Blue Jays vs. Orioles: Baltimore beats up Bassitt, while Springer takes pitch to the head

Hamilton Spectator

29-07-2025

BALTIMORE—The Baltimore Orioles might be one of Major League Baseball's biggest disappointments this season, but they still have more than enough talent to play spoiler.
The
Blue Jays
were hit around early and often by their division rival. Starter Chris Bassitt allowed six runs over 2 1/3 innings while Brendon Little was just as bad with four earned in an 11-4 loss on Monday night at Camden Yards.
The poor pitching saddled the Jays with their second consecutive loss and their first series-opening defeat since June 20. It also allowed the Detroit Tigers to pull within one win of the American League lead after
the Jays beat them in three out of four games
over the weekend.
'My mechanics were off, I just could not throw any pitch where I wanted to throw it,' said Bassitt, who has allowed five homers over his last two starts. 'My cutter was basically nonexistent, curveball was OK, sinker was all right. I just couldn't locate.'
Jays right-hander has enjoyed seeing the development of players 'who weren't even a thought when
Here's everything you need to know about Monday's game:
Bassitt retired three of the four batters he faced in the first inning before his outing started to unravel in the second. Centre-fielder Cedric Mullins hit a two-run homer and Coby Mayo followed with a solo shot. An inning later, Adley Rutschman produced a two-run double before Ramon Laureano added an RBI single.
The Jays bounced back in the top of the third with two home runs of their own. Nathan Lukes hit a solo shot and
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
later followed with a two-run homer. The momentum was short lived as Bassitt served up three more runs in the bottom half of the frame to give the Orioles the lead for good.
Bassitt's short outing could not have come at a worse time. The Jays went through five relievers on the eve of a doubleheader, which means roster moves are likely coming Tuesday.
Guest: Toronto Blue Jays Manager John Schneider
Mason Fluharty, who tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings against Baltimore, is a candidate to be optioned to Triple-A Buffalo, as is Justin Bruihl. Tommy Nance, who pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings and is out of options, could be at risk of getting designated for assignment.
The Jays were at least prepared for the possibility. Triple-A pitchers Easton Lucas and Lazaro Estrada were already with the team in Baltimore on a taxi roster. Paxton Schultz, who has been out since late June with a finger injury, also rejoined the Jays this week in anticipation of being activated.
'We should be OK, we'll probably have to make some moves,' Jays manager John Schneider said following the loss. 'I'm not exactly sure what they are right now, but we'll figure it out in the morning.'
There was a scary moment in the top of the ninth when
George Springer
was hit on the side of the head by a 96-m.p.h. fastball. The ball initially struck Springer's upper shoulder before ricocheting off the ear flap of his helmet.
The veteran slugger crumpled to the ground and remained there for several minutes while he was checked out by the Jays' medical staff. The pitch clearly wasn't intentional as Orioles right-hander Kade Strowd appeared distraught on the mound following the incident.
Springer was still being examined following the game and the extent of his injury remained unknown.
'That's the worst part of baseball for any side, when a pitch gets thrown that high,' Schneider said. 'You don't think about baseball, you think about the human. It's scary, it happens, it sucks.
'He was alert the whole time … which is a good thing. But you hate seeing that happen to anyone at any time.'