Denver against the Colorado Rockies, an abomination of a baseball team that had lost 80 games heading into Sunday’s play; Eric Lauer’s 6-2 record and sparkling 2.68 ERA is scheduled to start for the Blue Jays.
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